Sulphasalazine

[Dece]

I have recently been prescribed SZZ alongside MTX and am having really awful depression/ anxiety as a result. It's very severe and quite frightening. Can anyone relate to this ?

[Peptink]

Hello. Are you currently taking an antidepressant? Along with my RA meds, I take Nortriptyline. It helps somewhat with pain, but definitely helps with my depression. Please contact your doctor and see what they can offer. Depression is very frightening. Best of luck moving forward.

[Potatos]

I was very down on sulfasalazine, when I came off it a dark cloud lifted. If it is making you feel this way let your rheumatologist know. There are other medications that might suit you better.

[CallMeSunny]

I too was affected in a similar manner when my rheumatologist reintroduced me to Sulphasalazine (first time resulted in low WBC). You might like to look at a recent post from Olliechops but do inform your Rheumy nurse otherwise they will assume you are tolerating them.

[Olliechops]

Hi, I too had awful side effects with Sulfasalazine: brain fog, low mood, like a dark cloud over me. I felt awful on them, had palpitations and felt jittery inside. I only stayed on them for four weeks and I took myself off them. My rheum nurse agreed it was the right thing to do. After about 10 days of being off them I felt more like my old self again. Hope you manage to get sorted.

[Dece in reply to Olliechops]

Yes that's it, you described it very well, thank you. They told me to stop it for four days then start it again to make sure so that's what I'm doing, am worried though.

[Dece in reply to Olliechops]

Thanks much for your reply, it helps xx

[Olliechops in reply to Dece]

No probs. I put a post on in November last year when I was going through the same as you. I think if you search on Sulfasalazine you might find it. I was getting to the end of my tether but when people reply saying they've been through it, I think it makes you feel a bit better, as you're not the only one.

[Trishfrog1 in reply to Olliechops]

Hi , I've been on 4 a day now for about 3 weeks I'm feeling low mood breathless tired did you get these symptoms ...I'm stopping them as from today saturday and ringing the specialist nurse ...my pulse rate as gone from 65 resting to 80 ..I feel shocking

[Olliechops in reply to Trishfrog1]

Hi, yes really low mood, palpitations and brain fog were the worse symptoms. I can't say that I felt breathless but I did feel fatigued. I came off them on week 4 and felt loads better with a few weeks. Hope you get sorted.

[Doggo2]

I can’t relate to that as I don’t take that med but would def tell your rheumatologist immediately as you shouldn’t put up with those effects.

[hbowling]

Hello

I can so relate to your experience of this horrible drug. I was put on it at first RA diagnosis in 2014.,and I stuck it out for 7 weeks. I’ve never felt so awful with total brain fog, very hightened and extreme anxiety. I felt fearful, like someone had put me into a pot of very sticky goo. I was totally zoned out, lost the ability to leave my house. I eventually spoke to my GP who took me off it. Now my medical notes state that I’m actually allergic to the medication. It took a good four weeks to feel remotely back to normal. Absolutely horrible drug.

[Dece in reply to hbowling]

Thank so much for your reply that's exactly how I felt on it. They told me to stop for 4 days and then start again but I'm very apprehensive about that xx

[Trishfrog1 in reply to hbowling]

That's exactly how I feeling..I've had 2 today no more I need to speak to my specialist nurse on monday .I would rather go back on mtx this is taking my like said to hubby I feel that bad feel like I'm slowly dying

[quatjen]

Hello Dece, I also felt very depressed, couldn’t think straight or function in my normal way, have never felt so low until I stopped taking them, it’s now on my notes that I can’t take them, rheumatology nurse did ask me a year after I stopped taking them. If I take them again, I said never again.

You have tried, unfortunately they’re not for everybody, but it does seem to be quite a common thing. I would contact you rheumatology, it’s not nice thing to experience, all the best of luck. Hope you feel better soon.