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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking sulfasalazine and seek emergency medical attention or notify your doctor immediately:an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); orworsening colitis (fever, abdominal pain, cramping, or bloody diarrhea); orsore throat, fever, pale skin, bruising, or yellow skin or eyes (may indicate a blood disorder).

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take sulfasalazine and talk to your doctor if you experience

nausea, vomiting, or decreased appetite;headache;a rash, itching, or hives;fever;decreased sperm production (uncommon and usually reversible); ororange-yellow discoloration of the skin or urine (not harmful).

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Take sulfasalazine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.Sulfasalazine is usually taken after meals. Follow your doctor’s instructions.Do not crush, chew, or break the delayed-release tablets (Azulfidine EN-tabs). Swallow them whole. They are specially formulated to release the medication after they have passed through your stomach.

Call your doctor if you find an undissolved delayed-release (Azulfidine EN-tabs) tablet in your stool.

Do not stop taking sulfasalazine, even if you begin to feel better, without first talking to your doctor. It is very important to continue taking sulfasalazine to control your condition.Store sulfasalazine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

There are no restrictions on foods, beverages, or activities during treatment with sulfasalazine unless your doctor directs otherwise.

The exact way that sulfasalazine works is unknown, but it is believed to reduce the actions of substances in the body that cause inflammation, tissue damage, and diarrhea.

Sulfasalazine is used to treat ulcerative colitis and to maintain remission. The delayed-release tablets, Azulfidine (EN-tabs), are also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Sulfasalazine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Do not take sulfasalazine without first talking to your doctor if you haveever had an allergic reaction to sulfasalazine, a sulfa-based antibiotic, or aspirin;an obstruction (blockage) in your intestines or urinary tract;porphyria;liver disease;kidney disease;asthma; orglucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.

You may not be able to take sulfasalazine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Sulfasalazine is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Do not take sulfasalazine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

Sulfasalazine passes into breast milk and the effects of sulfasalazine on a nursing infant are not known. Do not take sulfasalazine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

The safety and effectiveness of sulfasalazine have not been established for children younger than 2 years of age.

Sulfasalazine may decrease the absorption of digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps). Your doctor may want to monitor the digoxin levels in your blood if you are taking this medicine.

Sulfasalazine may also decrease folate (a natural vitamin) in your body. You may need to take folate supplements or eat folate-rich foods.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with sulfasalazine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Avoid using antacids without your doctor’s advice. Use only the specific type of antacid your doctor recommends. Antacids contain different medicines and some types can make it harder for your body to absorb ursodiol.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation;dizziness, tired feeling;back pain;runny or stuffy nose, cold symptoms; orheadache.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have liver disease.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether ursodiol passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

To treat gallstones, you may have to take ursodiol for several months, and not all gallstones may completely dissolve. Many people who use this medicine will develop gallstones again within 5 years after treatment with ursodiol. Talk to your doctor about your specific risks for repeated gallstones.