What is "olsalazine"

n. An anti-inflammatory drug used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Olsalazine is an anti-inflammatory drug used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis. It is sold under the name Dipentum.

The chemical name is 3,3' -azobis (6-hydroxybenzoate)salicylic acid. It is sold as the disodium salt.

Like balsalazide, olsalazine is believed to deliver mesalazine, or 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), past the small intestine, directly to the large intestine, which is the active site of disease in ulcerative colitis.