How and when to take sulfasalazine

Sulfasalazine tablets and suppositories contain 500mg of sulfasalazine. The liquid contains 250mg in 5ml.

Your dose and how often you take or use sulfasalazine will depend on why you need it, the type you’re using and how severe your symptoms are.

For inflammatory bowel disease the usual dose at the start of your treatment is either:

• 2 to 4 tablets or 20ml to 40ml of liquid, 4 times a day
• 1 to 2 suppositories, twice a day

For rheumatoid arthritis, the usual dose at the start of your treatment is 1 tablet (500mg) taken once a day. This will increase by 1 tablet each week until you reach a dose of 1 tablet 4 times a day (2g a day), or 2 tablets 3 times a day (3g a day), depending on how it works for you.

For children, the dose may be lower. The doctor will usually prescribe a dose based on your child's weight.

Changes to your dose

When your symptoms start to get better, your doctor may reduce your dose. This lower dose, sometimes called a maintenance dose, will help keep your symptoms under control.

If your symptoms get worse again, your doctor may want to increase your dose.