On balsalazide disodium indefinitely?

Hello everyone!

I was diagnosed with moderate ulcerative colitis about a year and a half ago. My doctor put me on 7g of balsalazide disodium daily, along with Canasa suppositories.

Here's my question -- everything I read online says that balsalazide disodium is prescribed for 8 weeks in order to get over a flare. Is anybody else on it indefinitely? I've been taking 7g daily for the last year and a half...is this normal?


Thank you!

-Osteo

I'm not much of an expert on that particular med but UC is a disease where you have to take maintenance meds every day in order to stay in remission. You can't stop because UC does not stop. If you took meds, attained remission, and quit meds, your UC would come back and next time whatever med that worked before might not work again or work as well and when that happens people often have to take harsher and harsher meds. That particular med isn't one of the harsher ones so it would be safer to take that med every day rather than have to take riskier meds once you flare again.

That's the safest med combo! You are lucky!

I was on it for nearly 6 years. It's a very safe med and they use these meds in other types of colitis as well, which might account for the 8 week time line. For us, it is to reach and maintain remission and to help reduce the risk of colon cancer so we are on these meds for the long haul (meaning indefinitely if there are no complications).