Note: This document contains side effect information about olsalazine. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Dipentum.
Applies to olsalazine: oral capsule.
Serious side effects of Dipentum
Along with its needed effects, olsalazine (the active ingredient contained in Dipentum) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking olsalazine:
More common
- Agitation
- bloody diarrhea
- blood in the urine
- coma
- confusion
- dark-colored urine
- decreased urine output
- depression
- dizziness
- fever
- general feeling of tiredness or weakness
- headache
- hostility
- increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
- irritability
- itching, skin rash
- lethargy
- light-colored stools
- muscle twitching
- nausea
- pain in the groin or genitals
- rapid weight gain
- redness or other discoloration of the skin
- seizures
- severe sunburn
- sharp back pain just below ribs
- stomach pain
- swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting
- yellow eyes or skin
Less common
- Pale skin
- trouble breathing
- unusual bleeding or bruising
Rare
- Back pain
- fast heartbeat
- swelling of the stomach
Incidence not know
- Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
- chest pain
- chills
- cough
- diarrhea
- joint or muscle pain
- painful or difficult urination
- red, irritated eyes
- red skin lesions often with a purple center
- sore throat
- sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
- swelling of the feet or lower legs
- unsteadiness or awkwardness
- weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
Other side effects of Dipentum
Some side effects of olsalazine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
- loss of appetite
Less common
- Aching joints and muscles
- acid or sour stomach
- acne
- anxiety
- belching
- bloated or full feeling
- body aches or pain
- bone pain
- congestion
- constipation
- coughing
- cramps
- difficulty with moving
- dizziness or drowsiness
- heartburn
- hoarseness
- indigestion
- muscle stiffness
- passing of gas
- shivering
- sleeplessness
- sneezing
- stomach discomfort or upset
- sweating
- swelling or inflammation of the mouth
- swollen joints
- tender, swollen glands in the neck
- trouble with sleeping
- trouble with swallowing
- unable to sleep
- voice changes
- weight loss
Rare
- Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
- flushing, redness of the skin
- hair loss or thinning of the hair
- inability to have or keep an erection
- loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
- unusually warm skin
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to olsalazine: oral capsule.
General
The most commonly reported side effects included diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, and headaches.[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Very common (10% or more): Diarrhea (up to 17%), abdominal pain (up to 10.1%), cramps (10.1%)
Common (1% to 10%): Bloating, heartburn, loose stools, nausea, rectal bleeding, stomatitis, upset stomach, vomiting
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspepsia
Frequency not reported: Abdominal pain upper, diarrhea with dehydration, dry mouth, epigastric discomfort, exacerbation/flare in symptoms, flatulence, increased blood in stool, pancreatitis, rectal discomfort[Ref]
Compared to patients given placebo, increased frequency and intensity of diarrhea was reported in patients given 500 mg orally 2 times a day who were also receiving pelvic radiation.[Ref]
Nervous system
Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, headache, lightheadedness, vertigo
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Paresthesia
Frequency not reported: Drowsiness, lethargy, peripheral neuropathy, tremors[Ref]
Dermatologic
Common (1% to 10%): Itching, rash
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Alopecia, photosensitivity/photosensitivity reaction, pruritus, urticaria
Frequency not reported: Erythema, erythema nodosum[Ref]
Psychiatric
Common (1% to 10%): Depression, insomnia
Frequency not reported: Irritability, mood swings[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
Common (1% to 10%): Arthralgia, joint pain
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Myalgia
Frequency not reported: Muscle cramps[Ref]
Respiratory
Common (1% to 10%): Upper respiratory infection
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspnea
Frequency not reported: Bronchospasm, interstitial lung/pulmonary disease, shortness of breath[Ref]
Metabolic
Common (1% to 10%): Anorexia
Postmarketing reports: Elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)[Ref]
Hepatic
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hepatic enzyme increased
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Granulomatous hepatitis, nonspecific, reactive hepatitis
Frequency not reported: ALT elevated beyond normal range, AST elevated beyond normal range, hepatitis, increased bilirubin, mild cholestatic hepatitis
Postmarketing reports: Cholestatic jaundice, cirrhosis, elevated alkaline phosphatase, elevated GGT, hepatic function changes, hepatocellular damage, hepatotoxicity, jaundice, liver failure, liver necrosis[Ref]
Patients who developed granulomatous hepatitis, nonspecific, reactive hepatitis, or mild cholestatic hepatitis had complete recovery after treatment was withdrawn.[Ref]
Hematologic
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Thrombocytopenia
Frequency not reported: Anemia, aplastic anemia, eosinophilia, granulocytopenia, hemolysis, hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, lymphopenia, neutropenia, pancytopenia, reticulocytosis[Ref]
Cardiovascular
A patient developed thyroid disease 9 days after starting treatment and was given propranolol radioactive iodine; the patient then developed nausea and shortness of breath and died 5 days later with signs/symptoms of acute diffuse myocarditis.[Ref]
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Tachycardia
Frequency not reported: Chest pains, heart block second degree, hot flashes, hypertension, myocarditis, orthostatic hypotension, palpitations, pericarditis, peripheral edema[Ref]
Other
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pyrexia
Frequency not reported: Chills, fatigue, fever, miscellaneous side effects, rigors, tinnitus[Ref]
Genitourinary
Frequency not reported: Dysuria, frequency/urinary frequency, hematuria, impotence, menorrhagia, proteinuria[Ref]
Ocular
Frequency not reported: Blurred vision, dry eyes, watery eyes[Ref]
Renal
Frequency not reported: Interstitial nephritis, nephrotic syndrome[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Frequency not reported: Angioneurotic edema[Ref]
