ACTIFED W/ CODEINE vs COLAZAL

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated October 6, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. ACTIFED W/ CODEINE and COLAZAL are different prescription medicines. Combining or switching between them can cause interactions — talk to a pharmacist or prescriber before making changes. This page is not medical advice.

Attribute	ACTIFED W/ CODEINE	COLAZAL
Rating	72/100	74/100
Pharmacy pays	~$20.54 /30	~$11.02 /30
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	CODEINE PHOSPHATE AND PSEUDOEPHEDRINE HYDROCHLORIDE AND TRIPROLIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE	BALSALAZIDE DISODIUM
Manufacturer	Glaxosmithkline	Valeant Pharm Intl
Dosage forms	Syrup	Capsule
Drug class	—	Aminosalicylate
Boxed warning	None	None
Half-life	roughly 3 to 16 hours — the label does not give one number, because the elimination half-life depends on urine pH: about 3 to 6 hours when urine pH is 5 (acidic), and about 9 to 16 hours when urine pH is 8 (alkaline)	—
Treats	—	Ulcerative Colitis

actifed w/ codeine colazal

Rating

72/100

74/100

Pharmacy pays

~$20.54 /30

~$11.02 /30

Type

Active ingredient

CODEINE PHOSPHATE AND PSEUDOEPHEDRINE HYDROCHLORIDE AND TRIPROLIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE

BALSALAZIDE DISODIUM

Manufacturer

Glaxosmithkline

Valeant Pharm Intl

Dosage forms

Syrup

Capsule

Drug class

—

Aminosalicylate

Boxed warning

None

Half-life

roughly 3 to 16 hours — the label does not give one number, because the elimination half-life depends on urine pH: about 3 to 6 hours when urine pH is 5 (acidic), and about 9 to 16 hours when urine pH is 8 (alkaline)

—

Treats

—

Ulcerative Colitis

Frequently asked questions

Which is better-rated, Actifed W/ Codeine or Colazal?

By our independent rating, Colazal scores higher — 3.7 vs 3.6 out of 5 for Actifed W/ Codeine. Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data.

Which is cheaper, Actifed W/ Codeine or Colazal?

Colazal costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $11.02 vs $20.54 for a 30-count supply, per the CMS NADAC survey. That gap is in the pharmacy's cost of goods, not necessarily in what you pay: your price is set afterwards by your insurer and the pharmacy.

What is the difference between Actifed W/ Codeine and Colazal?

Actifed W/ Codeine contains Codeine Phosphate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride and Triprolidine Hydrochloride, while Colazal contains Balsalazide Disodium — they have different active ingredients.

Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.