Sulfasalazine - Anyone had success with it?

Very Interesting article. This woman that I work with is 27 years old, has had UC since she was 12 years old. Has not been in remission for several years. She has taken Asacol and Colazal. She asked me what meds I was on. I gave her a bottle of Sulfasalazine and told her she was more than welcome to try it. She was feeling better in a week, and continues to feel better, not in remission yet but she is doing alot better than she was. I asked her if she ever took this drug before, she said that her doctor told her it is an old drug and there are much better drugs out there now. I think it's a shame that doctors don't give this a chance with their patients. She has just changed doctors and she informed the new doctor that she is on the sulfasalazine so he will now be prescribing it for her. She is so thankful for the relief that she has experienced. This is such a debilitating disease, it can really stop you in your tracks when you are flaring, not to mention when you are in a full blown flare. I understand that some people can't take sulfer, but from what I understand, there is also a way to desensitize a person to the sulfa reactions. It annoys me so bad to know that alot of doctors won't even try this. I really can't see a reason for them being so pig headed. Again, I know alot of people can't take it, but doctors don't know this until they try their patient on it. I'm now down to 4 tabs a day (2 grams) and am doing great.

A lot of it is marketing and mindset.  No one is going to market sulfasalazine on television or produce a nice shiny brochure for your GI's office.  I had one doctor who wanted me to stop the sulfa because "it's an ancient medicine."  He even rolled his eyes.  He wanted me to take Lialda.  Newer is better!

I suppose a lot of folks are gun shy of sulfa, too, due to allergies.  Some 30% of patients will have an allergic reaction to it.  From what I understand, though, many of those patients can start low doses to challenge and overcome the allergy, gradually rasing their doses.

Overall, I do think part of sulfasalazine's effectiveness is that it's a systemic and topical medication whereas Asacol et al are strictly topical.  I wouldn't discount its anti-bacterial effect, either.  And for patients with UC-associated joint pain, I'd feel a doctor is negligence if he/ she doesn't suggest it.

And it's dirt cheap. 

 

Absolutely, but I can't go into more details about why it's not prescribed more, because I will be breaking the forum rules. But, I'm sure everyone gets it.

I paid $14 for a month of it with no health insurance

I pay $15.00 for a 3 month supply with the mail order program, otherwise it's $15 per month I believe at my local pharmacy

I was on it for 12 years, and was in remission for most of those years. The down side was that after being on it for so long I started having some bad effects. All in all I wish I could take it again, but I know it has not worked at all for some. Hope this helps, hang in there.
Traci





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23 year survivor- init. diag. at 15 was put on massive doses of pred. and sulfasalazine
remission off and on (more on) for 13 years.
2000-put on asacol
05-asacol and 6mp
07asacol and imuran
2010-bad flare up in hospital put on massive doses of pred. and had a major allergic reaction.
now asacol, imuran and scdiet ( just starting this)

Was diagnosed late in 2009. Have been on 4 tablets a day since then and have been perfectly fine. This is the first thing my doctor tried me on. No side effects what so ever.
Located in Australia.

I went on sulfasalzine shortly after my last post on the thread in June. It worked much better on my UC than asacol but after a month or so I had adverse reactions. 101 fever, headache, piercing eye pain..

Apparently some people are genetically slow processors of the byproduct sulfapyridine. It builds up in your blood until you get a reaction.

I started generic colozal(balasalazide) on 9/23 and so far it works just as well as sulfaslazine with no side affects so far. Fingers crossed as I have a $125 copay on all the other UC drugs

My doctor has me on Sulfasalazine, but after reading this thread, I'm worried that maybe he has me taking too much. I'm taking 8 (4x2) pills daily. Is this going to do me harm in the long run?

They are 500mg tabs. Also, I should note that I was recently diagnosed on Dec. 28th.

Post Edited (leecm) : 1/7/2013 5:53:31 PM (GMT-7)

Headaches and nausea are the most common side effects that cause someone to switch from sulfasalazine to mesalamine. Give sulfa a fair-shake, you might do well on it and save some money!

If I start to react to sulfalazine I plan to switch to lialda.

What retention enemas do you suggest? I see you take salofalk? Is canasa as effective as the retention enemas?

How about cortifoam if a flare starts?