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What Is Balsalazide?

Balsalazide is a prescription aminosalicylate used for mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis in patients age 5 and older. Balsalazide disodium capsules contain 750 mg. The drug reaches the colon largely intact, where intestinal bacteria split it into mesalamine, the active anti-inflammatory component, and an inactive carrier portion.

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What Is Balsalazide?

Balsalazide is a prescription aminosalicylate used for mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis in patients age 5 and older. Balsalazide disodium capsules contain 750 mg. The drug reaches the colon largely intact, where intestinal bacteria split it into mesalamine, the active anti-inflammatory component, and an inactive carrier portion.

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How Does Balsalazide Act in the Colon?

Balsalazide is a prodrug that undergoes bacterial azoreduction in the colon. This process releases mesalamine, also called 5-aminosalicylic acid. Mesalamine acts locally on colonic tissue and reduces inflammatory activity. Its exact mechanism is not fully defined, but reduced production of inflammatory arachidonic acid metabolites is thought to contribute to the treatment effect.

Who Is Treated With Balsalazide?

Balsalazide is approved for mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis in adults and children age 5 to 17. Safety and efficacy beyond 12 weeks in adults and beyond 8 weeks in pediatric patients have not been established. The medicine is used for active disease treatment rather than long-term maintenance under current capsule labeling.

How Are Balsalazide Capsules Taken?

Adults take three 750 mg capsules three times daily for 8 weeks, with some clinical trial treatment extending to 12 weeks. Patients age 5 to 17 use either three capsules three times daily or one capsule three times daily for up to 8 weeks. Capsules are taken with or without food and can be opened onto applesauce when swallowing is difficult.

What Safety Concerns Are Linked to Balsalazide?

Risks include kidney impairment, mesalamine-induced acute intolerance syndrome, hypersensitivity reactions, liver failure in people with liver disease, severe skin reactions, photosensitivity, and kidney stones. Kidney function is checked before treatment and periodically afterward. Worsening abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, fever, rash, chest symptoms, or reduced urination needs medical assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Balsalazide

Is balsalazide a form of mesalamine?

Balsalazide is a prodrug that is split in the colon to release mesalamine, the active anti-inflammatory component.

What condition does balsalazide treat?

Balsalazide is approved for mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis in patients age 5 and older.

Can balsalazide capsules be opened?

Yes. Current labeling permits opening the capsules and sprinkling the contents on applesauce for immediate swallowing.

Does balsalazide require kidney monitoring?

Yes. Kidney function is checked before treatment and periodically during therapy.

References

Balsalazide. MedlinePlus. https://www.medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a699052.html. Date Accessed September 15, 2026.

Balsalazide. PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Balsalazida. Date Accessed September 15, 2026.

COLAZAL (balsalazide disodium) Capsules Prescribing Information. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/020610s024lbl.pdf. Date Accessed September 15, 2026.

DailyMed - BALSALAZIDE DISODIUM capsule. https://www.dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=f12ffa32-d14b-e9d9-e957-2ef08b64e8b4. Date Accessed September 15, 2026.

DailyMed - BALSALAZIDE DISODIUM capsule. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=a0498308-14b2-4456-8e13-795f6fc8ea30. Date Accessed September 15, 2026.