Azulfidine EN-Tabs Warnings and Precautions

To ensure a safe treatment process with Azulfidine EN-tabs, warnings and precautions for the medication should be reviewed. These include the safety of using it in people with severe asthma, kidney disease, or liver disease, as well as the risk of low sperm count or infertility in men. Azulfidine EN-tabs warnings and precautions also include potential drug interactions, so tell your healthcare provider about all medications you are taking.

 

Azulfidine EN-Tabs: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Azulfidine EN-tabs® (sulfasalazine delayed release) if you have:
 
  • Difficulty passing urine
  • An intestinal blockage
  • Porphyria (problems with certain enzymes in the body)
  • Kidney disease, including kidney failure (renal failure)
  • Liver disease, including liver failure or cirrhosis
  • Anemia or any other low blood cell count
  • Asthma
  • Any allergies, including allergies to sulfa drugs, food, dyes, or preservatives.
     
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
  • Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
  • Breastfeeding.
     
Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 

Specific Azulfidine EN-Tabs Warnings and Precautions

Warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking Azulfidine EN-tabs include the following:
 
  • The medication may not be safe for use in people with severe asthma or allergies, kidney disease, liver disease, or anemia (or any other condition with low blood counts). Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these conditions.
     
  • Azulfidine EN-tabs can cause a low sperm count and infertility in men, although fertility usually returns after the medication is stopped.
     
  • Be sure to drink plenty of fluids while taking Azulfidine EN-tabs, as this will help protect your kidneys and can help prevent kidney stones.
     
  • Your healthcare provider should regularly check your blood counts while you are taking the medication to make sure that you are not developing anemia or other serious problems.
     
  • Azulfidine EN-tabs is considered a pregnancy Category B medication. This means that it is probably safe for pregnant women, although the full risks are not known. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of using the drug while pregnant (see Azulfidine and Pregnancy).
     
  • Azulfidine EN-tabs passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Azulfidine and Breastfeeding).
     
  • Azulfidine EN-tabs can interact with certain medications (see Azulfidine EN-tabs Drug Interactions).
     
(Azulfidine EN-Tabs Warnings and Precautions Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;