What Is Balsalazide Used For?

Balsalazide is used for the treatment of symptoms associated with ulcerative colitis. The condition can cause diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and urgency to have a bowel movement. Balsalazide may also be combined with changes in lifestyle or diet. The medicine can be given to children as young as five years of age. Among the potential "off-label" balsalazide uses is the treatment of Crohn's disease.

Balsalazide Disodium

What Is Balsalazide Used For? -- An Overview

Balsalazide disodium (Colazal^®) is a prescription medicine that has been licensed to treat ulcerative colitis. It is part of a group of medications known as aminosalicylates.

Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that leads to inflammation and sores in the lining of the large intestine and rectum. It commonly causes abdominal pain (or stomach pain), diarrhea, and other symptoms (like rectal bleeding or extreme urgency to have a bowel movement). At this time, the causes of ulcerative colitis are not fully understood. Although ulcerative colitis complications can be quite severe, there is only one ulcerative colitis cure -- surgery. Other than surgery (see Ulcerative Colitis Surgery), ulcerative colitis treatment options can include the following:

Medications (see Ulcerative Colitis Medication)
Dietary changes (see Ulcerative Colitis Diet)
Lifestyle changes (see Living With Ulcerative Colitis)
A combination of these options.

Balsalazide is approved to treat mild-to-moderately-active ulcerative colitis. The medicine helps to reduce the symptoms of ulcerative colitis.

(What Is Balsalazide Used For? Continued: Page 2)