Sulphasalazine & being tired & washed out

venita

Hi
Does anyone else have any thoughts on Sulphasalazine I am into my 3rd week of this medication, I have been feeling very unwell feel sick, dizzy but the worse thing of all is the tiredness, I feel just like my life has been sucked out of me. I can just about get up out of bed all I am doing is sleeping or sitting in a chair, it is an effort to do anything at all.
Have spoken to my Rhumey Nurse who has said that some people have this all my bloods have come back ok so thats a good thing.

I have had to have a nother day off work today as I just did not have the energy to go.

Thanks

Venita

suzster

hi, i have found that since my RA came along i have had a lot less energy in general!!! no get p and go here!
see what others say, but i'm pretty sure arthur makes us a bit more tired any way, sorry not much help really, but as for the sickness i found that anti sickness tablets are a must have item now.
when i started on sulphasalzine my dr gave me a prescription for mottelium (sp?) and i still keep some in now as other meds can cause sickness to, it's a joy!!
sue

mrsdalloway

Hi Ven I have been on sulphasalazine for 13 years now and it has been the one drug that hasn't given me side effects. Maybe you have been overdoing it and not balancing rest and work. I know I haven't this week and feel like a wrung out dish rag!

topgirl

Hi Venita....
Yep, i know totally where you are coming from....
Im on my 6th week...so am on full dose....
Im not sure if it is sulfalaline thats making me so tired or maybe because it hasnt started working and its the RA...
I could sleep all day...and often do...
Ive also been of work the odd day to sleep....
However my Rumy says its very early days and its a good drug with a good success rate
At least when asleep its not as painfull....
Good luck...keep in touch
X

fayrose

I have been on sulphasalazine for over 5 years now and its been the only med I've been able to tolerate.
I have also been prescribed methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine, both of which knocked me for 6, and I've subsequently given up on them. I've also been diagnosed with macular degeneration, so hydroxychloroquine is a no-no for me anyway.

My last rheumatologist appointment was quite positive and he said that the sulph. was obviously doing the trick at the moment.

Good luck to you and I hope the meds work well for you.

yesmeducky

venita wrote:

Hi
Does anyone else have any thoughts on Sulphasalazine I am into my 3rd week of this medication, I have been feeling very unwell feel sick, dizzy but the worse thing of all is the tiredness, I feel just like my life has been sucked out of me. I can just about get up out of bed all I am doing is sleeping or sitting in a chair, it is an effort to do anything at all.
Have spoken to my Rhumey Nurse who has said that some people have this all my bloods have come back ok so thats a good thing.

I have had to have a nother day off work today as I just did not have the energy to go.

Thanks

Venita

Hi Venita,
I've been on the sulfasalazine for 12 weeks (the last 4 weeks combined with methotrexate). The tiredness you speak of is just like mine where i'm totally drained and yet haven't done anything. My blood tests are all fine. I do think i have less spells of being tired now than when i first started on the drug. I believe the RA is the most likely cause of the tiredness; as the drugs start to control the symptons better, energetic spells become more frequent . I also had some nausea but it has subsided as my body got used to it. Although i've been put on methotrexate, the sulfa has had a good effect on me. Before, i could hardly do anything for myself and now i can function again but it is thought that the additional drug will help further. Things will improve Venita. It's very frustrating i know.
Take care
Heidi x

venita

venita wrote:

Hi
Does anyone else have any thoughts on Sulphasalazine I am into my 3rd week of this medication, I have been feeling very unwell feel sick, dizzy but the worse thing of all is the tiredness, I feel just like my life has been sucked out of me. I can just about get up out of bed all I am doing is sleeping or sitting in a chair, it is an effort to do anything at all.
Have spoken to my Rhumey Nurse who has said that some people have this all my bloods have come back ok so thats a good thing.

I have had to have a nother day off work today as I just did not have the energy to go.

Thanks
Many thanks to everyone for your replies, it is so good to know that other people have similar experiences.
I am taking each day as it comes, I had a bad experience with MTX a while back and I am anxious that this does not happen again, but I am not giving up just yet see how it goes.

Thanks again

Venita

venita

topgirl wrote:

Hi Venita....
Yep, i know totally where you are coming from....
Im on my 6th week...so am on full dose....
Im not sure if it is sulfalaline thats making me so tired or maybe because it hasnt started working and its the RA...
I could sleep all day...and often do...
Ive also been of work the odd day to sleep....
However my Rumy says its very early days and its a good drug with a good success rate
At least when asleep its not as painfull....
Good luck...keep in touch
X

Hi I have not been on for a while and was just checking my last posts how are you getting on with the sulpa ? You are about 3 weeks ahead of me. I should be taking 4 tabs a day 2 morn and 2 evening but I am only managing to take 2 a day anymore makes me feel extremely sick. I have been back to see my rhumy and he has just said to keep going, got to go back in November.

Best Wishes
Venita

tinyzab

I had similar effects on Sulf - been on full dose for 3 months now, but remember having sickness, headaches and agitation when i was attempting to go up to 4! I just stuck with it, as I figured I would go through it no matter what so if you can just keep going. Think everyone is right - tiredness is the RA mostly. I've been ok on Sulf so far, although not sure if it is doing anything yet as last few weeks have been aching a lot again, waking up in the night etc. Feel tired most of the time, but just keep going as well as I can - its all you can do really. We're with you all the way!

bailey27

Hi
I am due to start these tablets. I have them already but waiting for a letter from the hospital to give me the all clear to start them with a blood test appointment arranged. I hope I dont get the same side effects as you, then again if we didnt take thesee tablets we would probably be even worse so cant grumble really.
Hope you feel better soon!
xx