Medication and mouth ulcers

Barbieg

Hi all, I am new to this forum and hoping someone can help. I was diagnosed with RH 10yrs ago and put on Sulfasalazine , etodolac, omerprazaline. Have since developed high blood pressure and take a pill for that. Unfortunately since just before Xmas I have developed mouth ulcers, that come and go. I am seeing an oral specialist on Friday evening, but I want to go armed with some info. I'm sure the medication causes mouth ulcers but my Dr insists it doesn't. Does anyone else suffer with these painful ulcers? I also have fibromyalgia which was diagnosed 30yrs ago and take sine pin for this at bedtime.

Barbieg

Barbieg wrote:

Hi all, I am new to this forum and hoping someone can help. I was diagnosed with RA 10yrs ago and put on Sulfasalazine , etodolac, omerprazaline. Have since developed high blood pressure and take a pill for that. Unfortunately since just before Xmas I have developed mouth ulcers, that come and go. I am seeing an oral specialist on Friday evening, but I want to go armed with some info. I'm sure the medication causes mouth ulcers but my Dr insists it doesn't. Does anyone else suffer with these painful ulcers? I also have fibromyalgia which was diagnosed 30yrs ago and take sine pin for this at bedtime.

stickywicket

This is a tricky one because there are probably very few meds in existence that don't list mouth ulcers as a potential side effect. I'm on methotrexate and I know mouth ulcers should be taken seriously with that but I don't know about sulph. Who referred you to the oral specialist? If not rheumatology then I'd have rung them first and probably still would in you're situation. Good luck for Friday.

Cariad71

Hi barbieg,

Ive got sero negative inflamm arthritis, diagnosed at 21, now 28. I've suffered recurrent mouth ulcers since I was a teenager. I've always been convinced they're linked to the arthritis and that they're some sort of autoimmune thing, but ulcers seem to be something very poorly understood by most drs. Like sticky said lots of meds can cause
Ulcers, methotrexate is well known to because of the way it affects regeneration of heathy cells particularly the rapidly replacing ones such as in the mouth, it definitely made my mouth ulcers worse the years I was on it. I'm pretty sure sulfasalazine is known to and NSAIDs also, but you say the ulcers are new and you've been on these for years?

I was under an excellent oral medicine professor for a few years to try and investigate the cause or find a treatment, and every time I've ever asked if they're linked to my arthritis I get a vague answer but I'm convinced they are! I get them anyway but they seem worse when I'm flaring, I've had 22 at one time before and some of them can be as big as one cm, and can affect weird places like the roof of the mouth, hard top bits of the gum, throat, outside lips.

As your ulcers are new they need to check you out so its good you're being seen by a specialist soon. As for remedies; I've tried everything in existence so if you want advice on them just let me know!!

dreamdaisy

We all react differently to the meds - despite years of sulph and meth I've never had mouth ulcers. By doctor do you mean GP? They know a little about a lot so I agree with Sticky, contact your rheumatology team because they will be more 'clued-up'.

The other thing to bear in mind is that stuff can just happen which has nothing to do with arthritis or its meds. It's automatic for us to blame our existing conditions and treatments but they may not be the root. DD

Barbieg

Thank you for all advice. I have rung my rheumatoid specialist but she's not there today. Have been told she will ring me tomorrow, but in the mean time to stop taking my Sulfasalazine immediately. It will take months to get out of my system though and I don't have an app with the specialist till April! Have been told they can't fit me in earlier either. My GP booked the app with an oral specialist and have also seen a ENT specialist to rule out anything more serious. Am told it could be Lichen Planus also, so hopefully will know more on Friday. Was also told that it made no difference how long you have taken a drug with no problems. It can suddenly cause side effects. How true this is I am not sure, but it was told me from the rheumatoid clinic.

stickywicket

Barbieg wrote:

Was also told that it made no difference how long you have taken a drug with no problems. It can suddenly cause side effects. How true this is I am not sure, but it was told me from the rheumatoid clinic.

It is true of virtually all meds for us auto-immuners and you were right to ring them. I'm sure they'll take charge. Please let us know how you get on.

Boomer13

Hi; I've had mouth ulcers and I get large, clear, firm blisters in my mouth. I know they are not related to my meds since I've had them since I was young. I never knew what caused them, but when I started learning about autoimmunity I figured it was that. I also thought I'd have them with the meds but I didn't.

I have PsA, the ulcers and blister-things have stopped since 1 year on mtx, hydroxy, etc. except I got one today, coinciding with things arthritic generally worsening.

They are horridly painful....

barbara12

Hello and welcome from me
Sorry I wont be much help, but I just want to add my support and hope you can get some help off you ryhummy ver soon.