Sulfasalazine Dosing

Most adults with mild to moderately active ulcerative colitis start with 3000 to 4000 mg of sulfasalazine. Dosing for children age six and older generally starts at 40 to 60 mg per kg of body weight. These are usually divided into several smaller doses taken throughout the day. Once your ulcerative colitis is in remission, your sulfasalazine dosage may be decreased as appropriate.

An Introduction to Sulfasalazine Dosing

The dose of sulfasalazine (Azulfidine®) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • The severity of your ulcerative colitis
  • Your age and weight
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may currently be taking.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your sulfasalazine dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so. The medication is also available in a delayed-release tablet (see Azulfidine EN-Tabs Dosage).
 

Sulfasalazine Dosing for Active Ulcerative Colitis

The recommended starting dose of sulfasalazine for mild to moderately active ulcerative colitis in adults is 3000 to 4000 mg total per day (split up into smaller doses, taken at least every eight hours). For children age six and older, the recommended dose is 40 to 60 mg per kg of body weight (about 18 to 27 mg per pound) total per day, split up into three to six smaller doses.
 
Your healthcare provider may decide to start you at a lower dose and slowly increase it, as this may decrease the risk of upset stomach and other intestinal-related sulfasalazine side effects.
 

Add
Email
Print
(Sulfasalazine Dosing Continued: Page 2)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
Other Articles in This eMedTV Presentation
Referring Pages Articles