Sulfasalazine...3rd time lucky I hope!

[Haz58]

Today I started on 1 sulfasalazine a day to increase every 2 weeks until I reach 4 a day. They are, thankfully, increasing the dose very gradually this time as MTX caused Gastritis and then Leflunomide a month of diarreah. Will it be 3rd time lucky? I do hope so. 🤞🤞🤞🤔

[springcross]

I hope so too Haz, good luck. 🤞 xx

[Haz58 in reply to springcross]

Thank you spring 😊 Xx

[Gnarli]

I shall keep everything but my eyes crossed for you

[Haz58 in reply to Gnarli]

Ooh no not the eyes you'll get a headache 😉 everything else will suffice ☺️ thank you Gnarli 🌹

[Gnarli in reply to Haz58]

It's more likely to make me fall over actually 😀

[poppins01]

Similar happened to me. I've been on Sulfasalazine for a few years now with no problems. The odd steroid injection in middle finger joint. (Joint may need replacing at some point). Hope things settle with the change in meds.

[Haz58 in reply to poppins01]

That's hopeful Poppins! Thankyou! 🌹

[Garnacha]

I came off methotrexate due to intolerable side effects & started sulfasalazine instead, 1 a day for a week, then 2 a day building up to 4 a day. I'd also had this awful pain in my left ribs & despite scans, xrays etc they couldn't find anything wrong, I was at my wits end being prescribed oramorph & tramadol both of which I found vile, after taking sulfasalazine for 2 months the rib pain had almost gone, I asked if I could increase it by 1 tablet a day & the rib pain on the whole has gone, very, very occasionally I get a niggle so I'm really happy with the result.

Fingers crossed 🤞 it works for you with no horrible side effects x

[Haz58 in reply to Garnacha]

Oh wow! I have so many aches and pains that morphine isn't touching so Im tapering off it. No point taking it if it's not helping me. The only thing that has helped at all since being on morphine is a of courses of Prednisolone. It's slowly returning now I've been off it 3 weeks. So I'm hoping sulfasalazine kicks in quick. I did have a steroid Jab a month ago too so hopefully that's still helping too. Only time will tell. 🌹

[Garnacha in reply to Haz58]

Aaw I really hope so too, when I started it in June, I was given a course of prednisolone to tie me over hoping that sulfadiazine kicked in before methotrexate wore off & sulfa had kicked in, however, Boots the chemist gave me the wrong tablets which I took on holiday, 😡 the pain had actually started to subside & couldn't understand why it was coming back whilst on holiday, I noticed the tablets had a slightly different name & assumed it was just a variation, I posted on here & found out they were actually antibiotics & I'd exceeded the recommended dose.

I was fuming & had to stop taking what I'd thought were sulfasalazine until I came home & then had to go back to the beginning of 1 a day for a week to 2 a day building up to 4 again, I was so angry as by now I'd finished all the prednisolone, now I double check anything prescribed to me & will never use Boots again x

[Haz58 in reply to Garnacha]

Oh crikey that's so bad! I check mine every time after hearing if someone else who was given the wrong meds. X

[Beadie in reply to Garnacha]

Hi I've had a lot of trouble with boots messing up prescriptions, and when you tell them they couldn't careless, I certainly would not ask boots for any advice either.

[Jackie1947]

I'm 17 years on Sulphasazine so I hope it's 3rd time lucky for you

[Haz58 in reply to Jackie1947]

Thank you Jackie! 🌹

[Chockyuk]

Hi

It’s worked for me, fingers crossed 🤞

I’m also on 20mg of Mthx, but was flaring when I was on that alone. I take 4 Sulphasalazine a day and my inflammation levels have come right down, my ESR was 130.

I tried Hydroxychloraquine, but it gave me terrible stomach problems, so I was relieved when Sulphasalazine worked well without any side effects, apart from the dreaded fatigue 😔

[Haz58 in reply to Chockyuk]

Thank you Chockyuk. MTX gave me horrid fatigue for a few days. I'm really hoping sulfasalazine works 🤞 without fatigue would be great! 🌹

[Hidden]

Sulfasalazine works for me (though in combo with Mtx). I can tell straight away if I miss a dose..

Hope it works out for you..

[Haz58 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you CripLady 🌹

[Belle76]

I have been on sulphasalazine for 22 years on and off, only one I could tolerate, build up slowly drink lots of water too.

[Haz58 in reply to Belle76]

Thank you Belle! That's great! I will drink lots of water thanks for the tip! 🤞🌹

[Doughnut61]

Sulphasalazine was a game changer for me. Been taking for 4 years, dare I say it I forget I have RA. I do get raised liver readings on and off. Drink as much water as you can, this helps ! Good luck 🙏 it works for you ♥️

[Haz58 in reply to Doughnut61]

Thank you Doughnut61! I love to read you forget you have RA! May it continue for you 😊🌹