Side Effects:

Common Nausea, Headache, Skin rash, Loss of appetite, Increased body temperature.

Expert advice for Saaz Tablet DR
You have been prescribed Saaz to control the symptoms and slow down the progression of inflammatory bowel disease or rheumatoid arthritis. You may have to wait for 6 to 12 weeks to get the full effect. Drink plenty of water while on Saaz. This will prevent kidney stone and kidney damage. You may experience loss of appetite and nausea on starting Saaz. Your urine may change color (to orange). Do not worry if that happens. Avoid contact with people who have cold, flu or other contagious illness. Notify your doctor if you have any signs of infection such as a fever or sore throat. Inform your doctor if you ever had any form of drug allergy. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to conceive or breastfeeding. Inform your doctor if you are suffering from any blood disease e.g. G6PD deficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is Saaz a DMARDs?
Yes, Saaz is a DMARDs (Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs). It prevents joint damage and preserves joint mobility.

Q. Can I use Saaz 1gram BD?
Yes, Saaz can be used as 1gm BD (twice daily) if you have severe disease.

Q. How is Saaz metabolized?
Saaz is metabolized in the colon by the bacterial enzyme azoreductase to sulfapyridine and 5 aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA).

Q. How long does Saaz take to produce the effect?
Saaz does not work right away. It will take about 6 to 12 weeks to get the full effect.

Q. Where is sulfasalazine absorbed?
Saaz is absorbed in the intestine (jejunum and colon). In the colon, it breaks down to sulfapyridine and 5 aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA).

Q. Can I use Saaz with hepatitis B?
Yes, Saaz is relatively safe in hepatitis B infection.

Q. Can I use Saaz in hepatitis C?
Saaz should not be used in hepatitis C patients with bad prognosis.

Q. Saaz for alopecia areata?
Saaz is not approved for treatment of alopecia areata.

Q. Saaz for gout?
Saaz is not approved for treatment of gout.

Q. Saaz for IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)?
Saaz is not approved for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Q. Saaz for IBD(inflammatory bowel disease)?
Yes, Saaz is used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Q. Saaz for psoriatic arthritis?
Saaz is a DMARD that may be effective for the joint pain and skin lesions associated with psoriatic arthritis.

Q. Saaz for psoriasis?
Saaz is not approved for psoriasis.

Q. Can I use Saaz with vitamin c?
Yes, Saaz can be used with vitamin c.

Q. Can I use Saaz with vitamin d?
Yes, Saaz can be used with vitamin d.

Q. Saaz vs mesalamine?
Mesalamine and Saaz are both used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Saaz having fewer side effects as compared to mesalamine.

Q. Saaz vs balsalazide?
Balsalazide has a better tolerability than Saaz in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Q. Saaz with folic acid?
Saaz inhibits the absorption and metabolism of folic acid.which may cause folic acid deficiency. This can result in serious blood disorders (e.g., macrocytosis and pancytopenia). This can be normalized by administration of folic acid or folinic acid (leucovorin).

Q. Saaz interaction with methotrexate?
Coadministration of Saaz and methotrexate do not alter the pharmacokinetic disposition of the drugs. It may increase the incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events, especially nausea.

Q. Saaz with meloxicam?
Meloxicam and Saaz cause kidney problem if given together.

Q. Saaz with antibiotics?
People who are allergic to sulfa drugs antibiotics like cotrimoxazole, sulfisoxazole etc, may have a cross reaction to Saaz and should therefore not take it.

Q. Saaz with prednisone?
Saaz can be given in conjunction with steroids (prednisone) as part of an intensive management regime during the severe attack of rheumatoid arthritis.

Q. Saaz with adalimumab?
Adalimumab can be used with Saaz in the treatment of moderate to severe, active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients when the response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is inadequate.

Q. Saaz with the sulfa allergy?
Patients with sulfa drug allergy should avoid Saaz.

Q. Saaz with naproxen?
Saaz is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis who has failed to respond to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) e.g naproxen.

Q. Saaz with ibuprofen?
Saaz is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis who has failed to respond to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) e.g ibuprofen.

Q. Saaz with methotrexate side effects?
Taking Saaz and methotrexate together may increase the incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events, especially nausea.

Q. Saaz with hydroxychloroquine?
Saaz and hydroxychloroquine combination have shown better and faster response in rheumatoid arthritis.

Q. Allergic to Saaz?
You should not take Saaz, if you are allergic to Saaz.

Q. Is Saaz a prodrug?
Yes, Saaz is a prodrug. It gets converted into sulfonamide (sulfapyridine) and 5 aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) in the body.

Q. Is Saaz a sulfa drug?
Yes, Saaz is a sulfa drug because it contains sulfonamide (sulfapyridine) as active ingredients.

Q. Is Saaz an antibiotic?
Saaz is a combination of antibiotic sulfapyridine and 5 aminosalicylic acid, mainly used in inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

Q. Is Saaz enteric coated?
Some formulation of Saaz may be available as enteric-coated. Enteric coating is done to prevent the tablet destruction by stomach acid.

Q. Saaz causes weight loss?
Yes, Saaz can cause loss of appetite which may lead to loss of weight.

Q. Can Saaz cause rash?
Yes, Saaz can cause the rash as a side effect.

Q. What is the Saaz drug class?
Saaz belongs to sulfonamide drug class.

Q. What is Saaz delayed-release tablets?
Saaz delayed release tablets are the enteric coated tablets, which prevent the disintegration of the drug when they come in contact with stomach acid.

Q. Saaz cause insomnia?
Yes, Saaz can cause insomnia as a side effect.

Q. Saaz flu-like symptoms?
Saaz can cause flu-like symptoms like aching of joints, fever, headache, sore throat, rashes.

Q. Saaz for ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease. Saaz releases 5 aminosalicylic acid which decreases inflammation of the intestines and thus helpful in ulcerative colitis.

Q. Saaz for Crohn's disease?
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease. Saaz releases 5 aminosalicylic acid which decreases inflammation of the intestines and thus helpful in Crohn's disease.

Q. Saaz in cancer patients?
Saaz is not approved for treatment of cancer.

Q. Why does Saaz cause blood disorders?
Saaz inhibits the absorption and metabolism of folic acid. Which may cause folic acid deficiency. This can result in serious blood disorders (e.g., macrocytosis and pancytopenia).

Q. Why does Saaz cause a sore throat?
Saaz suppresses the immune system which can manifest with the sign of infections like a sore throat or fever.

Q. What does Saaz contain?
Saaz contains sulfonamide (sulfapyridine) and 5 aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) as active ingredients.

Q. Side effects of stopping sulfasalazine?
If Saaz is stopped, patient can experience withdrawal symptoms like depression, pain, stress, anxiety, back pain, and muscle spasticity.

Q. Saaz withdrawal?
Saaz withdrawal can cause depression, pain, stress, anxiety, back pain and muscle spasticity.