sulfasalazine and nightmares

[attatel]

Hi,

I've been taking sulfasalazine (4 a day) for about three months - added in to 20mg Mtx pw - and have definitely noticed an improvement. But I've started having frequent nightmares. I haven't had nightmares for years so wondering if there's a connection. I've also noticed my balance is worse than usual.

Anyone else experienced these symptoms?

Thanks!

Terry

[Gnarli]

Sorry, I'm not on sulpha but I've always has episodes of nightmares in full technicolour, surround sound with added smelly-vision. I hope someone on sulpha comes along with their experiences soon. Wishing you well

J

[attatel in reply to Gnarli]

Thanks! I feel for you with the nightmares

Horrible, isn't it?

[Gnarli in reply to attatel]

Reckon if could just write them down I'd have a blockbuster on my hands. I try not to dwell on them but they do get worse if I'm anxious about things. I hope it settles for you

[attatel in reply to Gnarli]

Haha! Yes, definitely! I feel like Stephen King and David Cronenberg have had a love child and planted it in my brain!

Thanks! You too!

[Gnarli in reply to attatel]

😁

[oldtimer]

I'm not on sulfasalazine myself, but I have had a lot of nightmares. For me it seems to be connected with my level of anxiety. They are more frequent when I'm 'not coping' and worry about whether I'm going to stay independent!

[attatel in reply to oldtimer]

I've got a long history of depression and anxiety, so completely sympathise. I don't think that's the problem for me at the moment though. I've actually been feeling more positive since I've been taking the sulfa, because of the improvement.

Thanks for replying!

[Skolfield]

Hi yes ! Last night I took my 3 tabs before I fell asleep ( I’m always forget to take them !) and although I had my eyes shut all night ( miracle because I’m awake 2-3 times a night now !) I had the craziest at times scary but really vivid dreams ! X

[attatel in reply to Skolfield]

The nightmares are bad enough, but I find I can't shake them off all the next day as well!

Thanks for replying and hope you don't get them too often.

[VeronicaF]

could it be the RA and not meds because I can't sleep very well, years ago when I was told I had fiber--- sorry spelling, when I had that before the RA too now

I was told people with it don't sleep right with that condition

[attatel in reply to VeronicaF]

Yeah, I sleep really badly all the time. It's one of the things I hate most about the disease.

I haven't really had regular nightmares until the last few weeks though.

I'll ask the nurse when I see her.

Thanks for replying!

[Hobbits]

Im taking Sulpha now for a bit, it’s an added combo to my Remicade Infusions. Only now after taking for awhile do I notice very, very slow improvement, sometimes it makes me nauseous and dizzy, but I really want this to work, so I’m sticking this out.

I only had one really bad dream lately about 🕷 spiders in an old cobwebby dark and dusty room with unfinished wooden plank flooring. There were spiders in intricate webs. Spiders all over and everywhere. All the spiders were black except the really scary red one.

I normally have one nightmare a year. I think it’s my subconscious forcing me to pay attention to things that are bothering me, things I am literally too fatigued to actually do something about.

I’m pretty sure the very scary red spider represents my female boss.

[attatel in reply to Hobbits]

Lol!

Let's hope that's your annual nightmare out of the way!

[Nicfly]

Hi attatel

One year late to the party I see but the side effects live on. I’ve been taking sulpha for a few years now, 2000mg/day, now slowly increasing the dose to 4000mg/day, I’ve noticed and increase in very strange and highly vivid dreams (hence why I am now on this thread). Just wondering if your dreams have tapered off after your body adjusted to the meds.

Hope this message finds you well.

[attatel in reply to Nicfly]

Hi, I don't take sulfa anymore because it stopped working for me - in fact with hindsight, I think it was a steroid shot that caused the improvement.

But my nightmares pretty much stopped when I came off it.

I'm sorry I can't be more encouraging - I was only on it for about 6 months.

I really hope that it gets better for you. RD is bad enough without it messing with our dreams!

Terry x