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Sulphasalazine / Sulfasalazine.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 10/29/2008 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, anyone had any experiences of this?
I've just started taking it and the hope is it helps my arthritis (enteropathic arthropathy).
My ulcerative colitis is under control with the azathioprine I'm taking.
It's really for the arthritis, in the hope of avoiding infliximab or the like, which my rheumatologist was trying to get me to take.
Thankfully my gastroentologist wants to try and treat it with safer drugs (sulphasalazine) first:-)

I'd really like to hear from anyone who has arthritis as well, and found this drug helpful.
Posted 10/30/2008 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
I tried taking sulfasalazine. However, I soon discovered that I am indeed allergic to sulfa meds as my mother "thought." Wish I could offer more advice. I do know a few others that have gotten good control of the arthritis symptoms associated with UC and Crohn's by using sulfasalazine.
Posted 10/30/2008 10:34 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Ides. :-)
Anyone else? I'd really like to know how long it took to feel any effect.
Posted 10/31/2008 8:50 AM (GMT 0)
Come on guys, there must be some of you with experience of sulfa'? :-)
Posted 10/31/2008 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry I've never heard of your type of arthritis, but I took the sulfa and it was the very first DMARD that I tried.  I didn't notice any change in my symptoms so I then moved on to Plaquenil, which I highly recommend :-) The only way you will know is to try it for a few months like I did and see if you feel any difference in whatever symptoms you are experiencing, and if you don't see a change, it is not the only DMARD on the market.

Good luck to you.

 

Posted 10/31/2008 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hey scottishcammy there are plenty of people on here that have tried sulfa, but have had to go off of it because they discovered they were allergic to it.. As you may have noticed, this forum isn't as busy as some of the other forums.. hopefully someone will be along shortly to share their stories with you
Posted 11/1/2008 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
I was on it for about 18 months. Started my treatment with it, noticed a slight improvement but it wasn't enough on its on. My rheumy added methotrexate and then I seemed to be under control, until my liver couldn't tolerate mtx! But sulphasalazine did help me it just wasn't strong enough alone, after 18 months my white blood cell count plummeted and I was taken off the sulpha...but I didn't feel I had any side effects from it. Even with low white blood cells I felt really well. If it works for you and you can tolerate sulpha drugs I think its good.
Posted 11/1/2008 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hey there, I used to take azulphidine with methotrexate and it seemed to work fine for me. I was dealing with what the doctors were calling microscopic colitis caused by my psoriatic arthritis. This was years ago. I don't recall how long it took to kick in. The methotrexate made me feel so rotten, that it pretty much superceded everything else. I tried it again to give Plaquenil (which works rather well for me) a boost and I wasn't able to tolerate it the second time around. I tried my best to give it a good amount of time to adjust to, but I finally had to give up.  It's possible the med made the methotrexate issues worse and I just wasn't aware of them, but the symptoms the 2nd time around were quite different.

I think somewhere along the line I started having sulfa issues.....I noticed it with antibiotics too, ones I used to take w/no problem now make me miserable when I'm on them...

I'm sorry I couldn't be more help. Good luck.

*****

Posted 11/1/2008 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Scottish
I have psoriatic arthritis. My arthritis is severe. I started seeing a new doctor after being on all those drugs that were banned and my doctor put me on something safer. Its called sulfasalazine or sulfazine. I have been on sulfazine for over 2 years with excellent results and no side effects. It has enabled me to function normally.
Posted 11/4/2008 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
Scottishcammy, was taken off Pentasa put on Sulfasalazine, for Crohns can't really say that either one helped . I also have RA and the Sulfa hasn't helped that either,
Posted 11/7/2008 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Scottishcammy. I am currently taking sulfasalazine for Crohn's and arthritis. I have been on it since April and around June I started noticing an improvement with joint pain. My rheumy told me that it can take about 4+ weeks to start to see an improvement with joint pain. Unfortunately with the arrival of cooler weather my joint pain has perked back up...of course so has my crohn's. Good luck to you and I hope you are feeling better soon.
Posted 11/15/2008 8:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi-
Just wanted to say I started taking sulfasalazine a few months ago and noticed a big difference in the morning and evenings with my stiffness. I stopped taking my Celebrex and my 4 daily doses of Tylenol about 3 weeks after starting it. I also like it because if I miss a dose or two (which I often do) I don't feel like crap later. Still take the tramadol a couple times a day, but it doesnt take me 2 hours to get moving in the morning anymore.
Melissa
Posted 11/19/2008 9:38 AM (GMT 0)
that's so awesome to hear you are doing well on it.

Posted 11/25/2008 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with arthritis in May, 2007. Went to a rheumatologist in June, 2007 and through the blood tests he ordered, he determined I have arthritis. He started me with Meloxicam 7.5 mg, Doxycycline 100 mg, and triple strength glucosamine chondroitin. When he found the rheumatoid factor, he added sulfasalazine 500 mg. I take all of these once a day - in the morning. I haven't had any flares in about a year. We got a dog in March, 2008 and having to walk him has proven to be very beneficial. I also take 3 Reliv products (nutrition supplements). It's a combination of everything that keeps me going. I'm doing very well.
Posted 12/19/2008 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Scottish, I am currently on Humira for both Crohn's and Crohn's related arthris.  It is not helping enough with the arthritis, same as with Cimzia and Remicade.  We've tried several arthritis meds and Sulfasalazine was either tried or next on the list, but they all hurt my stomach too much.  Now I am using Voltaren gel on some of the joints and it offers more relief than the other meds and without hurting my stomach.  But, it also has it's limitations.  I am going to talk to the rheumy about switching to Enbrel and see if we can use 6mp or something else to keep the Crohn's in check once I get off of Humira.  I'm too scared at this point to try Tysabri, which my GI recommended next.  Hope sulfasalazine helps you and that you can stomach all of the arthritis meds. 
Posted 12/23/2008 6:22 PM (GMT 0)

Hi

I have been using sulfasalazine for about 1 year. I have UC and at first I was taking about 4 pills a day but now I only take 2, otherwise I get constipated. I can not be without it. Before I started taking it I was having all kinds of problems with diareha. But I also have arthritis. Had a knee replacement many years ago and have it all over my body. I am not taking any prescription now for my arthritis. If I am in pain I will use Aleeve and if my joint swells I use my ice pack to freeze it then the pain subsides. Right now my lower back is giving me problems so I will take an aleeve before I go to my doctor's appointment. I also have Congestive Heart Failure and had a couple of stents put in a couple of years ago. The sulfer doesn't seem to affect me.

I say give it a try if you are not allergic to it. A lot of people are allergic. My sister-in law has been using it for over 10 years for diverltitis (not sure of the spelling) and she swears by it.

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