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Monitoring for safety

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Sulphasalazine is potentially toxic and so must be carefully monitored (1,2).

FBC, LFTs

  • every 1-2 weeks for 2 months; then 3-monthly for a year; then 6-monthly

Watch for trends as well as absolute levels of:

  • Hb & MCV
  • differential WCC
  • platelets

Any patient receiving sulphasalazine should be advised about the need to have a full blood count immediately if they develop unexplained purpura, bleeding, bruising, sore throat, fever or excessive tiredness (1).

FBC, LFTs Every 1-2 weeks for 2 months; then 3-monthly for a year; then 6-monthly

Ideally results should be recorded in a patient-held booklet.

Reference:

  1. Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (2002), 39 (12), 91-95.
  2. MeReC Bulletin 2007;17(5):1-8.

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