Nucoxia and Sulfasalazine side effects

[Vasu007]

Hi guys, I was diagnosed with Hla b27 positive and have been experiencing several back ache from last 3 years. I have been having nucoxia 120 and Sulfasalazine ds daily for 6 months. I am feeling very depressed and dizzy all the time. Just feel like I can't carry on with these. Is this common or just me?

[nomoreheels]

I'm on sulfasalazine & etoricoxib 90mg daily (Arcoxia though not Nucoxia). The etoricoxib I've been taking for about 5 years with no problems & SSZ only a couple of months. I've tried 1500mg but only taking 500mg daily currently because I've was having low mood & nausea, both listed side effects, maybe like me it's the SSZ? I've been prescribed an anti emetic to deal with the nausea. If you've not already maybe do as I did & report your side effects to your Rheumy.

[Vasu007 in reply to nomoreheels]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Yeah maybe it can be sulfasalazine. I experienced severe difficulty in driving and I am also having anxiety almost all the time. Just wanted to confirm whether it's etrocoxib or sulfasalazine causing all the trouble. One thing more I am also having Methotrexate 10mg every week from last six months and my rheumatologist told me that it can go for an year. Any idea how safe it is? I read horrible side effects for methotrexate. Thanks in advance

[nomoreheels in reply to Vasu007]

As I say it's SSZ in my case so possibly the same for you? Definitely worth reporting to your Rheumy, that's what I did, well nurse actually but she got the advice off the prescribed to reduce the dose right down.

I'm also on MTX, have been for 7 years. I'm not quite sure what you're meaning by "that it can go for a year" but I've done really well on it. I started on 15mg but have gone up to 20mg & presently injecting 17.5mg. One reason why we have drug monitoring blood tests is to ensure that it's not affecting the liver or blood cellscso as far as how safe it is I think as long as you're monitored then it's not much different to any other DMARD safety wise. It can rarely affect the lungs but anyone having difficulty breathing I would hope is sensible enough to report that to their Rheumy, GP or nurse. Are you having any problems with it or is it just what you've read online that's concerning you? I would think as you've been taking it 6 months you'll be past having any adverse effects that a newly introduced med may cause.

Hope this helps.

[Vasu007 in reply to nomoreheels]

Hi,

Thanks a lot for this. As I told earlier I started the medication 6 Months ago. Daily 120 mg etrocoxib, 1gm Sulfasalazine and 10 mg Methotrexate. I feel very anxious, depressed and terrible mood swings. So just wasn't sure which of these medicines are causing all this. Possibly it's the sulfasalazine, no other side effects. Was scared reading these terrible reviews for methotrexate online. Now feel better. One more thing, it was mentioned that alcohol intake should be avoided while on methotrexate. I am not a heavy drinker but weekends I usually gulp some whiskey. Well you have been on metx for a long time. So is it OK to have alcohol while on medication.?

[nomoreheels in reply to Vasu007]

It's natural to look online if you have a side effect but far more do ok than not but they don't leave positive reviews to outweigh the negative ones so you tend to get a biased viewpoint. The scary reviews really are in the minority, rare side effects are just that, as with any other meds, rare. Folic acid often helps the more common side effects.

I don't drink alcohol at all & Rheumys differ on how many units they recommend but I think as long as you limit the amount & don't drink the day you take MTX or the day before your drug monitoring bloods you'll not go far wrong. As both alcohol & MTX (& some other DMARDs) can affect the liver it makes sense not to put any unnecessary strain on it. So, as you can't control what MTX could do but you can control alcohol intake it makes sense to be aware, particularly with spirits as the ABV is higher than say wine or beer, about 40% for whisky as opposed to around 14% for red wine or around 4% for beer so maybe try have a sip rather than a gulp?! Easy for me to say I know as I don't drink but you'll just have to see how your liver readings are really, if they're a little high then watch what you drink really.

[ripecherries]

yes, I had very low mood when on sulfasalazine and I have read that others had the same.

[Vasu007 in reply to ripecherries]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Yeah I have so many mood swings and always feeling that anxiety. How did you tackle that. Did you stop having sulfasalazine or any other alternative. ?