Balsalazide vs. Apriso for Ulcerative Colitis: Important Differences and Potential Risks.

Balsalazide

(Colazal)

Mesalamine

Summary for Balsalazide

Prescription only

Balsalazide disodium, also known by the brand name Colazal, is an aminosalicylate. It's a first-choice treatment option for treating mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC) in people age 5 years and older. Balsalazide (Colazal) is available as 750 mg capsules. The typical dosage for adults is 3 capsules by mouth three times per day. Children can take either 1 or 3 capsules by mouth three times per day. Side effects include stomach pain and diarrhea.

Indications for Balsalazide

Mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC) in people age 5 years and older

Pros and Cons for Balsalazide

Pros

Can start to provide symptom relief after 2 weeks of treatment
Can sprinkle the pill contents onto applesauce if you have trouble swallowing it whole

Cons

Need to take three times per day
Can't take if you're allergic to salicylates, such as aspirin

Common Side Effects for Balsalazide

Stomach pain (6%)
Diarrhea (5%)
Joint pain (4%)

Warnings for Balsalazide

Kidney damage
Kidney stones
Acute intolerance syndrome
Allergic reactions
Severe skin reactions
Liver problems
Skin that's sensitive to the sun
Caution in people with gut blockage

Summary for Apriso

Prescription only

Mesalamine is used to help with an inflammatory bowel disease called ulcerative colitis (UC). It helps relieve symptoms of mild or moderate UC, such as stomach pain, diarrhea, and gut inflammation. This medication can also be used to maintain remission (prevent UC flare-ups) in adults. There are many brand names for mesalamine on the market, and they all have lower-cost generics available. The dosage depends on the brand and formulation of mesalamine you have. In general, this medication can cause side effects like headache and indigestion.

Indications for Apriso

Ulcerative colitis (UC)

Pros and Cons for Apriso

Pros

Easy to take since it's a pill that's swallowed
Generally mild side effects
A first-choice option for preventing flare-ups in adults with mild UC
Lower-cost generics available

Cons

Typically need to take a few pills for each dose
Can take a few weeks before you start to feel the effects
Might cause kidney stones and make your skin more sensitive to the sun
Might not be the best option for people with liver problems

Common Side Effects for Apriso

Headache
Stomach pain
Nausea
Diarrhea
Indigestion

Warnings for Apriso

Kidney problems, including kidney stones
Abnormal reaction to mesalamine
Liver problems
Allergic reactions and severe skin reactions
Iron content in certain tablets and capsules of mesalamine
Caution use in people with phenylketonuria (for Apriso extended-release capsules only)