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Crohn's disease (also spelled Crohn disease) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines. It primarily causes ulcerations (breaks in the lining) of the small and large intestines, but can affect the digestive system anywhere from the mouth to the anus. It is named after the physician who described the disease in 1932. It also is called granulomatous enteritis or colitis, regional enteritis, ileitis, or terminal ileitis.
Crohn's disease is related closely to another chronic inflammatory condition that involves only the colon called ulcerative colitis. Together, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are frequently referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease have no medical cure. Once the diseases begin, they tend to fluctuate between periods of inactivity (remission) and activity (relapse).
Inflammatory bowel disease affects approximately 500,000 to two million peop...
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Sulfasalazine affects a substance in the body that causes inflammation, tissue damage, and diarrhea.
Sulfasalazine is used to treat moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. It is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis in children and adults who have received other arthritis medications without successful treatment of symptoms.
Sulfasalazine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
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.
Stop using sulfasalazine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
Less serious side effects may include:
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
You should not use this medication if you have porphyria, a blockage in your bladder or intestines, or if you are allergic to sulfasalazine, sulfa drugs, aspirin, or salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others).
Before using sulfasalazine, tell your doctor if you have asthma, kidney or liver disease, or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
Also tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin), folic acid (Folicin, FA-8), or vitamin or mineral supplements that contain folic acid.
Do not crush, break, or chew a sulfasalazine tablet. Swallow the pill whole. The enteric-coated tablet has a special coating to protect your stomach. Breaking the pill could damage this coating.
For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Sulfasalazine will not cure ulcerative colitis, but it can reduce the number of attacks you have.
If you are treating arthritis, do not stop using any of your other arthritis medications until your doctor tells you to.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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