SFZ belongs to a group of medicines called aminosalicylates. It is an anti-inflammatory disease and is used to treat bowel inflammation, diarrhea (stool frequency), rectal bleeding, and abdominal pain in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. In rheumatoid arthritis, it helps prevent damage to the joints and works slowly to reduce swelling and stiffness in your joints.

Though it is uncommon, SFZ may affect your kidney function. Therefore, it is important that your kidney function remains normal before you start taking SFZ. If during treatment with SFZ your kidney functions become abnormal, you should consult your doctor.

SFZ does not work right away. It takes about 6 to 12 weeks to deliver the full effect.You may start feeling better in 4 weeks after starting SFZ, but it can vary from person to person and some of the patients may notice improvement after 3 months. Consumption of medicine should not be stopped without consulting your doctor.

You should avoid using SFZ with azathioprine since there are chances of decrease in blood cell count, which can be a serious side effect.

If you are able to tolerate SFZ which means the side effects do not bother you, then you have to continue SFZ till disease remains in remission.

Decreased sperm count and infertility have been reported in some males. These may disappear once SFZ is discontinued.

Your doctor will advise you blood tests to check your blood cell counts and your kidney function before starting your treatment and regularly during treatment. The tests should also be done to measure substances produced by your liver known as enzymes (liver function tests) and urine for protein and blood before you start treatment and at regular intervals.

SFZ is neither a steroid nor a painkiller. It is an anti-inflammatory medicine. It is used to treat and manage ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease in which the intestines become inflamed (swelling of intestines). It is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (painful joint disease).