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Sulfasalazine Side Effects

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Posted 6/12/2014 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
I just started taking sulfasalazine three days ago. And in the beginning, the next morning I had severe cramps and D (all "normal" side effects") I guess? The next day I upped the meds, no cramping but flu like symptoms and a terrible headache and acid reflux pain, again "normal" side effects read on the pamphlet.

I have seen drastic improvements in my UC over the days, hence the side effects. I'm just nervous that these "flu like" "headache" symptoms are not normal? Or just the beginning of the treatment that I need to roll with.

I've read that you need to up the doses slowly. Would love advice on your knowledge and personal experience of this drug.

Today no bloody D, urgency etc... quite amazing.
Posted 6/13/2014 11:05 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, thats normal.
You should ramp up Sulfasalazine dosage slowly. If you have debilitating headache then reduce the dose and slowly ramp up. I used to take 3mg/day in 3 divided doses and my headaches were way out of control. I reduced dose to half and it worked, never had to increase it.

A warning in the long run, sun won't be nice to you anymore. My skin feels like burned ALL the time, so I never expose myself to the sun, cover myself with thin layer of white cloth.
Posted 6/19/2014 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
I just started Sulphasalizine over week ago after many years on Asacol... I've developed severe and debilitating joint pain they say is connected to my UC. How long before it really kicks in? My stomach seems great on it after a week or so. How bad will my beach vacation be if I'm going to be sun sensitive? :(. The methotrexate kept me with chronic infections so hoping this does not.
Posted 6/19/2014 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
You shouldn't take sulfasalazine unless you can't take mesalamines or can't afford them. The mesalamines basically do the same thing with much less side effects than sulfasalazine. Sulfasalazine has many more side effects than the mesalamines do.
Posted 6/19/2014 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
Gary you are wrong. Boxermom was prescribed sulfazine to address her joint pain. This is the best approach IMO.

Boxermom, I haven't noticed any increased sun sensitivity, but then again I'm a fair skinned freckled white woman, so I never go out in the sun without protection anyway. I'd be very careful on your beach vacation.

I don't know what to tell you about how soon you can expect to see improvement in your joint pain. I took pred to get over my joint pain flare and then maintained that remission with sulfazine.
Posted 6/19/2014 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
I'm actually on Prednisone again right now to help. Once I come off it though the swelling and pain comes right back. I'm aware that Asacol is the same type of drug but it's not going to control my severe joint pain :( .... people with RA have success with Sulpha so hoping it helps.
Posted 6/19/2014 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
I hope you feel better soon. It was my rheumatologist that got me on pred for the joint pain - he started me at 60 mg/day and it took me 3 months to taper off completely. Then my GI put me on entocort AND sulfazine. I was on entocort for about a month before tapering off that. I kept using my other oral mesalamine at full dose (Pentasa 4g/day) during this. Thank goodness my joint pain was resolved almost completely.

I continued to have an achy knee here and there - going gluten free seemed to help that a lot. I've had minor flares of hand pain that seems triggered by viral infections, but they only last a day or less, nothing like the months of all-over joint pain that got me to take this path.

I wish you well.
Posted 6/19/2014 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
I can't describe the wrist,finger elbow pain. I have pictures of my fingers like sausages that don't bend... I've been off and on the Pred since October. Comes right back though when I'm done. I just can't believe my joints are like this and GI is calm.
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