Mtx v's Sulpha

wibberley

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the two?

Mtx does seem to be more widely used, but from what I've read sulpha was previously more popular.

Can anyone enlighten me? :?

scattered

MTX has a greater efficacy and is more likely to act on the disease from what I remember. I've been on both, neither did anything for me. MTX worked for a little while but not long enough, while sulph. did absolutely nothing but turn my pee yellow.

Literature talks about MTX as the 'gold standard' of treatment. It's most likely to work with the least amount of side-effects.

wibberley

Thanks Scattered. That answers my question.

Lois x

mrsdalloway

Hi I have been on sulpha for 14 years now and it has been fantastic I definitely notice it if I am really silly and let my prescript run out. However, mtx made me sick as a dog and did absolutely nothing for my RA. I think the problem is that all drugs react with everyone differently. I know of people who are really ill with sulpha and yet take the top whack of mtx and it doesn't affect them. I think it is a case of trial and error and keeping a bucket handy!

wibberley

I'm on neither at the moment but as anti-inflams aren't keeping things under control, am steeling myself for what the rheummy is going to suggest next!

It's nice to know that there is an alternative if mtx doesn't agree with me!

Lois x

munglebungle

Hi

I am on both at the moment, i have found they worked intially but not helping as much at the moment.

Mungle

annie_mial

Wibberley, just to let you know that I've now been on MTX for three weeks and so far I've had just one day feeling a bit icky.
I was started on 7.5, now up to 10 and that goes up again before I see the Rheumy in December.
So far, so good - haven't felt any benefits as yet, but didn't really expect to this early.
I got my words mixed up a bit a couple of weeks ago and now the folic acid which goes with it is called 'frolic acid' - I wish I could!

Annie

wibberley

Annie,

Frolic acid sounds so much more fun!

Glad to hear you've only suffered one icky day - must say that was another of my fears. I've 3 kids and an OH who sometimes works away....not to mention a menagerie of animals so can only handle a day or so of ickiness!

Hiya Collywobble!

Lois x

haagan

Hi
I was on MTX for a year and it did nothing apart from reduce the tiredness so my rheumy asked me to stop and clear it from my system and then start sulpha. unfortunately when I went back I had a chesty cold and protein in my urine so she couldn't start me then as you have to be clear of infections. Next appointment is 24 Nov hoping she will start me then as I have been off DMARD since Sept 1 and arthur is having a field day especially in my hands.
MTX seems to be the preferred first drug but as my Rheumy said everyone reacts differently to drugs and what works for one doesn't for another. Good luck Fay

wibberley

Hi Fay,

Good luck on the 24th - I hope you get the allclear to go ahead with sulpha. With the run-up to Christmas well and truly on, we need all our strength!

That was yet another of my concerns - with 3 kids regularly bringing germs home from school, and with a compromised immune system from the meds will I catch every bug going around? I usually get 1 bad cold a year and am bad at coping with that! Do they give you anything to take instead of mtx when you've caught an infection or are you just expected to cope on your own?

Sorry about all these questions. I actually have my rheummy appt this afternoon and no offence to him but I'm more interested in personal experiences than textbook stuff!

Lois x

haagan

Hi Wibberley
Hope your appointment went well.
My GP's are wonderful, they are my first call when I go down with anything, which since I've started Mtx is quite regular. I never used to catch anything. If you have children you are in the firing line with any new bug, hopefully you won't have any problems. You should have been given loads of info on which ever drug they have given you and a number to ring if you have any queries.
This site is wonderful for advice and support. Fay

yoshimi

hello,

I take sulpha with hydroxy and am thankful to be able to say that I am in a remisson of my RA although only a remission due to meds ( I did ask how they knew I wasn't in a complete remission, they just said 'you're not')

I have been taking the sulpha for about two / three years and added the hydroxy after a year or so which really helped with the tiredness. No definate side affects although i'm always wondering what i can blame on the meds - the list is endless!

sarah x

tkachev

i am on both.I started with Sulpha which was great for 3 months(during which time I had a medical for DLA so failed!)but then it wore off.Have been on it for 7 years ever since.The MTX was great and really helped with the R.A pain but had to increase it upto 22.5mg then had to add Humira as kept having flare-ups.I still rate the MTX apart from the nausea which, with 3 little kids can be a real nuisance.It can make me feel slow and uncomfortable and I dont want to do anything(but since having scrambled eggs before I take it has been much better ).
Best wishes
Elizabeth