Hello, I have been on sulfasalazine for 5 months and currently take 3000 mg a day and so far it worked well, I'm getting better slowly with no side effects.
For about a week I am having a mouth ulcer even I am using mouthwash (contains chlorhexidine) and tried Strepsils as well, it is just getting bigger and more painful Now it is about 1 cm and also I was unusually fatigued and felt dizzy today.
Is that possible, that these are side effects of the Sulfasalazine? Has anyone experienced similar symptoms while taking it?
Thank you,
EB xx
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EasternBunny
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Hello, I take sulfasalazine for years and suddenly had mouth ulcers 18 months ago. If I remember correctly I think it is mentioned as a side effect. I went to the doctor who suspected the start of Oral Lichen Planus, which turned out to be correct so not the same as you I think as you mention your ulcer is growing. I would suggest going to see a doctor just to get it checked out and he can give you the correct medication for it. I can't remember what I was prescribed for the ulcers( I had a few small ones on the inside of my lips) but I wouldn't carry on with any mouth wash. I was told to use a warm water with salt in it. I was a bit sceptical as I thought it would sting, but it doesn't and I even used it when I had a mouth biopsy for the lichen Planus. Certain toothpastes aren't good either if you have ulcers because they have SLS in them. Please see your doctor as early as possible though .
Hello barbieg, thank you for your response. I'm gonna see my gp next week, and until then I will try the water and salt solution. I used to have quite a few ulcers when I was at uni, probably caused by stress. Usually these old tricks worked (or I found herbal remedies good too), but this time it seems that I'll need something else.
i remembered when i was in the shower that i did have a couple of large ones that actually burst when i was brushing my teeth. it was scary for me as i had never had an ulcer before. i still take sulfasalazine and not had anymore problems, i use Comvita propalus [ive not spelt it correctly] toothpaste and have not had anymore problems. in fact my dentist was so shocked he wanted to know what i had been using. the OLP has gone and have not had a mouth ulcer since. im well aware it could just be a coincidence but i am happy. I still use the salt water twice a week as my dentist recommended. Good luck with your doctor.Barbieg.
Sorry to hear about mouth ulcers. I also experience mouth ulcers as part of RA symptoms. When I took Sulphasalazine they were no worse so I probably can't give you a definite
What I can tell you though is salt water is absolutely the best thing along with bonjela. I get about five ulcers for three weeks of my me trial cycle (weird collatation I know). tomatoes are awful for ulcers so maybe avoid those.
I also found tcp dabbed on ulcers helped.
Good luck
I had mouth ulcers almost constantly from the start of DMARD therapy. None since I stopped the last DMARD and started the Biological Cimzia and no more mouth ulcers. What a relief! Google magic mouthwash - great relief from this. If they don't go away in the 10 day window when they should, see your doctor. Good luck.
Hi
Just wondered if you had looked at the section on the NRAS website which looks at oral health - this item looks specifically at RA medications and the mouth nras.org.uk/ra-medication-a...
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Now it is about 1 cm and also I was unusually fatigued and felt dizzy today. 
Intermittent side effects on sulfasalazine?
Weird sulfasalazine side effect
Sulfasalazine
Side effects on Sulfasalazine
