Compare Lialda vs. Sulfasalazine
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Treats ulcerative colitis and helps prevent flares from coming back.
Lialda (mesalamine) effectively reduces symptoms of mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis, and may be less irritating than other formulations, but is brand only, so may be more expensive..
Reduces inflammation.
Azulfidine (Sulfasalazine) is used to treat moderate to severe inflammatory bowel conditions. It's also used with other medicines to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Upsides
- Lialda (mesalamine) effectively treats and helps maintain remission of ulcerative colitis.
- Often used as a first-choice treatment.
- Since Lialda (mesalamine) is a delayed release form, the pill is taken only once a day compared to other similar medicines and may be less irritating to the stomach and intestines.
- Available as a generic.
- Can slow down the progression of your rheumatoid arthritis.
- Helps control your stomach problems if you're taking it for ulcerative colitis.
Downsides
- Treatment dosage must be taken once a day for a total of 8 weeks.
- Can take a few weeks before you start to feel the effects.
- Combination therapy with oral and rectal forms may be needed for some people.
- Requires constant lab monitoring, at least every other week when you first start using it.
- Not a good option if you have kidney or liver disease.
- If you're allergic to sulfa drugs or aspirin, you can't take Azulfidine (Sulfasalazine).
- Can interfere with lab test results, so let your doctor know if you're taking this drug.
- Interacts with a lot of different drugs and can also cause many side effects.
Used for
Dosage forms
- Delayed-release pill
- Pill
- Extended release
Price
Lowest price
$94.05
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$269.38
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Reviews
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Side effects
5possible side effects
- Ulcerative colitis6%
- Headache3%
- Abnormal liver tests2%
- Abdominal pain2%
- Diarrhea2%
8possible side effects
- Nausea19%
- Stomach problems13%
- Rash13%
- Headache9%
- Stomach pain8%
- Vomiting8%
- Fever5%
- Dizziness4%
Risks and risk factors
- Kidney problems
- Preexisting kidney problems
- Taking medications toxic to the kidney
- Liver problems
- Preexisting liver problems
- Taking other medications toxic to the liver
- Serious allergic reactions
- Sulfasalazine reaction
- Allergy to salicylates (aspirin)
- Abnormal reaction to Lialda (mesalamine)
- Upper gastrointestinal tract blockage
- Drug & disease precautions
- Kidney, liver, or blood problems
- Serious skin reactions
- Serious allergic reactions
- Serious infections
- Drug interactions