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Sulfasalazine Help

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Posted 4/28/2015 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone,

I'm looking to start Sulfasalazine. The dosage I'm going to be taking is 3 grams.

For personal reasons, I would like to ramp up to this dosage as quick as possible. I hear people tend to start off slowly and increase the pills until the desired amount is reached.

I'm thinking of just starting 3 grams off the bat. Would this affect the overall efficacy of the drug, or just increase the chance of side effects?
Posted 4/28/2015 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the HW forum! I don't have any experience with that med and haven't really heard of anyone taking it. Have you investigated what the SEs of the drug are. They could be minor or severe. I have been on several drugs that you ramp up, and I personally wouldn't mess with the prescribed dosage without consulting my doc. Good luck and let us know how you fare.
Beth
Posted 4/28/2015 5:38 AM (GMT 0)
I don't care about side effects. As long as my hair doesn't fall out, I'm happy. :)
Posted 4/28/2015 6:01 AM (GMT 0)
I just read about this....
since I'm allergic to sulfur drugs I couldn't take it, but if I had a choice I rather go bald than turn yellow-orange.

The reason he is tapering it up is it can cause stomach issues.

Have you been on Leflunomide? I take itwith plaquinel and together they ease my joint issues.
Posted 4/28/2015 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
I would ramp up slowly. The headaches are the worst side effect and if you start right off at 3g I think you will be miserable.

I take 1.5 g/day. One .5 g pill in the morning and 2 at night. It works well for me, controlling the joint pain I had from my inflammatory bowel disease.

The other side effects of sulfazine are sun sensitivity (already had that as a freckled white gal) and lowered platelets (checking that box off too). My platelets are slightly below normal but nowhere near any danger zone. I am very happy on this med.
Posted 4/30/2015 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
Why not take them the way your Doctor prescribes them? I get feeling miserable and pain trust me but its for a reason and by not following directions you will give them a pretty clear message that they can't trust you.

I was on it for a few years and it helped tremendously for me. Sadly it stopped working after a while though. It turned my skin orangish and my eyes yellow plus I had muscle weakness while on it which sucks.
Posted 5/1/2015 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
Take it as prescribed, its a medication that can dry you out, you will need gallons of water. Drink loads of water...I tried this medication and I drank a gallon of water in an hour time and it still dried me out so very bad it gave me an asthma flair.
If you have sjogrens this medicine can make you worse...not trying to scare you but it has a huge drying out your body of water.
Mtx might cause some hair loss but if taken with folic acid and biotin your hair will not be bad, plus its started at a lot lower doseage than what cancer patients are given and it might sound scary but it is a good med for RA.
I was also afraid to try this medication but it made me feel so much better when I was on it. Your not alone in fear and you can voice it here, but don't let that fear control you either...mtx has been used for years by many for RA and it comes in an auto injectible form...at least think about it...
Many well wishes..
Posted 5/4/2015 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hi! This is my first time on this page and I saw this post and had to register.

I was diagnosed with RA at the age of 21 - am 25 now, and have been on Methotrexate since day 1. I added Sulfasalazine about 2 years later.

Methotrexate - 1 mg/week injections. This is a miracle drug. I feel nauseous right after my shot for about 1 day but my pain has been about 90% improved!

Sulfasalazine - Even better than mtx!!! I had headaches for approx 3 months. Started with 1 gram (500 mg 2x day) Now I take 2 grams a day. I don't think it would be a good idea for you to start at 3g. I have been getting migraines for nearly a decade now so I like to think I am highly tolerant of them so I feel the headaches that come with sulfasalazine will be horrible if you start at the high of a dosage.

Please don't worry about hair loss with mtx. I shed a little bit of hair but keep up with your folic acid supplements and it should be no issue.

These 2 drugs have quite literally saved my life. Good luck. :)
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