New medication

[heathersmum]

Hi good people,

Spoke to my Rheumy nurse today. She has said that I am to stop taking the Methotrexate and when she sees me on the 22nd June she will start me on Suphazalazine. If that one doesn't work she said we will go down the biologics route.

So hopefully this will make me feel better?

Any advice on Sulphazalazine peeps?

Xx

[RAinK]

I was taken off Methotrexate in Jan, (did nothing for me, except side effects), & moved onto Sulfasalazine in March. Wow! Overall RA not as bad as before, (& I'm hoping if I can increase the dose some more that the RA will be less). Side effects small - a bit of bowel rumbling & touchy acid reflux when started + at the mo as dose has just been increased. [But the acid reflux problem is something I had prior to RA] And it's changed the rhythm of when I open my bowels, (sorry, but you did ask). They say you need to make sure you drink plenty & I find that I do get more thirsty, so I try to make sure I have a bottle of water handy. Oh & I was sun sensitive for first few weeks, but not since. I take the Sulfasalzine with breakfast & evening meal in hope that lessens the impact on my stomach, (but that's coz of my acid reflux problem). Still work in progress & I'm not sure how long you have to wait to know what the full benefit is. But after 3 months on Methotrexate & RA carried on getting worse I am excited that Sulfasalazine actually does something. Here's hoping it works for you too.

[heathersmum in reply to RAinK]

Thank you for the reply. It sounds very positive. I also felt that MTX did nothing for me except it made me be sick and have massive headaches. Fingers crossed gently that it works just as well for me as I f2f does for you.

Xx

[Chappy1]

Sulfasalazine was the wonder drug for me, after a disastrous time on MTX.

Alongside Hydroxy it has worked wonders.

Hope it works for you too.

[sheltielife]

Sulfasalazine for me is great! I agree starting off you might have stomach problems, mainly nausea I was told but I never got anything like that. I was started on 1000mgs twice a day and now 1500 mgs twice a day. What I wasn't expecting is that I had over growth of bacteria in my bowel and wonders happened it helped that as well. What I didn't know is that it's used for IBD, note not IBS. I have since found out that it is prescribed for this sometimes.

[Hay44]

Meth did very Little for me, sulf was finally the wonder drug but unfortunately it nearly killed me. It affected my liver very badly. Then went into Bio started with Humira had a terrible allergic reaction after 9 days now on Enbrol which so far (3rd week) so good. Pain near enough gone and no noticeable side affects, even for my press down to 5mg a day.

[heathersmum]

Thank you for your replays.

Here's hoping that it works for me too. I hope to get this under control .

X

[Tinat3]

The Ssz was great for me and worked very quickly. Unfortunately, i suffered a reaction to it at around 6 weeks from sun sensitivity and developed a really horrible rash so had to discontinue it.

Hopefully you will be fine on it. Good luck and let us know how you get on x

[heathersmum]

Thanks Tina,

I hope this works for me too. I just want to get settled on my medication and get on with life .

I will see my nurse on the 22nd.of June so I will let you know how it goes. Fingers crossed xx

[shareasmile]

I started on Sulfa one month ago as a sidekick to Enbrel. I am taking a low dose and so far have not had problems, except for an occasional headache. You may be more susceptible to kidney stones while taking this med, so that is why you need to drink lots of water. All the best to you!

[heathersmum]

Thank you for replying. It seems that everyone who is on Sulfa. Seems quite happy.

All sounds positive. Bring it on.

😊 xx

[beckywebb04]

The first drug I was on was sulfasalazine. It did wonders for my bowels, which makes me think there's something there that I should get investigated. However, it did nothing for my arthritis and I got the most terrible sore throat so refused to take it anymore. The sore throat got so bad I saw three different doctors and none of them thought it was medication related so I tested my theory and was right