Side Effects:

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

Expert advice for Sazo Tablet DR
You have been prescribed Sazo 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 Sazo. This will prevent kidney stone and kidney damage. You may experience loss of appetite and nausea on starting Sazo. 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 Sazo a DMARDs?
Yes, Sazo is a DMARDs (Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs). It prevents joint damage and preserves joint mobility.

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

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

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

Q. Where is sulfasalazine absorbed?
Sazo 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 Sazo with hepatitis B?
Yes, Sazo is relatively safe in hepatitis B infection.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Q. Sazo with adalimumab?
Adalimumab can be used with Sazo 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. Sazo with the sulfa allergy?
Patients with sulfa drug allergy should avoid Sazo.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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