Unbearable pain

May11

Hi, I was diagnosed with Seronegative inflammatory arthritis in Dec I had been suffering since last March and had MRI scans etc then was finally diagnosed before Xmas I was given 6 weeks of steroids and also prescribed Sulfasazine I am due to go back to see the Rheumatologist on the 2nd April . I recently had to have antibiotics for a week due to a cold so had to stop the sulfasazine and I have realised how much they must have been helping with my constant pain and was glad to start taking them again, but I have started taking them again gradually like when I first started taking them and am in so much pain wonder if it is safe to just take the dosage I was on or to gradually build up as before? Anyone had a similar issue?

helpline_team

Hi @Lizhungate

Thanks for your post to the Helpline. Whenever you have to stop and restart a disease modifying anti rheumatic drug (DMARD) that has to be done in consultation with the Rheumatology nurse specialist and details of doses etc need to be discussed with them.

We don't produce a booklet on inflammatory arthritis, so the Rheumatoid arthritis booklet is the relevant one (but you may not show all the blood markers it mentions).

Rheumatoid arthritis | Causes, symptoms, treatments

Sulfasalazine | Side-effects, uses, time to work

I hope that's helpful

Guy - Helpline Team