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Posted 3/19/2009 1:23 PM (GMT 0)

Has anyone tried sulfasalzine for UC. I was taking 6-mp for 2 yrs but had to go off due to elevated liver enzymes. I still had flares while on the 6-mp.

 I seem to flare when I have prolonged periods of stress.  When I was on the 6-mp it was easy to get a flare under control with bental and Imodium. Now that Im off it takes alot longer to control.

 My doctor is going to try me on Sulfasalizine for the UC and some joint aches I do experience from time to time.

Just curious if anyone has ever taken this or knows anything about it.

Joy

Posted 3/19/2009 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) is my maintenance drug of choice. It's an older ASA. You can read more about it here:

http://www.scdiet.org/4faq/azulfidine.html

Posted 3/19/2009 2:04 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you so much, the artical is very informative. I should be starting this sometime next week, I hope I have success with it. Did you have any side effects with this drug, and do you need to go for blood work often?

Im curious to hear if any others on on this drug and what they think?  Seems like the doctors don't go to this drug often because its an older one??  I guess they feel the newer drugs are better? I had to ask for this.

God bless to all,

Joy

Posted 3/19/2009 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
Many doctors don't use this medication anymore due to allergic reactions from Sulfa. The newer 5-ASA's do not contain sulfa and is better tolerated by many people. Unfortunately I can't take Sulfasalazine because I am highly allergic to sulfa. I found that out when I was on it for a short time many years ago. I ended up welts all over my body. One thing I did notice the short time I was on it was that it may give your skin a yellowish tint.
Posted 3/19/2009 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
My son has taken this drug daily since he was 10 years old (he's now 17) and never had problems with it, except possibly headaches. My daughter took it briefly and she started to develop a rash so she takes a newer 5ASA - Colazal.

Just watch for a rash or signs of allergy, but other than that it is well tolerated, safe drug.
Posted 3/19/2009 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
Sherry,

I noticed in your list of meds, you take Bentyl. Is this something you take on a daily basis or only when your flaring ?

I hope I dont turn yellow with the sulfasalazine! we will see.

Posted 3/19/2009 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
I usually take one in the morning but not always. It depends on how I am feeling that day. I have been getting a lot of cramping lately and this has been a life saver for me :)
Posted 3/19/2009 4:56 PM (GMT 0)

princesa said...
Yes, sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) is my maintenance drug of choice. It's an older ASA. You can read more about it here:


http://www.scdiet.org/4faq/azulfidine.html

Interesting read, I wonder why that Elaine G. thought Sulfa was better than Asacol? Like what was her reasoning behind that conclusion.

The best thing about Sulfa is how cheap it is, at least the generic is dirt cheap compared to anything else for UC.
Posted 3/19/2009 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
I tried it but like Red I was very allergic to it.
Posted 3/19/2009 6:41 PM (GMT 0)

Zippy123 said...

princesa said...
Yes, sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) is my maintenance drug of choice. It's an older ASA. You can read more about it here:


http://www.scdiet.org/4faq/azulfidine.html

Interesting read, I wonder why that Elaine G. thought Sulfa was better than Asacol? Like what was her reasoning behind that conclusion.

The best thing about Sulfa is how cheap it is, at least the generic is dirt cheap compared to anything else for UC.

On another forum, Elaine Gottschall, biochemist, author of Breaking the Vicious Cycle, and parent of a child with IBD, explains it this way:

I know that the Asacol seems to be without efficacy for 98% of the people to whom I speak. But the azulfidine does not breed yeast and it is one of the older and more effective drugs. Azulfidine fools microbes, bacteria and yeast, into picking up a "counterfeit" molecule with which they make their own folic acid and which they need to multiply. The sulfated form of para-amino-benzoic-acid which was designed to fool bacteria into picking it up and trying to make their own folic acid out of it (they cannot use preformed folic acid as we do). In other words, it minimizes the growth of microbes.

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