Hi,
I was wondering if anyone could tell me about their experiences with sulfasalazine please? I am new here (intro to me in the the lurkers thread). I was on methotrexate but it made me develop a cough so the rhuematologist has prescribed sulfasalazine instead.
Thanks,
Laura
Sorry no info on Sulfasalazine as I use MTX but am sure some will chime in soon.
How often was your cough as I cough some myself? Just wondering if I should tell my Dr.
Hi Laura,
Not sure how well it works on it's own, since I take it along with mtx and plaquenil. I haven't had any bad side effects though.
Good Luck!
Kelly
Hi Laura, welcome!
I tried sulfasalazine but it gave me bad headaches. I had to quit before I could notice if it would help or not, sorry.
Sulfa's an old drug with a long clinical history behind it, that's good, there won't be any "surprises". (Vioxx anyone?
Laura,
I tried Sulfasalazine. I couldn't handle the stomach cramps and diarrhea. I have heard other people say it really helped them a lot. Everybody's different. Give it a try. You might have great results with it.
I was told sulfasalazine is a "safer" drug because it doesn't weaken the immune system as much as MTX, and is given to more elderly people due to thier vulnerabilities. Also, a side note, it supposedly lowers male sperm count. My rheumatologist told me that different rheumatologists will prescribe either MTX or Sulfasalazine just based on where they were trained.
-Jon
Sulfasalazine was the first medication I was prescribed about 13 years ago.
I used it a while steadily increasing it until it didn't work for me anymore. Then I started plaquenil. Eventually moved up to MTX then added Humira. Sulfasalazine was the first in my long chain of medications and it held things at bay a long time. I have my doubts that it would help me now....but back then it did get me through a few years.
From what I understand you can kindof start out low and work your way up as the disease progresses. This is why I feel it's so important to start low (If you can) and work your way up. Because later if you've responded to stronger DMARDS and then had to be switched the weaker ones won't be as effective.
I've got my fingers crossed that you'll respond well with it. Stay positive. One word of caution: Be careful in the sun. You MIGHT burn easily.
I started out on sulfasalazine and prednisone and took them for 1 1/2 years and then it did nothing for me. I had no side effects from it. I am now on MTX and prednisone and folic acid. Not having very good luck with MTX either.
Give it a try. Any relief is worth trying.
Another word of caution....I couldn't tell you for sure. I was put on it after explaining to my then RD that I was allergic to Sulfa. After a day I developed red skin...like a peeled tomato.
When I went on it, I was told to watch out for headaches and nausea. None of that, just a systemic reaction!
Shandi
Do you mean your doctor put you on Sulfersalizine after you told him you were allergic to sulfer? Why would they do that?
Bonny,
I got a cough after increasing the dose, which would last for about a week. It was a really dry, barking cough that came from very high in my chest. Now and then it would just pop up for no reason. It also affected my voice, so I found talking difficult when I had it. Hope that helps? If in doubt mention it to your doctor, my rheumy took me off mxt because he felt it would be 'cavalier' to continue, although as my chest xray was clear he hasn't ruled it out for later.
Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'll give it a go and see what happens!
Laura
I was put on Sulfasalazine to start with. It didn't work for me. The only reaction i got was bright coloured wee and i burnt in the sun very quickly. I usually don't burn at all. Oh a touch of heartburn was all and was told not to have any antacids within a few hours of taking sufasalazine as it will reduce the desired effect. Hope that helps a little.I've had some voice problems here lately too. Very hoarse sounding at times and the almost constant need to clear my throat before speaking.
Lord I hope that's not as a reesult of MTX. That's the last thing I need right now. I do not want to be taken off of it.
I've been on sulfasalazine for about 3 months I think. Can't tell if it's working or not but I've had no side effects at all. I'm also on Humira every two weeks. I was on MTX but dr. pulled my off because of side effects.
Good luck to you.
Lovie, I think my vocal reaction to the cough was due to me also having a condition which causes me to lose my voice frequently. My larynx is very tempermental and is normally the first thing to be affected by any form of cough. Voice problems aren't listed as a side effect of MTX.
laura
i was on that 2 or 3 years ago. I just hated taking the pill! LOL! I didnt have any problems with it, but it didnt really seem to help that much either (that could have been because I hardly took it every day, instead it would sit on the table after I left for school. LOL!!). ~Good Luck!!!!!!~