Sulfa and anxiety and depression

[twintwo76]

Hi i have had RA for 5 years and fibro for 4. I have been taking hydoxichloriquine for a while and sulfasalazine for a couple of months. Alongside amatriptiline and naproxen. Can sulfa cause anxiety and depression? I ‘m think its been building up for a while and i am now struggling with simple things like going to the shops, work fills me with dread ( i love my job!)and i’m jumpy about loud noises - even the post made me jump. I have booked a doctors appointment next week.

I guess my question is has any else had this issue with sulfasalazine

[SoulmanPaul]

Hi sorry to hear you're having a tough time. I recently stopped Sulfa although for other reasons. I'm not aware it made me any more depressed...having RD is depressing as it is! However it seems you're not the only one to be suffering this side effect. If you scroll down the page you'll find related posts which I think may be helpful.

Kind regards

Paul

[Mandy8175]

Amatrptilline is is probably the culprit as it is an anti-depressant. The pain relief is just a beneficial side effect!

[Anitasmith]

Unfortunately sulfasalazine is made me depressed, works well for ra...stopped sulfa and after month feel better. I got really bad anxiety

[Nettac]

Yes, sulfasalazine can make some people very depressed. I experienced psychotic depression, and a worsening of symptoms on this drug.

Please do go see your doc. Don't put up with it. Look after yourself.

Ps. I was much better within a week of discontinuing the drug.

[Sjhoney]

Hi, I came off sulfasalazine last week after suffering a build up of anxiety and depression. I had to cancel a wkend in Madrid as I was such a mess. Nasty stuff! (For some folk)

[nomoreheels]

I'm sorry to say this was one reason I eventually had to come off sulfasalazine. It caused me to have very low mood, I can't truthfully say whether it was depression or not because thankfully I have never had it but I do know I definitely wasn't right & as I said had a very low mood, enough that it really disturbed me. I also had another side effect but it was the mood changing that disturbed me. I did persevere for a while at the request of my Rheumy nurse but really wish I hadn't because it made things worse.

I'm also prescribed amitriptyline but at the time I had the symptoms I'd be on that around 3 years so it couldn't be attributed to that in my case.

Please do speak with your Rheumy or nurse, don't try to brave & push through it, you won't if it is the SSZ & you've not started any other meds recently.

[twintwo76]

Thank you all for your advice am definitely going to tell the doctor i want to stop taking it.

[Topi]

I am sorry to hear what you are going through. Here’s wishing you the very best

[twintwo76]

So it would appear that sulfasazaline is the culprit. Stopped taking it yesterday and can already feel an improvement in my mood like a fog has lifted!! Apparently it leaves your body in 2/3 days.

Rheumatology have said stop for a week then maybe try a smaller dose. I was on 4 a day.

Not sure i want to but will see what this week is like.

Thanks for all your help.