How have other people coped with the side effects of sulfa, and what were they? I have had bad hot flushes and heat with dizzyness and nausea.
Looking at trying to find a natural way of getting better. Anyone had any look with that?
Hi Mel
I'm on sulphasalazine and methotrexate. Just a note to say that sulpha often causes side-effects in the first few weeks, but then they usually go away.
All the best,
this is my second attempt at Sulfa, and this reaction is worse than the first. Too worried to try MTX, so looking into natural remedies, though not sure what my Rheumy will say!!
Cant be any worse than this though!!!
Mel
Hi Mel
I know methotrexate sounds scary, but it is a very effective drug for many of us: I have had 2 long remission periods (3 and 5 years), thanks to methotrexate. Also, it has been used for over 50 years, so they know everything about it's side-effects profile.
Unfortunately, I don't know of any natural therapies that will help. RA and the other inflammatory types of arthritis are serious diseases and we need to treat them aggressively to avoid damage to our joints.
My advice would be to give mtx a go. It starts to work any time between 4-12 weeks and you will have regular blood tests, which show up any side-effects in plenty of time.
All the best to you,
It took the consultants 9 months before I was told I had PA. I had lots of blood tests as 'they were ruling out the bad stuff' first. I also had steriod injections which didn't work.
I have pains in my hips, knees and right wrist for years but the doctor said it was growning pains and then 'you are too young for arthritis you have over done it.' Then I moved to a different part of the country and changed doctors. I was taken seriously and a refferral to see a consultant was made. So I do know how you feel
I too had terrible rxn to sulfa and am now classed as allergic to sulphur drugs! Went on MTX and it really worked for me!
Nic
Hi folks! I am meme one of the old timers to this site. I have ra,pa,&oa. It took over 4yrs to get the dr to send me to an rd after I was first diagnosed for ra&oa, the meds were not working and my hands were getting worse and worse, I would have to use both hands to start the car!!! In my family several of us have psoriasis that flares on and off, and I was having some psoriasis showing up too. A new dr at the clinic where I was going insisted I was sent to an rd. The rd immediately knew I had pa. He had a whole slew of tests done to make sure my liver etc. was ok before starting on mtx then enventually enbrel. I had to stop taking mtx though because it caused some not nice side effects as the dosage was increased, I was switched to arava. I am currently considered to be in remission, I have not had severe joint pain since the summer but I am still watched carefully by my rd. I still take naxporin when I do have some discomfort, and am not on enbrel or arava. I am starting different meds though, because even though my joints are not flaring the psoriasis is flaring BIG TIME!!!One of the things about PA is that it's hard to diagnose. It comes in different forms, with or without P and some don't show increased rheum factors in the blood! It can take years to even see a Rheum specialist so try to be patient but not too much - you need to get it sorted!
Good Luck...
KT