Sulfasalazine

susie51

Hi I am back - been on here on and off for 3 or so years. Was taking Methotrexate until October this year when I couldnt bear it any more!! Saw my consultant last week and she suggested Sulfasalazine. Anyone out there got any info to share on what this is like, its effects etc I am existing on high dosage painkillers and anti inflamatories at the moment and quite liking not taking any of the poisonous RA drugs but then I have to bear in mind joint damage limitation - "life's a bitch and then you die" as they say!!! lol have to keep a sense of humour with this b*st*rd disease! Happy Christmas one and all Cheers Su

trisher

Hi Sue

I have been on Sulfasalazine. I went up to the 6 a day max dose I think, but I started to get bad mirgraines and had to come off of it. You have to start on a low dose and work your way up.

The side effects some are, headaches, nausea, yellow urine and tears, liver counts so have regular blood tests.

There are the members taking it, if you log on tomorrow there will be a lot more members on here.

You can talk to the Helpline team, or get a leaflet about it.

Sorry I cannot be of more help.

Trisher xx

lynnemarie

hiya

I am on 4 sulfa's a day - they work for me!! eventually it took over 3 months to take any effect and was on pain killers and anti inflam's at the same time - gradually now I am just of sulfa and take the other's when i am having a flare!

Sulfa is fine they ween you onto it as it can effect your stomach etc and make sure you eat before you take it.

As far as I can tell loads of people take sulfa and to be honest - its worth a try isnt it!

Good luck
x

wibberley

Am watching this with interest as I'm about to start sulpha!

My Rheumy wanted me to go on mtx but I decided on giving sulpha a go first.

Am on celebrex just now which isn't doing much good, so eager to get going on something a bit stronger!

kezzo1

I TRIED SULPHA WASNT ON IT FOR LONG BUT MADE NO DIFF TO ME AT ALL WENT ONTO MTX INJECTS BUT FELT AWFUL DAY AFTER THEN HUMIRA WHICH IS THE DOGS b****** I HAVE TO SAY FINGERS CROSSED THOUGH SUPLHA WORKS FOR U ITS SO DIFF FOR EVERYONE! XX

bailey27

I've been on sulpha now for about 6-7 weeks and do not feel any differance. Since I have started on them I've had some of the worst flares ever, obviously dont think they have caused it but definately dont think they are helping me at all.

[Please be aware that everyone responds to treatments in different ways. If you are concerned about your medication, discuss it with your healthcare team or for more information call the helpline on the number at the top of the page
Moderator(T)]

munglebungle

Hi

I was on Mtx for 18 months and like you couldnt stand the side effects any more, so i stopped it a month ago. I am on Sulfasalazine as well anyway and have noticed that my joints are a bit more achy than when i was on both. I have a rheumy apt at the end of Jan so i'll see what i feel like then and see what they say.

I havent had any side effects from Sulfasalazine (been on it about 6 months) so its worth a try.

Good luck and take care.

x

spite_k

I've been taking Sulfasalazine since November, and I'm now up to 4 a day, I've suffered with side effects ranging from:

Headaches
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Pain when urinating
Lumps in my neck
Yellowed fluids and yellow hands

Just to name a few - my doctors aren't offering any help with this at the minute, and I'm still suffering now - does anyone have any advice how I can get the help I need?

bailey27

Just wondering, as mentioned above I have been on sulphasalazine for a couple months now. It effected my blood count so now take ferrous sulphate twice a day too. Have not felt any benefit of the sulpha. What drugs would they try next or would they increase dose? I am currently on x4 daily. I know the max dose is x6 daily. I am due to see rheumy end of january. Can I request a different drug because I don't want the appointment taken up with him telling me to up my dose to 6 a day and come back in 3 months again. I hvaent felt an ounce of improvement being on 4 a day so am not confident I will on 6 either.

skezier

Hi Sue,

been on sulfa since June (I think). used to get the headaches and feeling sick but thankfully that stopped. Thy didn't do anything too obvious so my rumo put me on the max of 7 a day and for a few weeks it really did seem o work. Then I had a bit of major stress and went back into a flare back in october and as yet it don't seem to have stopped. I have say though I sometimes forget the evening ones and maybe if I did remember they would be better? Good luck and as with everything we are given they are also trial and error. Take care Cris

raybee

Hi everyone only my second post! Just been taken off methotrexate. Been given 6 weeks to get chest back to normal and a lovely big depo jab! Superwoman here I come.....

Anyhow am going on to sulfasalazine. Bit concerned I am going to turn yellow!! Whats all that about. I don't mind if its a little jaundice colour but YELLOW!?????

Am feeling pleased to have ditched the metho, didn't do me any good. Fingers crossed for the yellow stuff..
Rachel

Psoriatic arthritis

bailey27

I have been on sulph for about 13 weeks now. Been on 6 a day for last couple days, still no differnace in my opinion but been advised by rheumy that i should try the max dose for about 12 weeks before they try something else. When starting them I felt a bit spaced out but no other side effects apart from orange pee.
From what i have researched sulphasalazine has the least amount of side effects / less serious ones which I think is why they try to use this instead of straight onto other dmards/

margaretschild

Hi,

I was on MTX for about 3 years, hated it and it's side effects so came off it and onto Sulfa, doc told me it can take up to 3 months for it to start working.

Came off that - side effects again, and am now on enbrel.

The world is now a wonderful place and I am pain free.

Sorry cannot be more help, but good luck I hope it works for you.

suzster

raybee wrote:

Hi everyone only my second post! Just been taken off methotrexate. Been given 6 weeks to get chest back to normal and a lovely big depo jab! Superwoman here I come.....

Anyhow am going on to sulfasalazine. Bit concerned I am going to turn yellow!! Whats all that about. I don't mind if its a little jaundice colour but YELLOW!?????

Am feeling pleased to have ditched the metho, didn't do me any good. Fingers crossed for the yellow stuff..
Rachel

Psoriatic arthritis

it doesn't turn you yellow, as far as i know!
i've been on 4 a day for a year or so, it turns your wee yellow, can turn tears yellow, but the thing that annoyed me was it can dye you clothes and stuff yellow! i tipped mine onto my bed to do up a weeks worth of meds and found that my quilt cover had yellow patches on it! but they washed out so not all bad!
sue

topgirl

Hi,
I have had mixed results with Sulfa.....
It took about 6 months to see results and i didnt have any side affects( apart from the yellow wee!!!)
However after being on 6 a day for 2 months i got lots of mouth ulcers and had trouble swallowing so ive had to come of it....im gutted as i thought it was really good...
Hope it works for you
Best wishes,
Kay
xx

raybee

thanks for the replies! I can just about cope with yellow wee, not sure about the tango orange ,so good to hear people haven't had that effect. i keep imagining myself looking like judith chalmers!

rayxx

topgirl

raybee wrote:

thanks for the replies! I can just about cope with yellow wee, not sure about the tango orange ,so good to hear people haven't had that effect. i keep imagining myself looking like judith chalmers!

rayxx

sorry...but i got Tango orange too sometimes...lol
x

jonny_g

I was on it for about 2.5 years and it was ok.

Eventually had to come off because alledgedly it was damaging my hearing and giving me tinnitus.

I found it was generally ok, it upset my stomach on a few occasions and once or twice I ended up with Gastritis but other than that, only problem was really the yellow wee and stuff