Drug interactions
Diclofenac + Sulfasalazine
Severity: Moderate
Diclofenac and Sulfasalazine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Both drugs can irritate the gastrointestinal tract, and NSAIDs may exacerbate inflammatory bowel disease, which is the usual reason for sulfasalazine. Sulfasalazine can also rarely cause blood dyscrasias, adding to bleeding risk, and both may affect kidney function.
What this interaction means in plain words
Diclofenac and Sulfasalazine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive GI mucosal and renal effects; NSAID prostaglandin inhibition may worsen colitis, with possible overlapping hematologic effects.
What to do
Monitor for GI symptoms, bleeding, and flares of bowel disease, and check blood counts and renal function periodically. Prefer alternative analgesics in inflammatory bowel disease.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Diclofenac and Sulfasalazine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Diclofenac
- Diclofenac + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Diclofenac + Ketorolac intranasal Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Diclofenac Major
- Acemetacin + Diclofenac Major
- Alteplase + Diclofenac Major
- Amiloride + Diclofenac Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Diclofenac with Sulfasalazine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Diclofenac and Sulfasalazine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Both drugs can irritate the gastrointestinal tract, and NSAIDs may exacerbate inflammatory bowel disease, which is the usual reason for sulfasalazine. Sulfasalazine can also rarely cause blood dyscrasias, adding to bleeding risk, and both may affect kidney function.
How serious is the interaction between Diclofenac and Sulfasalazine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor for GI symptoms, bleeding, and flares of bowel disease, and check blood counts and renal function periodically. Prefer alternative analgesics in inflammatory bowel disease.
What other medicines interact with Diclofenac?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Diclofenac with, for example, Ketorolac, Ketorolac intranasal, Aceclofenac. The full list is on the Diclofenac page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
