Table 2.
List of drugs used for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
| Classes of drugs | Trade name | Marketed formulations | Adverse effects | Dose | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aminosalicylates | Sulfasalazine | Azulfidine | Delayed release tablet | Agranulocytosis, pancreatitis, interstitial nephritis | 4–6 g/day divided qid |
| Mesalamine | Asacol | Eudragit S 100 coated tablet (dissolves at pH 7) | Hepatitis, male infertility, arthralgia, pneumonitis | 2–4 g/day divided bid-qid | ||
| Olsalazine (it should be taken after having meals) | Dipentum | Hard gelatine capsules | Stomach upset, bloating, loss of appetite, blurred vision, headache, pain in joints, dizziness | 1.5–3 g/day divided bid qid | ||
| Balsalazide | Colazal | Tablet | Headache, abdominal pain, upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, joint pain, difficulty falling or staying asleep, tiredness | 2.25 g 3 times daily for 8–12 week | ||
| 2 | Corticosteroids | Budesonide | Entocort | Eudragit L coated beads | Dry or irritated mouth or throat, cough, difficult or painful speech, neck pain, stomach pain | 9 mg/day |
| Prednisolone | Deltasone, Orasone | Tablets of 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mg and oral solution/syrup | Hyperglycemia, hypertension, electrolyte disturbances | 5–50 mg per day | ||
| Dexamethasone | Dexasone, Diodex, Decadron | Tablets, Elixirs and solutions | Cataracts, osteoporosis, myopathy | Tablets – 0.25–6 mg | ||
| Elixir – 0.5 mg/ml | ||||||
| Solution – 0.5, 1 mg/5 ml | ||||||
| 3 | Immunosuppressive agents | Azathioprine, Methotrexate | Imuran | Tablet | Hyperglycemia, hypertension, electrolyte disturbances, cataracts | 50 mg |
| Rheumatrex, Traxell | Solution given i.v | 25 mg/ml | ||||
| 4 | Antimicrobial agents | Metronidazole | Flagyl | Extended release tablets 750 mg, capsule 375 mg, cream 0.75 and 1%, lotion 0.75%, gel 0.75% and 1% injection | Urticaria, glossitis; long-term use may develop paresthesia | 750 mg orally three times daily for 5–10 days |
| Ciprofloxacin | Cipro, Proquin XR | Tablets 250, 500 and 750 mg | Diarrhea, vomiting and rash. Other side effects (e.g. headache, abdominal pain, pain in extremities, injection site reaction, cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, etc.) In less than 1% of the patients | 500 mg twice daily | ||
| Extended released (XR) 500 and 1000 mg | ||||||
| Microcapsules for suspension 250 mg/5 ml | ||||||
| Injections 200 mg/100 ml | ||||||
| 5 | Inhibitors of TNF-α | Infliximab | Remicade | Powder for intravenous injection | Acute infusion reactions | 100 mg |
| Adalimubab | Humira | Prefilled glass syringe | Serum sickness, increase in serious infections (e.g. sepsis, pneumonia, tuberculosis) | 20 mg/0.4 ml and 40 mg/0.8 ml | ||