Sulfasalazine for ra: Wondering what people's... - NRAS

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Sulfasalazine for ra

Julieladix profile image
25 Replies

Wondering what people's experiences are with taking sulfasalazine? I just started taking it ,and not sure what to expect. How long did it take to work, and any unusual side effects. My original post is under azulfidine, but I understand most know it by sulfasalazine.

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Julieladix profile image
Julieladix
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nomoreheels profile image
nomoreheels

Hiya Julie. If you look to your right you'll see "Related Posts", they might have additional info to help you. Also, you can use the "Search" box at the top right, enter sulfasalazine or sulfasalazine side effects & it should come up with lists of previous posts on the subject.

Julieladix profile image
Julieladix in reply to nomoreheels

Thanks nomoreheels. I'm new to the sight, obviously 🙄. Lol! By the way, love your user name!

nomoreheels profile image
nomoreheels in reply to Julieladix

You're welcome. Happy searching!

Paula-C profile image
Paula-C

When I first got diagnosed with RA in 2008 I was put on sulfasalazine, four a day. I had no side effects at all, not even the orange wee. it was a gradual process of feeling better, I went to Spain early July and I wasn't too bad then, went again in September and was really good then.

I did have the dose Iincreased to six a day probably after a year, then the following year had methotrexate added.

I'm currently on enbrel and methotrexate and have been in remission since early 2013.

Good luck.

Paula

Julieladix profile image
Julieladix in reply to Paula-C

Hi Paula-c. I hope my experience with sulfasalazine is as good as yours. Good luck!

hawker955 profile image
hawker955

It didn't make any noticeable difference to me. I am unsure how it is supposed to help, although it does contain aspirin [salicylate].

Sorry. This reply doesn't help you at all does it?

Julieladix profile image
Julieladix in reply to hawker955

It's ok hawker955, I still appreciate your feedback

I was on it for 4 months at 4 tablets per day. It made my urine a deep, dark yellow and stank so much that it made me feel nauseous. It contains a salicilate and a sulphur antibiotic. I stopped taking it and it took about 3 weeks for my urine to return to normal. I don't really know about side effects as I was also on MTX and Hydroxychloroquine.......the multiple side effects of those 3 and the effects of Omeprazole and Naproxen, well it was all too much for me.

I hope your medicines work well and you get some relief.

Susie.

Selbel profile image
Selbel

Hi mines a negative post for taking that medication but everyone is different hope it works well for you xx

Pamak profile image
Pamak in reply to Selbel

Mine was negative too unfortunately. Good luck

Jj01994 profile image
Jj01994

Hi,

I have been on sulfasalazine, 4 pills a day two in the morning and two at night since I was 12, I am now 23. I have had no problems with it. Only side affect I got was after my first few doses I had orange poop that lasted a few days, so as side affects go it was easy to deal with. I think it took about a month for it to really start working, not 100% sure as that was over 11 years ago.

Scottishlad profile image
Scottishlad

One thing to watch out for is increased sun sensitivity. When I was on Sulfasalazine and Hydroxychloroquine I had to be very careful in the sun. Not so bad now that Sulfasalazine isn't part of my treatment.

If you are going abroad you should take factor 50 until you know how you are going to respond. At this time of year in the UK you should probably be OK.

Anitasmith profile image
Anitasmith

I have sulfasalazine, twise per day. I got bad side effects, hard time sleeping...not able to sleep without sleeping pills plus depression...got more often headache too. But everyone is different. Works my RA , less flares but still need painkillers. But blood test turns better, less inflamation. Good luck

Fra22-57 profile image
Fra22-57

Well I first started taking it along with methotrexate which I now don't take I haven't had any side effects at all.It has helped but think hydroxychlorine with it has helped more

Whiskers64 profile image
Whiskers64

Hi Julieladix, I was on Sulfasalazine for 6 months 4 tablets daily but had to come off them due to a nasty itchy rash up my arms & legs drove me mad plus the dark yellow, Orange pee. Took 6 weeks for it to stop once off Sulfasalazine I am now on Hydroxychloroquine & Neurontine been on these for nearly 12 months with no side effects but it's what works for you. Hope they work for you.

LadyL0u profile image
LadyL0u

I've been on it for a few years now, initially 3 tablets in the morning and 2 at night but on a lower dose now. They put me on methatrexate to begin with but I had bad side effects with that so they changed it to sulphasalazine instead. Like others, it caused yellow urine initially, but not any more. Earlier this year I wasn't sure if it was doing much any more to be honest, but having cut down from 4 tablets a day to 3 recently, after a while my RA symptoms worsened and have subsequently moved back up to 4 a day and the added pain seems to have eased off a bit now so it looks like it is still doing its job - along with hydroxychloroquine and my Biologics. (Shame on me for doubting it! :D ) I don't remember having many side effects with it when I first started taking it, (other than the deep yellow coloured pee) but I always make sure I take it after eating something just in case. Hydroxychloroquine makes me nauseous if I don't eat first and I take my sulphasalazine at the same time, so I always eat first before taking them to be on the safe side.

Everybody responds differently to the meds, but sulphasalazine seems to help me. Good luck with your meds, hope it works for you too :)

Julieladix profile image
Julieladix in reply to LadyL0u

Thank you for your input LadyLOu. I've been on it for two days, and so far so good. No side effects as of yet. I know it's way to early to tell if it's working, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that I respond positively to it.

LadyL0u profile image
LadyL0u in reply to Julieladix

You're very welcome, stay positive :)

Rachfaul profile image
Rachfaul

I've been on it for just over 4 months now. No side effects other than the urine going yellow. It started working after about 6 weeks and I've had a good 3 months of feeling ok, still some niggles in wrists but mostly loads better. I've even been able to get back to running. I still need the naproxen which I take alongside and haven't managed to reduce yet. I also take turmeric, fish oil and Astaxanthin. I hope you have a good experience.

philfen profile image
philfen

I've been on sulphasalazine for 5 Months now, diagnosed in April 2017. On 3 tablets a day. Had to reduce down from 4 a day after feeling a bit odd, fuzzy head, disconnected feelings.

Was taking Naproxen every day before I started, don't take them anymore. Had a steroid injection at the same time as I started the tablets, so was difficult to tell what was working, but felt improvement after a week.

Still feel much better 5 months after my steroid injection, so assume the sulphasalazine is working for me.

Good luck with yours.

bradfordjoanna profile image
bradfordjoanna

On four tablets a day. Some horrid headaches at the beginning so agreed that I increased very slowly at 1 for a couple of weeks then 2 for a couple of weeks and so on. It's my only RA drug now and seems good. Some active RA left but managing ok.

All these treatments take such a long time to work but better than nothing!

Julieladix profile image
Julieladix in reply to bradfordjoanna

Thanks Bradfordjoanna. I'm taking two a day. It's only been a week, but so far so good. No side effects. Hopefully it will start working soon, along with the orencia.

Elmo333 profile image
Elmo333

Hi. I'm on mtx and ssz. I got up to 3 ssz a day but it was giving me really bad palpitations so I came down to 1 a day and I think the combination seems to be helping

Vonnie10 profile image
Vonnie10

Horrendous nightmares I was on it for 2 months every time I closed my eyes nightmares.

Balletmum71 profile image
Balletmum71

I only managed thre days and one tablet per day I had rapid onest depression, a rash and breathing difficulties and rapid heartbeat.

I was put on it to help the methotrexate work more effectively . It's a shame rally as I thought it was the breakthrough i needed .

I cannot take hydroxychloroquine either as I had the same response.

Not sure what they will do next. Currently on steroids,methotrexate , tramadol and paracetamol which works fairly well but realise that it's not good long term .

I hope you find relief soon x

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