AZULFIDINE EN-tabs (sulfasalazine delayed release tablets) Tablets are indicated:

1. in the treatment of mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, and as adjunctive therapy in severe ulcerative colitis;
2. for the prolongation of the remission period between acute attacks of ulcerative colitis;
3. in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have responded inadequately to salicylates or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., an insufficient therapeutic response to, or intolerance of, an adequate trial of full doses of one or more nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs); and
4. in the treatment of pediatric patients with polyarticular-course¹ juvenile rheumatoid arthritis who have responded inadequately to salicylates or other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.

AZULFIDINE EN-tabs (sulfasalazine delayed release tablets) is particularly indicated in patients with ulcerative colitis who cannot take uncoated sulfasalazine tablets because of gastrointestinal intolerance, and in whom there is evidence that this intolerance is not primarily the result of high blood levels of sulfapyridine and its metabolites, e.g., patients experiencing nausea and vomiting with the first few doses of the drug, or patients in whom a reduction in dosage does not alleviate the adverse gastrointestinal effects.

In patients with rheumatoid arthritis or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, rest and physiotherapy as indicated should be continued. Unlike anti-inflammatory drugs, AZULFIDINE EN-tabs (sulfasalazine delayed release tablets) does not produce an immediate response. Concurrent treatment with analgesics and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is recommended at least until the effect of AZULFIDINE EN-tabs is apparent.

The dosage of AZULFIDINE EN-tabs (sulfasalazine delayed release tablets) Tablets should be adjusted to each individual's response and tolerance.

Patients should be instructed to take AZULFIDINE EN-tabs (sulfasalazine delayed release tablets) in evenly divided doses, preferably after meals, and to swallow the tablets whole.

Initial Therapy

Adults: 3 to 4 g daily in evenly divided doses with dosage intervals not exceeding eight hours. It may be advisable to initiate therapy with a lower dosage, e.g., 1 to 2 g daily, to reduce possible gastrointestinal intolerance. If daily doses exceeding 4 g are required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, the increased risk of toxicity should be kept in mind.

Children, six years of age and older: 40 to 60 mg/kg of body weight in each 24-hour period, divided into 3 to 6 doses.

Maintenance Therapy

Adults: 2 g daily.

Children, six years of age and older: 30 mg/kg of body weight in each 24-hour period, divided into 4 doses. The response of acute ulcerative colitis to AZULFIDINE EN-tabs (sulfasalazine delayed release tablets) can be evaluated by clinical criteria, including the presence of fever, weight changes, and degree and frequency of diarrhea and bleeding, as well as by sigmoidoscopy and the evaluation of biopsy samples. It is often necessary to continue medication even when clinical symptoms, including diarrhea, have been controlled. When endoscopic examination confirms satisfactory improvement, dosage of AZULFIDINE EN-tabs (sulfasalazine delayed release tablets) should be reduced to a maintenance level. If diarrhea recurs, dosage should be increased to previously effective levels.

AZULFIDINE EN-tabs is particularly indicated in patients who cannot take uncoated sulfasalazine tablets because of gastrointestinal intolerance (e.g., anorexia, nausea). If symptoms of gastric intolerance (anorexia, nausea, vomiting, etc.) occur after the first few doses of AZULFIDINE EN-tabs (sulfasalazine delayed release tablets) , they are probably due to increased serum levels of total sulfapyridine, and may be alleviated by halving the daily dose of AZULFIDINE EN-tabs and subsequently increasing it gradually over several days. If gastric intolerance continues, the drug should be stopped for 5 to 7 days, then reintroduced at a lower daily dose.

Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis

2 g daily in two evenly divided doses. It is advisable to initiate therapy with a lower dosage of AZULFIDINE EN-tabs (sulfasalazine delayed release tablets) , e.g., 0.5 to 1.0 g daily, to reduce possible gastrointestinal intolerance. A suggested dosing schedule is given below.

In rheumatoid arthritis, the effect of AZULFIDINE EN-tabs (sulfasalazine delayed release tablets) can be assessed by the degree of improvement in the number and extent of actively inflamed joints. A therapeutic response has been observed as early as 4 weeks after starting treatment with AZULFIDINE EN-tabs (sulfasalazine delayed release tablets) , but treatment for 12 weeks may be required in some patients before clinical benefit is noted. Consideration can be given to increasing the daily dose of AZULFIDINE EN-tabs (sulfasalazine delayed release tablets) to 3 g if the clinical response after 12 weeks is inadequate. Careful monitoring is recommended for doses over 2 g per day.

Suggested Dosing Schedule for Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis - polyarticular course

Children, six years of age and older: 30 to 50 mg/kg of body weight daily in two evenly divided doses. Typically, the maximum dose is 2 g per day. To reduce possible gastrointestinal intolerance, begin with a quarter to a third of the planned maintenance dose and increase weekly until reaching the maintenance dose at one month.

Some patients may be sensitive to treatment with sulfasalazine. Various desensitization-like regimens have been reported to be effective in 34 of 53 patients,⁸ 7 of 8 patients,⁹ and 19 of 20 patients.¹⁰ These regimens suggest starting with a total daily dose of 50 to 250 mg sulfasalazine initially, and doubling it every 4 to 7 days until the desired therapeutic level is achieved. If the symptoms of sensitivity recur, AZULFIDINE EN-tabs (sulfasalazine delayed release tablets) should be discontinued. Desensitization should not be attempted in patients who have a history of agranulocytosis, or who have experienced an anaphylactoid reaction while previously receiving sulfasalazine.

AZULFIDINE EN-tabs (sulfasalazine delayed release tablets) Tablets, 500 mg, are elliptical, gold-colored, film enteric-coated tablets, monogrammed “102” on one side and “KPh” on the other. They are available in the following package sizes:

Storage: Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15–30°C (59–86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].

REFERENCES

1. van Rossum MAJ, et al. Sulfasalazine in the treatment of juvenile chronic arthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Arth Rheum 1998;41:808–816.

8. Korelitz B, et al. Desensitization to sulfasalazine in allergic patients with IBD: an important therapeutic modality. Gastroenterology 1982;82:1104.

9. Holdworth CG. Sulphasalazine desensitization. Br Med J 1981;282:110.

10. Taffet SL, Das KM. Desensitization of patients with inflammatory bowel disease to sulfasalazine. Am J Med 1982;73:520–4.

Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, Division of Pfizer Inc, NY, NY 10017. Revised 2009.

Last reviewed on RxList: 10/30/2009
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.