Hello! I'm new here and this is my first post so I hope I'm doing this right :). I'm 35 and am being treated for an inflammatory arthritis. I just started treatment a few months ago. I was started on Sulfasalazine and worked my way up to 4 pills a day. I didn't have any side effects really and after a couple of months taking them I truly felt so much better! However I just had my 3 month labs done and my ALT and AST liver enzymes were high, and my WBC is low, So my Rheumatologist told me to stop taking the Sulfasalazine. I've only been off them for 5 days and I already am having joint pain, body aches, fatigue etc. So my 2 part question is:
1) Has anyone else had high liver enzymes and LOW white blood cell counts as an effect of Sulfasalazine? I've found a few people who have said it elevated their liver enzymes, but I can't really find any information about it lowering white blood cell counts.
2) If you have had to stop Sulfasalazine, how quickly did your arthritis symptoms come back? 5 days seems extremely quick in my opinion. Just looking for some clarity.
Thank you so much!