Proper Use of This Medicine

Aminosalicylate sodium may be taken with or after meals or with an antacid if it upsets your stomach.

To help clear up your tuberculosis (TB) completely, it is important that you keep taking this medicine for the full time of treatment even if you begin to feel better after a few weeks. Since TB may take a long time to clear up, you may have to take the medicine every day for as long as 1 to 2 years or more. If you stop taking this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return.

This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is best to take the doses at evenly spaced times day and night . For example, if you are to take 3 doses a day, doses should be spaced about 8 hours apart. If this interferes with your sleep or other daily activities, or if you need help in planning the best times to take your medicine, check with your health care professional.

Dosing—The dose of aminosalicylate sodium will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of aminosalicylate sodium. This medicine comes in tablets as aminosalicylate sodium (the salt form), but your doctor bases the dose on the amount of aminosalicylate acid (the acid form of the medicine) in the tablet. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

• For the tablet dosage form:
  • For the treatment of tuberculosis:
    • Adults and children 12 years of age and older—3.3 to 4 grams (aminosalicylate acid) every eight hours, or 5 to 6 grams (aminosalicylate acid) every twelve hours. This medicine must be taken with other medicines used to treat tuberculosis (TB).
    • Younger children—The dose is based on body weight and must be determined by the doctor. Depending on the size of the dose, the medicine may be given every six or eight hours. This medicine must be taken with other medicines used to treat tuberculosis (TB).

Missed dose—If you do miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. This will help to keep a constant amount of medicine in the blood. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.