I've noticed that others are also on Methotrexate or Leflunomide along with their daily dose of prednisone. My dr. tried both of those at various times but I had unwelcome side effects from each. So he put me on 4 (500 mg) Sulfasalazine tabs along with the Pred, and I haven't had any bad side effects from it. I haven't heard that anyone else is doing this? Thanks for any info you can give re: sulfasalazine, which I know is the beginning med for Ulcerative Colitis, which I don't have!
Gramma Jo
It has been mentioned on this board. I am not sure it worked that well. This link may interest you. stuffthatworks.health/polym...
Thank you, Piglette. I had seen that article, and since so few seem to have tried it, I was wondering if anyone here has, and what their experience was? I have had no bad side effects from it, and the doctor says it is a prednisone-sparing drug. I once asked him if I could taper that down and get off the sulfasalazine, and he asked me if I wanted another flare!
It is also commonly used in inflammatory arthritis as it is also a DMARD and they are used first line in inflammatory arthritis. It isn't used a lot in PMR as there have been no studies done on it, As an antiinflammatory it is thought to work in a similar way to aspirin and ibuprofen by inhibiting prostaglandins but it also has an immunosuppressive effect which is probably what they are using it for for you.
Its use in PMR is anecdotal - not sure if I can remember anyone it worked for. The first rheumy I saw when I eventually got a PMR diagnosis wanted to use sulphalsalazine for me but I was about to more here to Italy and I hadn't got a specialist to monitor its use, GPs can't initiate it. He didn't think I had PMR but an inflammatory arthritis - no-one here has ever suggested it isn't PMR, including my current rheumy who is a world name in the PMR field, so it was never mooted here. I had an unpleasant encounter with MTX that didn't last long!
Thanks for the info on how sulfasalazine works. I may be the only one on it! Haven't heard from anyone else whose doctor is recommending its use along with Pred. for PMR.
Yes, my months-long encounter with Methotrexate was very unpleasant also. Would never want to repeat that!
My Rheumatologist wants me to ram up up on SSZ until 3000.
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Psoriatic Arthritis?
