Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For aminosalicylate sodium, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to aminosalicylate sodium, aspirin or other salicylates, including methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen), or to other related medicines such as sulfonamides (sulfa medicine). Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—In one study where aminosalicylates were taken with other medicines for tuberculosis, there was an increase in birth defects. However, other studies have not shown aminosalicylates to cause birth defects.

Breast-feeding—Aminosalicylate sodium passes into the breast milk. However, this medicine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children—There is no specific information comparing use of aminosalicylate sodium in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of aminosalicylate sodium in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking aminosalicylate sodium, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Aminobenzoates (e.g., Potaba)—Use of aminosalicylate sodium with aminobenzoates may decrease the effectiveness of aminosalicylate sodium

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of aminosalicylate sodium. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency—Aminosalicylate sodium may cause or worsen this blood problem

• Heart disease or other circulation problems—The sodium in aminosalicylate sodium may cause or worsen heart or circulation problems

• Kidney disease (severe)—Patients with kidney disease may have an increase in side effects

• Liver disease (severe)—Patients with severe liver disease may have an increase in side effects

• Stomach ulcer—Aminosalicylate sodium may cause stomach irritation