Gastrointestinal

Question 1

Sulfasalazine

Answer 1

DC: 5 Aminosalicylic acid
I:
- Crohn's disease induction and maintenance of remisison
- Ulcerative colitis
- Rheumatoid Arthiritis

D:

• 2-4g TDS or QID
• If Crohn’s: 3-6g daily in divided doses
• if RA: 2-3g daily in BD or TDS

M:

• Improvement of symptoms such as abdominal pain, blood in stools, fatigue etc
• FBC
• LFT
• Renal function test
• Vaccination status
• Signs of infection
• Allergy

C:

• May experience headache, nausea, diarrhoea, and rash. If severe tell doctor.
• If experience signs of infection, tell doctor.
• Take with food
• Will stain tears, skin, urine, and contact lenses.
• Impair folic acid absorption. Consider supplementing it with folic acid

PP:

• Could add on lifestyle changes such as decrease smoking if haven’t already
• Exercise regularly. Even if its 15 minutes a day of low level exercise
• Diet changes, although not much evidence
• Decrease stress levels