I've been on Sulfasalazine for 7 weeks now 2000 mg a day. Since I've been taking it, I feel weird. Kind of preoccupied with my own thoughts and anxious all the time. I just don't feel like myself. Weird, negative thoughts and just nervous and odd. Any one relate? I have had bad foot pain for two years and am trying to find something to relieve but this feeling is spooky and difficult. I think I prefer the pain. Pain hasn't resolved totally either. Any ideas? The doctor of course said this is not from the Sulfa.
Thanks so much!
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Nellyfiguringitout
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I've been on it for 16 years and not experienced this. Put me on steroids and I'm manic . If your consultant at the clinic put you on Sulphasazine I would suggest contacting them. Also it takes a while to feel any benefit
Ive been taking 2 tablets at Night and 1 in the morning for the past week slowly building up to 4 per day , i am like many felling like crap anxous moody and stress and reccomoendations, i felt crap on Methatrexate and im taking Palaquin also 400MG daily
Yes. I was moved to Humira. This was back in 2006 when the consultant has to argue a special case to the hospital to get you onto it. It transformed my life, I havs been on it (now a biosimilar, Amgevita) ever since.
Yes I felt very odd on sulpha. It was hard to describe to the consultant, the best way was that I felt like a zombie. Very disconnected and not myself at all and it didn't help the RA either. Good luck with finding something that helps you
Hi Nelly, i didn’t have a very good experience I have to say, I also felt sick all the time while taking them, my boss kept trying to send me home, as well as low mood I felt the same as you, I couldn’t think straight or make decisions, not great being a chef, didn’t realise how bad I felt till I came of them I lasted 8 week’s, now on leflunomide for the last two years, please speak to your rheumatology and explain how you are, you don’t have to carry on like that, take care.
Hi, I've been on Sulfasalazine for many years now and am absolutely fine with it. I did however have to come off methotrexate after that plunged me into a very dark place. Strange how different drugs affect different people, hopefully you will find the mix that suits you. Good luck.
I’ve always been fine with it, but if it’s making you feel like this, you need to let them know, so you can be offered something else.
I was on it for about 6 years. Had to come off it because of low white cell count. It was only after I stopped taking it I realised it made me quite irritable and grumpy!
I never had problems with Sulfasalazine. Is it possible that you are unsure as you are still trying to figure it all out? RA can do strange things to your body and mind. Maybe have a look at the NRAS website. They have extensive information about all the medication available to treat RA/JIA. I hope it passes and your pain and other symptoms will lessen. I always accepted side effects because I new that without the medication my body and soul will get damaged badly. Good luck to you and my best wishes.
when I started Sulfasazaline I was SO depressed and anxious it was awful. I spoke to my nurses and they suggested for me to increase the dose at a much slower pace.
It took me ages to get to the full 4 tablets a day but it certainly helped my side effects!
Im so sorry you’re feeling this way.I can understand how unsettling and worrying those feelings are because I had something similar happen after taking a blood pressure medication.I stuck it out for a couple of weeks but just knew something was definately not right,saw my doctor and he changed to a new medication straight away.
Your RA team would be more informed about the effects of RA drugs than your GP so maybe try and get a phone chat with your Rheumy nurse this week to start things off and hopefully improving.
Do hope it gets sorted and you start to feel better.
It's difficult to get those feelings across to health professionals who tend to think you a bit weird! Emphasise that it isn't doing much for the pain and be persistent about how you want to try another medication to get better control of the inflammation to prevent future damage - they understand that better.
Depression and anxiety are known side effects. I suffered low mood on sulfasalazine so I temporarily stopped it. Mood lifted instantly. Re-started it and low mood returned. I stopped taking it. I can tolerate some side effects but not that.
It does sound like anxiety and perhaps your GP can help. If it's stopped and the anxiety went then it might be the medication but in truth as with all RA meds its trial and error. With regard to the foot pain then also look up Mortons Neuroma as its easily treatable and like feels like walking on broken glass so don't put up with it as a simple steroid injection can stop it if not then a small operation will. Being on constant pain is depressing and foot pain one of the worst and MN's are associated with RA so it is worth asking for more help with the problem.
I've been on 2000mg a day since August, increased to 2500mg a day in September, knew I've been feeling so anxious, even the slightest thing gets me so stressed, never thought it could be sulfasalazine! But, the awful pain I was having in my ribs has gone although my fingers, hands, feet & ankles have decided to start hurting for the last month 🙄 x
many people seem ok with the sulfa. And of course it's so hard to figure out when on multiple drugs and our moods are changeable even when not in pain so...but it's good to know that others have had the mood thing as you try to assess. Good luck.
Hi
I'm watching with interest as I've been offered sulphasalazine on top of fortnightly Imraldi biologic injection - as a potential next step but I'm reluctant after reading about its side effects . I often experience adverse reactions to medication.
I hope you let them know and are able to try something else. I'm now managing with Imraldi (which is excellent) plus once a year steroid injection for a few joints where pain had re-emerged. Imraldi is managed through my Dermatology clinic for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and has really improved my quality of life. Take care 💐
Similar to you talk of putting me on Sulfasalazine with my existing MTX injections, I expressed not wishing to start it, cos my mild flare was post Covid booster.
They listened and will review in February how I've been? Actually thinking will not have next booster to ensure not interrupting my MTX treatment which seems to control things at present.
As other have said don't struggle on with these feelings get in touch with RA team asap.
I'm one of the lucky ones as any side effects have been fairly minor and haven't lasted more than a couple of weeks with any new medication/dose increase. I'm currently on 20mg Methotrexate (by injection), 400mg Hydroxychloroquin and 6 × 500mg tablets Sulphasalzine and things definitely improved for me when the Sulphasalzine was added - even had a good effect on my longstanding IBS-C 😁
That is so great that you don't terrible side effects.
Hi everyone,
Remember to report any side effects (confirmed or suspected) via the Yellow card scheme as it will improve understanding of possible side effects and safety for the future use of different medications. Find out more here: nras.org.uk/resource/report...
You can find out about previously reported side effects to the active agents in medications here: yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/idaps
Nellyfiguringitout:
In terms of the impact this is having on your mental health, this could be an impact of the medication or your RA (or even both). Here are some resources I hope will be of help to you:
I hope you find this information useful and wish you all the best. Should you require any additional information or support please contact our helpline on 0800 298 7650 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4.30pm) or email us at helpline@nras.org.uk
Hi, I have been on it for 4 years now. Firstly I would say that you need to get the gastro resistant ones as you will get less tummy side effects. I had also sorts of side effects when i first started the drug. feeling sick, nausea, runny poop, etc. These went after bout 12 weeks. But I did also experience low mood and being dizzy. Again this passed but it was an up hill struggle!
Sulphasalizine made me feel depressed and when I stopped taking it my mood lifted. Low mood is a known side effect. I am not sure about the change you describe. I would have another conversation with your Dr and ask for the drug to be changed. There are alternatives.
I’ve been taking it for about 6 months, and my anxiety is through the roof. But I am going through a rather acrimonious divorce though at the moment, I’m on antidepressants but they aren’t really helping, I never even thought of it possibly being a side effect of Sulphasalazine?
It’s worked very well in conjunction with Mthx for my RA though.
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