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Long-Term Use of Colazal

Colazal is the brand name for the generic drug, balsalazide disodium. Colazal is used in treating ulcerative colitis, the medical term for chronic inflammation of the lower intestine. Drugs.com states that it is a product that works by releasing its active ingredient, mesalamine, to the lining of the colon directly. While Colazol is generally considered an effective treatment, there are certain risks associated with long-term use.

  1. Long-Term Risk

    • While Colazal is known to bring about immediate relief in the symptoms associated with ulcerative colitis, is it not without its drawbacks, especially when used long term. The most important of these relate to the way it acts on the kidney. Although Colazal itself is not reported to have caused damage to the kidney, other products containing mesalamine have done damage to the kidneys when used for long periods of time. Health Central cautions that colazal belongs to the same general class of drugs as these mesalamine products, and thus there is a chance that Colazal too will have an adverse effect on kidney health when used for a long period of time.

    Other Possible Problems

    • Colazal also has several other negative side effects, which may become worse or more frequent with long-term use. These side effects include diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, joint pain, respiratory infection and vomiting. Health Central lists other side effects of this drug that range from blood in the urine to rectal bleeding to dizziness. Health Central also notes that other side effects can develop with long-term use, including a worsening of the condition for which it is taken, extreme exhaustion, infection, an increased heart beat, bleeding and a sore throat.

    Evaluating Risk

    • As of 2009, the full extent of the risks associated with Colazal is unknown. Health Central warns that since this is a relatively new drug, not much is known about what effect use of this drug for more than 12 weeks is going to have on the body. Thus, you should consult with a doctor before taking the drug for long periods and should be routinely monitored for signs of dangerous side effects if you intend to take Colazal for more than 12 weeks.

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