Azulfidine and Azulfidine EN-tabs: Potential Adverse Reactions and Remedial Strategies
Azulfidine and Azulfidine EN-tabs are oral tablets prescribed for ulcerative colitis and certain other inflammatory conditions. While these medications can help manage symptoms, it's essential to be aware of their potential side effects.
Common side effects include reduced appetite, headache, indigestion, abdominal pain, and nausea and vomiting. If you experience nausea and vomiting, talk with your doctor, who can recommend ways to manage these side effects.
More serious side effects may include kidney problems, liver problems, severe skin reactions, nervous system problems, reduced sperm count and infertility in males, blood disorders, serious infections, and allergic reactions.
Kidney problems may present as urinating less than is typical, brown or pink urine, swelling of the legs, ankles, or feet, fatigue, and itching. Symptoms of liver problems include abdominal pain, jaundice, pale-colored stool, and dark-colored urine.
Blood disorders, such as anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and agranulocytosis, can also occur. Symptoms of blood disorders may include fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers, fatigue, skin, gums, or nail beds that look paler than is typical for you, unusual bruising or bleeding, and spots of discoloration under your skin.
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, call your doctor right away. For severe allergic reaction symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching, flushing, swelling under your skin, swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe.
Azulfidine and Azulfidine EN-tabs can weaken your immune system and increase your risk of getting serious infections, such as pneumonia. If you have any symptoms of an infection while taking these medications, contact your doctor right away.
Symptoms of nervous system problems include seizures, weakness, and tingling sensations or numbness. Symptoms of severe skin reactions include red or purple skin rash, blistering or peeling of the skin, fever, flu-like symptoms, rash and blistering affecting the eyes, mouth, throat, or genitals.
It's important to note that these less common and rare side effects often require medical attention and monitoring, especially serious skin reactions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome or blood disorders, which can be life-threatening.
Your doctor will order frequent blood tests to check your blood cell levels while you take Azulfidine or Azulfidine EN-tabs. You may also need blood tests, including complete blood counts, liver function tests, and creatinine blood tests, to check for possible side effects.
If you're concerned about side effects with the dosage of Azulfidine or Azulfidine EN-tabs you've been prescribed, talk with your doctor. The side effects that are possible with these medications are the same regardless of the dose you take. Your doctor will always prescribe the lowest possible dose to manage your symptoms.
Remember, if you develop serious side effects while taking Azulfidine or Azulfidine EN-tabs, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life-threatening or you think you're having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
[1] Drugs.com. (n.d.). Azulfidine. Retrieved from https://www.drugs.com/azulfidine.html [2] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Azulfidine (oral route) side effects. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/azulfidine-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20071565 [3] RxList. (n.d.). Azulfidine. Retrieved from https://www.rxlist.com/azulfidine-drug.htm [4] MedlinePlus. (2021). Sulfasalazine oral. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682080.html [5] Medscape. (2021). Sulfasalazine. Retrieved from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2090540-overview
- Azulfidine and Azulfidine EN-tabs, prescribed for ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory conditions, may cause side effects like reduced appetite, headache, indigestion, and nausea, which necessitate consultation with a doctor.
- More serious side effects might include kidney problems, liver problems, severe skin reactions, nervous system problems, reduced sperm count and infertility in males, blood disorders, serious infections, and allergic reactions.
- Kidney problems may manifest as abnormal urination, brown or pink urine, leg, ankle, or foot swelling, fatigue, and itching, while symptoms of liver problems include abdominal pain, jaundice, pale-colored stool, and dark-colored urine.
- Blood disorders, such as anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and agranulocytosis, might present with symptoms like fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers, fatigue, unusual skin or nail discoloration, frequent bruising or bleeding, and spots of discoloration under the skin.
- Azulfidine and Azulfidine EN-tabs can increase the risk of getting serious infections, like pneumonia, and symptoms of infections should be reported to the doctor immediately.
- Azulfidine and Azulfidine EN-tabs may cause nervous system problems, signified by seizures, weakness, tingling sensations, or numbness. Serious skin reactions could lead to red or purple rashes, blistering, peeling, fever, flu-like symptoms, and eye-related rashes.
- Under medical supervision and attention, these less common and rare side effects, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, require monitoring, especially serious skin reactions and blood disorders, which can be life-threatening.
- Blood tests are frequently ordered by a doctor to check blood cell levels, while taking Azulfidine or Azulfidine EN-tabs, and other tests might be necessary to check for possible side effects in the realm of chronic diseases, including chronic kidney disease, and other medical conditions, mental health, skin care, eye health, and respiratory conditions.
