The short- and long-term safety of 5-aminosalicylate products in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

5-aminosalicylic acid agents are effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Balsalazide, mesalamine, and olsalazine are alternative formulations to sulfasalazine for the delivery of 5-aminosalicylic acid. The newer compounds might be better tolerated than sulfasalazine in some patients, as long as the intolerance is not due to hypersensitivity to 5-aminosalicylic acid. Adverse events requiring the withdrawal of therapy seem to occur less frequently with balsalazide, mesalamine, and olsalazine compared with sulfasalazine. If patients are unable to tolerate any one of these three 5-aminosalicylic acid-releasing preparations, they might be able to tolerate one of the others, as long as the intolerance is not due to hypersensitivity to 5-aminosalicylic acid.