Olsalazine in patients intolerant of sulphasalazine

Fifty patients with ulcerative colitis, intolerant of sulphasalazine, were treated with 500 mg olsalazine twice daily for a 3-month trial period. Thirty-eight of the patients (76%) tolerated the drug well, and all continued to take it beyond the 3-month period. Twelve (24%) were withdrawn because of side effects, the commonest being diarrhoea. There were no haematologic or biochemical abnormalities. Thus, olsalazine is a useful drug for patients who are intolerant of sulphasalazine.