Hydroxychloroquine & Sulphasalazine EC

As the methotrexate did not agree with my body I have been prescribed as above. Is anyone else taking this combination or has

tried them. Just worried about a repeat of last time.

[Nsmith13]

Don't think it's as toxic as mtx so it might be better for you and it takes so long for your body to adjust I was told at least a year, I've got to start all over again in nxt few week everything is starting to swell and hurt now as I've been off them a while but can't complain had a good run on steroids , anyway hope it helps you fingers crossed

[Hidden in reply to Nsmith13]

Thanks I had to come off the methotrexate after a bad reaction

[Doughnut61]

I’m on this as MTX affected my liver badly ☹️ Been on this now for a year and doing well 👍 I almost feel normal again 😘Good luck x

[Brikel]

Hi Minty

Before I went on Biologics ( Benepali) I was on both of these .

While they helped a bit they didn’t fully keep my RA in check.

I went onto Benepali and Sulfasaline and it made a huge difference

Hope this helps

Regards

Brian

[Hidden in reply to Brikel]

Thanks, they have to work for me or I will lose faith in the system

[123cabezas]

Hello I'm on Hydroxychloroquine & Sulphasalazine and methotrexate, at first it wasn't working at all and my RA was worse my fingers were deforming, my legs still give me a problem when i try to get up from the sitting, my shoulders and forearms were giving me the worst time, last visit to doc I was going to stop everything I just couldn't take it anymore, but they said stay on at least until next visit which is next week, and I'm glad i did because shoulders don't hurt, arms don't hurt, hands have been good had a thumb flare up last week but it's gone now. The only thing that's worrying me now is i'm breaking out with this rash/hives/bites/itchy bumps all over my body and face, it happened once before and they couldn't figure out what was happening, and now its appearing again, so I got to find out what this is and does it have anything to do with all the meds i'm taking. and another thing when i got my ibuprofen rx refilled the pharmacists told me I shouldn't be taking this because it's toxic with the mixture of meds i'm on, the first time I heard that.

[Hidden in reply to 123cabezas]

I was in big trouble last week when the nurse found out I had been taking other pain killers, she told me I have overdosed many times. Told her if I cannot get hold of them then Ii have no other option than to try and sort out my own pain. 400mg of voltarol in a day did not go down too well when mixed with tramadol, but hey it helped

[Fra22-57]

Am on both.got on better when the hydroxychlorine was added Have tried methotrexate but was effecting my liver.

[HappykindaGal]

I'm on both and methotrexate. I've been taking sulphasalazine for 6 weeks and having the most common of the side effects, nausea and dizziness. Doc suggested persevering as they should diminish. Before adding the sullhasalazine, I was taking 10mg Pred too as nothing else worked for me. Now reduced Pred to 1 mg a day and will probably stop totally next week and so far, so good. Still have a general ache in my shoulder, but the rest seems under control. It's a balancing act and I realise rather trial and error. It's taken me just over two years to get to this point.

[Hidden]

Feel for you, we just have to keep chipping away at it other wise it will wear you down

[Scottishlad]

I started on sulfasazine then added hydroxy chloroquine as my disease developed. The combination worked well for a number of years in my case. My disease continued to progress so I added MTX. The triple therapy worked again for a few years.

I am now on Cimzia, MTX and Hydroxy chloroquine.

Two things to note: sulfasazine can make your sweat and urine yellow, this can stain light coloured clothing; both drugs can increase sensitivity to sunlight. Use high factor sunscreens to make sure you don't burn. In the UK I use 15-30 in the UK, 50 when abroad and find in high summer I need to cover up sometimes.

[Hidden]

Thank you for the information, guess that I will not be wearing white any more

[Chavaudret62]

Hi Minty I've been on sulphasalazine and hydroxycloroquine for 26 years and they have worked very well however started getting bone damage 4 years ago and kept that under control with steroid injections I'm refusing methotrexate due to a previous liver infection, I really want to try to avoid more drugs layering ,I'm trying diet and exercise now and taking naproxen very sparingly to get the swelling down

[Hidden in reply to Chavaudret62]

Can I ask were you prescribed iron tablets and folic acid while taking this combination???

[Multijo]

Hi Minty. Methotrexate and I did not do well. We tried taking injectible and it was easier to take. But I stopped it entirely about a year ago. I am getting rituxan infusions. The hope was it would help my RA and my MS which it seems to be doing.

I also started the Coimbra Protocol about 7 Months ago and I believe it helps me.

[shareasmile]

I added hydroxychloroquine to my cocktail 4 months ago along with Orencia and sulfasalazine. The difference it made after 2 months was miraculous. I then took it upon myself to stop sulfasalazine since I thought the hydroxy was the drug for me. Well, that was a mistake. Some symptoms came back although not as severe. Nevertheless, I will begin taking the sulfa again and look forward to a good outcome--again.

[embroy]

I am taking both of the drugs you are on about,just like you Methotrexate didn't suit me, I had a swollen liver.

At first I was taking Hydroclocquine 400 mg daily, then went to my Rhumotologist and with Hydrdroxcloroaquine you have to get your eyes tested one for one year, then 5 years etc.

Now I only take 200 mg daily. Salfalsalazine is fine with me, I had it stopped a couple of years ago, and got it re- started, but start with a low dose, then increase it gradually.