Cidofovir
Severe
Database
Clinical effect not specified
Source: DDInter
Drug reference
Balsalazide
Aminosalicylate · Inflammatory bowel disease
Also known as Balsalazide sodium, Balsalazide disodium
AminosalicylateInflammatory bowel disease
CDSCO approved
EXCRETION
—
not curated
INTERACTIONS
12 major
SEVERE in our sources
PREGNANCY
Manufacturer advises avoid.
FDA category + note
Top interactionssee all 12 →
- CidofovirSevereDatabaseDDInter
- DeferasiroxSevereDatabaseDDInter
- DiatrizoateSevereDatabaseDDInter
- Human Cytomegalovirus Immune GlobulinSevereDatabaseDDInter
Mechanism
Balsalazide sodium is a pro-drug of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). It acts as a carrier to deliver 5-ASA to the colonic site of action. 5-ASA exerts local anti-inflammatory effects in the bowel.
Indications
Treatment of mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, acute attackMaintenance of remission of ulcerative colitisInflammatory bowel diseaseinduction and maintenance of remission in mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitissevere ulcerative colitis (in combination with glucocorticoids)
Dosing
- Adult
- Treatment of mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, acute attack: 2.25 g 3 times a day until remission occurs or for up to a maximum of 12 weeks. Maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis: 1.5 g twice daily, adjusted according to response.
- Renal adjustment
- Avoid in moderate to severe impairment. Renal function should be monitored more frequently.
- Hepatic adjustment
- Caution; avoid in severe impairment (no information available).
- Max dose
- 6.75 g per day
Contraindications
- Salicylate hypersensitivity
- Severe hepatic impairment
- Moderate to severe renal impairment
- History of asthma
Side effects
Common
ArthralgiaCoughDiarrhoeaDizzinessFeverGastrointestinal discomfortHeadacheLeucopeniaNauseaSkin reactionsVomitingdyspepsiaskin rash
Serious
- Alopecia
- Depression
- Dyspnoea
- Myalgia
- Photosensitivity reaction
- Thrombocytopenia
- Agranulocytosis
- Bone marrow disorders
- Cardiac inflammation
- Hepatitis
- Neutropenia
- Pancreatitis
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Renal impairment
- Respiratory disorders
- Angioedema
- Eosinophilia
- Haemolytic anaemia
- Nephritis tubulointerstitial
- Oligozoospermia (reversible)
- Ulcerative colitis aggravated
- Cholelithiasis
- Lupus-like syndrome
- nephrotoxicity (interstitial nephritis)
- pericarditis
- pleuritis
Pregnancy & lactation
Pregnancy
Manufacturer advises avoid.
Lactation
Diarrhoea may develop in the infant. Monitor breast-fed infants for diarrhoea.
Drug interactions
Deferasirox
Severe
Database
Drug interaction classified as: synergy
Source: DDInter
Diatrizoate
Severe
Database
Clinical effect not specified
Source: DDInter
Human Cytomegalovirus Immune Globulin
Severe
Database
Clinical effect not specified
Source: DDInter
Inotersen
Severe
Database
Clinical effect not specified
Source: DDInter
Iodipamide
Severe
Database
Clinical effect not specified
Source: DDInter
Iodixanol
Severe
Database
Clinical effect not specified
Source: DDInter
Iohexol
Severe
Database
Drug interaction classified as: synergy
Source: DDInter
Iopamidol
Severe
Database
Drug interaction classified as: synergy
Source: DDInter
Iopromide
Severe
Database
Clinical effect not specified
Source: DDInter
Iothalamic Acid
Severe
Database
Clinical effect not specified
Source: DDInter
Ioversol
Severe
Database
Clinical effect not specified
Source: DDInter
Related guidelines
Inflammatory bowel disease
OTHER · Gastroenterology · 2015
Preventive care in inflammatory bowel disease
ACG · Gastroenterology · 2025
Induction of labour
FOGSI · Obstetrics & Gynaecology · 2019
Coeliac disease
OTHER · Gastroenterology · 2016
Chronic kidney disease — assessment and management
KDIGO · Nephrology · 2024
Other Aminosalicylate drugs
Ask House about Balsalazide
Continue into a citation-backed clinical answer with the drug context already attached.
Textbook-sourced·Sources: Goodman & Gilman 14e, Katzung, BNF, Nelson·Updated: 2026-05-10