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Sulfasalazine

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/8/2010 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
What is your experience with Sulfasalazine?  The side effects looked pretty scary.  I don't think I have not taken any medications recently that have not had a list of scary side effects.  I tried to get the dr to take me off predisone, and it was a no go.  She did discuss the Remicade option, but my insurance coverage right now kind of sucks! Did anyone actually have their skin turn yellow/orange?

Thanks so much,

Cindy

Posted 4/8/2010 5:27 PM (GMT 0)

My skin didn't, but my pee did.

The only side effect I remember from when I was on it years ago was extreme fatigue. I could have slept all day.

Posted 4/8/2010 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
hi,
I took the medication for years, and yes my urine turned orange. The other main thing i remembered was the terrible nausea which went on for so long. Eventually the Drs. gave me enteric coated and that helped a lot.
Posted 4/8/2010 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
This is one of the oldest Crohns meds out there. Alot of folks have good results with it. All our meds have side effects, shoot just look at the side effects of Tylenol and you would freak out. I took this when first diagnosed and it successfully put in me into remission. I can no longer take it as I am allergic to sulfa meds, but I would give it a shot. Good luck!
Posted 4/8/2010 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
This was the first drug I was ever put on when I was first diagnosed. Back then there really was only Sulfasalazine, Prednisone, Flagyl, and Cipro used for CD on a regular basis, this was only 22 years ago, shows how far we really have come. Any how back to the topic, after about a month I started to have massive headaches and eventually vomiting, turns out I'm allergic to sulfa drugs, so its a no go for me and I was left with prednisone. Still the one and only drug that will stop a flare for me in its tracks.
Posted 4/8/2010 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
Going a bit off track, but talking about drugs that worked to stop a flare. When i was really ill, (hospitalised about 3 times a year for 1 month each time) I was initially tried on Oral and then IV steroids, neither worked and i always ended up on ACTH injections twice a day, this was all about 20 plus years ago. These injections eventually brought things under control and then i was allowed home on Predniolone. Has anyone else ever been put on this?
Posted 4/8/2010 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the input.  I have been on predisone, cipro/flagyl, a host of anti-acid, anti-cholergic,and anti-spasmotics

 along with phenegren for nausea(my life saver!).  I have had problems taking Bactrim in the past which I know is a sulfa based drug.

So far, I feel alittle dizzy & sleepy & have orange pee. 

Posted 4/9/2010 10:27 AM (GMT 0)
Cindy,
This is my main CD med & has been for about 4 years now since I had to stop the Remicade treatments. It was also the first drug I was ever given -- back in the dark ages of the early 80s!! I don't have any noticable side effects except if I don't drink enough I get dehydrated. I've been nauseous at times, but since I also have CD in my stomach we can't say for sure which is causing it.

And actually to me, it's one of the least scary drugs I've been given considering what could happen with Remicade & 6mp. JMHO.
Posted 4/9/2010 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
My rheumy put me on it for my arthritis and we had to stop it because it raised my liver enzymes too high (although most meds do).

Posted 4/9/2010 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
I started on sulfasalazine way back in 1990 after I was dx'd. I was on it for quite a while before I was switched to Pentasa. My only problem with the azulfidine was the sun sensitivity. I am very pale and sun sensitive to start with...when i took the stuff, I literally could not be in any sun or my skin would burn and sting almost instantly.
I have to say I felt fine on it other than that though.
Posted 4/9/2010 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
It has been a wonder drug for my inflammatory arthritis...As to side effects, for me, I've had none...not even the sun sensitivity and I live in a very sunny place(called Valley of the Sun for those of you in know)...

I guess with all meds there are issues...this worked best for me, where Imuran caused pancreatitis in me, and yet other people take it with no ill effects...I hope this help med helps...though for me it helped more for the joint issues than the Crohn's issues.
Posted 4/9/2010 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
Sulfasalazine is the best med I've been on for UC. 

I get a little dehydrated now and then, and my skin and eyes are a bit photosensitive.  Other than that, no side effects, not even orange urine.  It has also helped immensely with joint pain. 

Posted 4/11/2010 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
So far I don't feel any worse than I have with Flagyl stints.  I do have CD in my stomach, and I am a frequent user of phenegren which I call my miracle pill. Nausea and severe diarrhea all the time with no pain was my first real symptoms of this disease 20 years ago.  I also have severe joint pain with a flare.  I am hopeful.  I was worried since Bactrim made me vomit. I have noticed the pain & bloating has gotten better immediately. I did notice when I was driving today that I was oversensitive to light. I have been overly sleepy as well. Thanks guys for all your help.  I keep recommending this board to my oldest son who is in college and has Chrones.  He called me this evening and is really flaring.  I know Asacol has worked well for him in the past, and he was asymptomatic for a while.  He does not not like to talk about the disease.  He also was born with a rotated colon(backward), but it functions normally.
Posted 4/11/2010 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Sulfasalazine for about 2 years. Side effects have been orange pee, slight headache, and nausea when in the sun for too long. Other than that it has not been a problem for me. Good luck to you.
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