ACTIFED vs COLAZAL

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated October 7, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. ACTIFED 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	COLAZAL
Rating	72/100	74/100
Pharmacy pays	~$8.29 /30	~$11.02 /30
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	PSEUDOEPHEDRINE HYDROCHLORIDE AND TRIPROLIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE	BALSALAZIDE DISODIUM
Manufacturer	Glaxosmithkline	Valeant Pharm Intl
Dosage forms	Tablet	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 colazal

Rating

72/100

74/100

Pharmacy pays

~$8.29 /30

~$11.02 /30

Type

Active ingredient

PSEUDOEPHEDRINE HYDROCHLORIDE AND TRIPROLIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE

BALSALAZIDE DISODIUM

Manufacturer

Glaxosmithkline

Valeant Pharm Intl

Dosage forms

Tablet

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 or Colazal?

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

Which is cheaper, Actifed or Colazal?

Actifed costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $8.29 vs $11.02 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 and Colazal?

Actifed contains 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.