Sulfasalazine and mood swing

[Greencat96]

Hi everyone,

I have been taking sulfasalazine for a few weeks and I have noticed that I have been a lot more emotional than usual (crying for no reason and getting so angry I can't speak; this is really not like me at all).

I read that sulfasalazine can affect your mood, has anyone experienced anything like this? There could be multiple causes for the mood swings but as it is listed as a side effect and as it wasn't happening before I took the drug, I am wondering...

As always, thank you for your wise words and for sharing your experiences.

Take care all

[quatjen]

Hi Greencat96, so sorry you feel like this is rubbish. I had a horrible time on sulfasalazine I am not the type to get depressed, I felt terrible not only feeling sick, I couldn’t concentrate and make decisions clearly as I stopped taking them it took a few days to regain my normal mood, I was shocked how bad I had felt when I started to feel better if that makes any sense, I would speak to your Rheumatology as soon as you can, don’t suffer for too long, hope you get on ok, take care xx

[Potatos]

It was only when I came off sulfasalazine I realised how down I had been on it. It was like a cloud lifted once I stopped taking it.

[lilyak]

Yes, I experienced depression and mood swings on sulfasalazine. I tested it three times...take the medication, moods. Stop the medication, back to usual, happy self. Definately the medication. Talk to your rheumy, there are so many other options, you shouldn't have to suffer this way. I hope you feel better soon. On the upside, it only took a few days for the moods to lift when I stopped the sulfa. Take care.

[gilox]

I was on this for about a year then suddenly I got very depressed, soon after stopping them my mood changed & I was back to normal (for me)! The flares came back with a vengeance,& was put on methotrexate, been on it now for over 10 years! Do speak to your rheumatology as soon as possible. Hope you feel better very soon. X

[janmary]

I stopped Sulf last week after 12 weeks - nausea, weight loss, frequent weeing night and day and feeling like a zombie and ‘low’. Also headaches, muscle cramps. Not like me at all. Knew I had grandchildren to stay over this weekend and wouldn’t be able to cope. 3 days later felt like me again and really enjoyed a chaotic weekend .

Oh, and it didn’t seem to help my joints.

I know it works well for a lot of people

[nomoreheels]

I eventually came off sulfasalazine because it was causing really low mood, can't honestly say depression, not the kind I’ve known others to have, they were definite altered mind issues though. I’m sorry you are having mood changes too. If I'm honest I’m not sure it was working it's best for me anyhow (double therapy with methotrexate) but once I came off it things returned to normal.

I think all you can do is as I did & do with any newly started med, give it long enough to see if side effects ease & go as your body gets used to it, then you know yourself you've not of given up on it. With altered mood it is a little different. I ended up staying on it too long because my Rheumy was on extended & leave nobody would take responsibility for me stopping it. I hope you have no such issues & if you do find it's as a result of SSZ things return to normal quickly for you too.