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Sulfazine causing migraines?

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Posted 1/1/2015 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hello- I'm hoping for some insight on this. I'm cross-posting with the migraine forum. I fairly recently was switched to sulfazine because I've been having Crohn's-related joint pain/stiffness. The Sulfazine has helped a lot with that, but my migraines have been worse since then. As far as I can tell, my usual triggers aren't at work, or at least don't fully explain the increase in intensity and frequency.

I haven't had much trouble with other side-effects, but the migraines are a deal-breaker for me. I'll go back to Asacol or try something else, and if nothing can be done about the joint problems, I'll take that over the worse migraines.

Anyone had similar experiences? I saw mention of similar from a couple of people over on the crohnsforum website, but when I first switched, I couldn't find much info, even though I thought I had read somewhere that sulfa can be a migraine trigger.
Posted 1/1/2015 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
I started taking sulfasalazine this fall and the two side effects I noticed right off were headaches and indigestion. Initially, I reduced the dosage and worked up to the dosage I'm now on over a period of weeks (suggested to me by someone here). I also cut the pills in half, thereby spreading the dosage out. I stopped having the headaches (from the sulfa) after doing that but I still get indigestion occasionally. I don't like having to cut the pills because they're messy, and I thought about the extended release form, but ER type medications usually don't break down in my gut.

The sulfa has really helped my enteropathic arthritis. I had not tried it because I had a sulfa allergy listed in my records from my childhood doctor, which I don't seem to have after all.
Posted 1/1/2015 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
I have much more frequent headaches on sulfazine, but I would not trade it for joint pain. My joint pain made my hands impossible to use.

I suggest reducing your dose and building up like JaSanne said. I take 500 mg in the morning and 1000 at night so that I can sleep through some of the potential side effects.

I have developed migraines since starting this med. I've also gone through perimenopause, which can cause migraine. It's taken me a while to figure out my migraine pattern, but I know now that when I wake up at 4 am with a headache I need to take my imitrex. I'm sure the sulfazine contributes to this but it is a price I am completely willing to pay.

I'm hopeful that as my menopause gets further along the migraines will go away. That was my mom's experience and I've got my finger's crossed.
Posted 1/1/2015 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
This is good information, thank you both. Unfortunately for me on the migraine front I have already had a problem with migraines, and they have progressively gotten worse and worse since going on the sulfazine. I have a few different response meds, imitrex (sumatriptan) is just my first line, and I take topamax and magnesium for prevention. If I catch them early, I can keep them from getting bad and still function, but if not they can become debilitating. I've been to the hospital over it before. Its hard to say if the Crohns pain in my worst flare, or my worst migraines are worse...that's how bad they can get. But, the joint pain was mostly in my knees, and at worst made it hard to get up and down stairs. I can tolerate that better. At least I can still think and sleep with that going on.
Posted 1/1/2015 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
What dose are you on with the Sulfazine? It may be that you could reduce it. My rx is for 2000mg, but I can only tolerate 1500 a day. I know for some migraine sufferers, there's just not much worse pain-wise.
Posted 1/2/2015 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
Ill have to double check it but I think its 1000mg 3x a day. I am (somehow) still overweight, despite the crohns, so maybe that's part of why I was prescribed so much.
Posted 1/2/2015 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
I don't think these meds are dosed by bodyweight. Talk to your GI about reducing the dosage. i combine my 1500 mg of sulfazine with 3 g of balsalazide for my IBD meds.
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