Meds making me feel sick

YellowFish

Saw the consultant about a month ago and he put me on a short course of steroids - woo! I feel like I've got my life back (although I know it's for another week or so, it's been wonderful while it's lasted!)

He also put me on Salazopyrin which I have gradually been increasing each week and now take 4 tablets every morning after breakfast.

As the dose has got larger, they are making me feel increasingly sick. Usually it's just for an hour or so, but the last three days I've felt like throwing up the whole day. Any tips for reducing the nausea?

Also, I'm a Year One teacher and several children in my class have caught chicken pox. I read in the steroid leaflet to be careful about chicken pox, phoned my GP and she said because I'd already had it, I'll have life long immunity and not to worry - is she right?

valval

sorry can not help have you asked gp they might have something to help val

roses1

when my mom feels sick (on Mtx) she has a drink of soda water she finds that helps might be worth a try.

Hmmmm chicken pox, some say you cant get it again others say you can :roll: and you can have it in the form of shingles. I think its pot luck really, fingerz crossed for you that you are immune.

Take it easy hope the soda water helps.

Rose x

dreamdaisy

Oh dear, yellowfish, you sound as though you are living up to your name. Sulph is powerful, I have been on it for years but never had four tablets all in one go, it should be two in the morning and two twelve hours later. Are you taking all four in one dose? That could be the problem. Try splitting the dose and see if that helps. Your body should adjust as time goes on.

I think the chicken pox virus can re-occur in adults as shingles. Please be very careful, your immune system is compromised and you do not need a dose of that on top of everything else. Keep a hand gel close by, keep using it throughout the day, encourage the children to use it too: wash your hands frequently. Keep healthy, please. DD

frogmorton

Hi Yellowfish

A lot of people on here have reported nausea on sulfa, but hopefully it will ease with time. In fact if l remember rightly it is one of the most common side effects :sad: If you re lucky you will adjust to it given some time.

Have you tried taking it at different times of the day...? if that is allowed maybe with you evening meal late on so you sleep off the worst of the symptoms??

You could also try getting extra sleep and maybe eating ginger biccies or something like that??

If all else fails and you can't cope on it you have to see the doc l think :sad:

All the luck in the world with this feeling sick is vile.

Love

Toni xx

YellowFish

Ah, some good advice!

I shall try 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening and see how I get on!

Thanks,

julie47

Hi Yellow fish

I hope splitting the meds helps with the sickness feeling. Got my fingers crossed and let us know if it worked
Juliepf x

tkachev

Hi Yellowfish, my rheummy always asks me to split the sulfa dose. One in the morning and one in the evening so the dose is spread out throughout the day and is released evenly. 4 is a high dose and may have upset your stomach. Hope you feel better soon.

Elizabeth

dreamdaisy

Hello yellowfish, I hope you are feeling better today. As I mentioned in my previous post sulph is powerful and the general rule for beginning then increasing is this:

1 tablet once a day for one week, usually in the morning.
1 tablet twice a day for one week, morning and evening.
3 tablets per day for one week, two am and 1 pm.
4 tablets per day, two am and two pm.

If a further increase is needed then it's three am and two pm for one week, then three twice a day. I am sure that splitting the dose will help you. Take care. DD

tillytop

Hello Yellowfish

So sorry you are struggling with the Sulf so much. You might be encouraged to know that, although I felt truly dreadful on Sulf to start with - nausea as you are describing and shocking headaches, after a few weeks on the full dose (4 tabs for me) I felt absolutely fine and took it for years afterwards without a problem. Like the others have said, I was advised to divide the dose and when I got up to 4 tabs, I took 2 in the morning with breakfast and 2 in the evening with my main meal.

Re the chickenpox - I take several immunosuppressant meds (including steroids) and I had the same concerns as you recently when my Mum developed shingles. Doc told me much the same - because I have already had both chicken pox and shingles, I didn't need to worry.

Really hope your sickness settles down soon.

Tilly xxx

skezier

hi dd,

they calculate the sulfa in what ever way they do and them tell you your does.

for full effect Yellowfish would be nearer the right does than just 2 twice a day but yours is as an add in and thats going to make a difference.

still get the yellow though xx

hi Yellowfish,

like the others i thinking shingles..... there is an injection i think but can't remembered.

you could ask if the helplines know that one... there was about it on the helplines a while back so if you put shingles in the search box at the top it might well bring up some info... ac's info you can trust

the sickness... i was on sulfa almost a year and the sickness was constant [it was for the mtx as well now i think about it] they gave me some anti-emetics and that helped s might be worth asking?

it might also get easier the longer you are on them but i would ask about the anti emetics for now. i take 3 a day and they really do help.

fingers crossed it eases for you and the sulfa really does hep you. Cris x

elainebadknee

Yellowfish

I havent heard of the medication you are on but in the past when ive been put on pills that can upset the stomach have been given omeprazole to counteract that. But like i say I dont know your medication so maybe im talking a load of gooblydigook! I always suck mints when i feel sick and try peppermint tea...Horrible feeling though isnt it?

Elainex

YellowFish wrote:

Saw the consultant about a month ago and he put me on a short course of steroids - woo! I feel like I've got my life back (although I know it's for another week or so, it's been wonderful while it's lasted!)

He also put me on Salazopyrin which I have gradually been increasing each week and now take 4 tablets every morning after breakfast.

As the dose has got larger, they are making me feel increasingly sick. Usually it's just for an hour or so, but the last three days I've felt like throwing up the whole day. Any tips for reducing the nausea?

Also, I'm a Year One teacher and several children in my class have caught chicken pox. I read in the steroid leaflet to be careful about chicken pox, phoned my GP and she said because I'd already had it, I'll have life long immunity and not to worry - is she right?

stickywicket

I can ónly comment on the chicken pox. I'm on methotrexate and, a few weeks ago, I rang my rheumatology nurse for advice as we were meeting up with some friends who were currently living with their grandchildren, both of whom had chicken pox. The advice was not to meet the friends unless the childrens' spots had scabbed over and, even then, to ask our friends to change their clothes before leaving and not to touch the kids after that! We knew the kids had got to scabby stage so we said nothing, had a good evening (hugs & all) and I did not catch anything. I don't know if this is helpful or not but it was my experience and advice.

dreamdaisy

Hi yellowfish, how are things now? I hope you are feeling bettter and that the split dose has helped the nausea. Sulph is powerful and can cause all kindsa upsets. :roll: I wish you well. DD