Migraines

[Interpreter]

Do the migraines from the sulphasalazine stop? I already have migraines and now they are unrelenting. Are they a side effect that goes away?

[ruth_p]

I would say that you need to contact your rheumatologist as you need to try something else. It sounds like sulfa is making your pre-existing migraines worse and I doubt they will improve in time.

[Hidden]

Hi ,I used to suffer with migraines but since I've been on meds for ra (touch wood) I've not experienced any migraines was on sulfsalazine now on methotrexate

[Turquoise_Penguin]

Hi, I experienced horrific migraines when I started sulfasalazine. However they did stop and I’ve not had one for about 6 months.

[Interpreter in reply to Turquoise_Penguin]

How long did it take for them to stop?

[Brushwork]

They didn't for me. I also got them with Hydroxychloroquine!

[Interpreter in reply to Brushwork]

The hydroxychoroquine doesn't bother me at all. The Dr wants to discuss methotrexate. I read on it and it said can cause headaches too. I'm a little concerned.

[Brushwork in reply to Interpreter]

Strangely, I don’t get the headaches or migraines with Methotrexate

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Interpreter, welcome. I would say if the migraines are unrelenting you need to report it to your Rheumy. It could be that SSZ just isn't the DMARD for you. It needs discussing, you can't live as you are & there are options for you so there is something to be done. I used to have hormonal migraines pretty regularly, increased when on hydroxychloroquine (in part due to HCQ sunlight sensitivity). Rarely have them nowadays & I’ve been on methotrexate a good while. All that said we each respond to meds differently & the only way to know how you will fare is to try them I’m afraid. RD is one of those conditions that doesn’t have a one size fits all med but fortunately there are many we can try if one doesn’t bring control or causes intolerable side effects, which I’d say your is.I hope you enjoy being here. Look forward to seeing you around, & hearing that you're on your next med soon! 😊

[Interpreter in reply to nomoreheels]

Thank you so much. Methotrexate is what my rheumy wants to discuss with me at next appt. It scares me. Lol

[nomoreheels in reply to Interpreter]

Do you want to talk it through? It is unfortunate but it's reputation (sometimes unfounded) goes before it. Those of us who have tried or have been on it some time will be happy to share our experiences & maybe help dispel concerns.

[Interpreter in reply to nomoreheels]

I would love to talk it through. The sulphasalazine works pretty well for my pain. It's not completely gone, but it's not too bad. The methotrexate scares me some. Hydrochloraquine has been making my hair fall out, and the methotrexate will really make that worse. I've read that it also can cause headaches. It's a chemo drug. That scares me so much. If it doesn't help or causes migraine too, what's next? I realize this text is a ramble, sorry. 🙂

[Brychni in reply to nomoreheels]

does hydroxy cause sun sensitivity?

[Interpreter in reply to Brychni]

I don't know.

[Interpreter in reply to Brychni]

I'll check in it

[Interpreter in reply to Brychni]

Methotrexate is often listed as causing sun sensitivity. However, methotrexate is not, in fact, a sun sensitizing drug, but rather produces a reaction called radiation recall. Areas where patients have had sunburns in the past may react again after starting methotrexate.

Sulfasalazine more commonly causes sunburn reactions, but sun rash has also been reported.

Hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial, is another well-known cause of drug-induced sun sensitivity.

[nomoreheels in reply to Interpreter]

Just for future ref it would be helpful if you could please give the link to any info you share from another site or source, in this instance it's arthritisresearch.ca/sun-ex.... Thanks. The two main Rheumatology patient sites/forums/charities in the UK give this info... Photosensitivity (increased sensitivity to sunlight) nras.org.uk/methotrexate-in... & Methotrexate can increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight versusarthritis.org/news/20... Neither mention radiation recall (which is where areas exposed to radiation in the past can become inflamed, similar to serious sunburn). I wonder if it's that not enough research has been done & both generalise as sunlight sensitivity.

[nomoreheels in reply to Brychni]

It has the ability to Brychni... that said it didn't in me, I wrote sun sensitivity instead of sunlight. Leflunomide is another DMARD that can too.

[Hidden]

It was the one thing I hated and made me stop was the migraines just every day every minute. After all the others I had tried I am now waiting to start biologics. Definitely tell you RA clinic they need to know.

[Interpreter in reply to Hidden]

It's hard. Thank you

[Hidden in reply to Interpreter]

I just try anything offered stay positive but if the side effects crippling I speak up!

[Interpreter in reply to Hidden]

What is biologics?

[Hidden in reply to Interpreter]

If DMARDS fail you go on to biologics look it up on NRAS site lots of treatment info there.