What Is Olsalazine Used For?

Olsalazine is used for the prevention of ulcerative colitis symptoms in people for whom the condition is in remission. People who cannot take sulfasalazine drugs may be prescribed this as an alternative. It works by inhibiting the chemicals believed to be responsible for causing inflammation in the colon. Off-label olsalazine uses can include the treatment of Crohn's disease. However, the drug is not approved for use in children.

Olsalazine Sodium

What Is Olsalazine Used For? -- An Overview

Olsalazine sodium (Dipentum^®) is a prescription medicine that is used for the treatment of 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.

Olsalazine is approved for use in people whose ulcerative colitis is in remission, and who cannot take sulfasalazine (Azulfidine^®, Azulfidine EN-tabs^®) due to side effects or other concerns. Olsalazine is used to prevent the symptoms of ulcerative colitis from returning in these people.

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