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                                                                    Exhibit 5.1

February 11, 2002

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
8540 Colonnade Center Drive
Suite 501
Raleigh, North Carolina 27615

Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be filed on or about
the date hereof by Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Registration
Statement"), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, of 4,600,000 shares of the Company's common stock, $0.001 par
value per share (the "Shares"). The shares are to be sold as described in the
Registration Statement. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of
all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals
and the conformity with the original of all documents submitted to us as copies
thereof.

As your legal counsel, we have examined the proceedings taken, and are familiar
with the proceedings proposed to be taken, in connection with the sale of the
Shares.

It is our opinion that, upon completion of the proceedings being taken or
contemplated by us, as your counsel, to be taken prior to the issuance of the
Shares, including the proceedings being taken in order to permit such
transactions to be carried out in accordance with applicable state securities
laws, the Shares when issued in the manner referred to in the Registration
Statement and in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Company, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

We express no opinion with respect to the applicability or effect of the laws
of any jurisdiction other than the Delaware General Corporation Law, as in
effect on the date hereof.

We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the
Registration Statement, including the Prospectus constituting a part thereof,
and any amendments thereto.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          WYRICK ROBBINS YATES & PONTON LLP

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