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Sulfasalazine User Reviews & Ratings

Brand names: Azulfidine, Azulfidine EN-tabs

Sulfasalazine has an average rating of 5.9 out of 10 from a total of 188 reviews on Drugs.com. 47% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 33% reported a negative experience.

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Reviews for Sulfasalazine

  • Jam...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 11, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I've dealt with joint pains and swelling of my joints that on and off forced me to use crutches at only 22 years old. (And several other symptoms) Prednisone was the only medication helping me deal with the worst of my pains. My doctor suggested I start taking sulfasalazine about 5 months ago and I was shocked at my results. I haven't felt this healthy in a very long time. Sulfasalazine helped me get my life back, and I am so grateful for my results. I've had no side effects that I've noticed except for the headaches I got when I started taking the medication."

10 / 10
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147 Report
  • Run...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • October 25, 2019

Azulfidine (sulfasalazine) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "56-year-old female diagnosed with RA two years ago. Before the diagnosis, I had severe pain in my hands, arms, shoulders, knees, ankles, and legs. I really thought I was going in the direction of a wheelchair. I had been a runner but never thought I would run again. After about six months of being on the medicine Azulfidine, I was able to start running again. This year in July, I qualified for the Boston Marathon! Something I’ve only dreamt about, thank you so much for the medicine!"

10 / 10
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123 Report
  • Mar...
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • March 3, 2014

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been taking sulfasalazine for 19 years, the age of my son. As a baby, I could not lift him, my wrists were too painful. My rheumatoid arthritis was in 15 joints, symmetrical, etc. I was on the Dutch COBRA study, combining sulfasalazine, methotrexate, and prednisone, except I was in the placebo group getting only sulfasalazine. It kicked in after 6 weeks and so far has worked well. Some issues with my left foot started a year ago, but it doesn't stop me hiking in The Alps for a week."

10 / 10
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186 Report
  • vai...
  • February 3, 2014

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been on it since 2009 due to severe back pain. I was told I have ankylosing spondylitis, a disease which affects joints. But this medicine improved my condition up to the point that I can lead a normal life again."

9 / 10
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169 Report
  • cas...
  • December 11, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed with RA when I was 10 years old. I was prescribed methotrexate originally, and that worked well. But when I reached 21, I wanted to come off of it because I wanted to be able to consume alcohol. I was then prescribed sulfasalazine and found that this worked just as well as methotrexate. The only downfall was how long it took to kick in and relieve my symptoms. After taking sulfasalazine for a little over a year, I went into remission for 3 years. But this week, my jaw is very stiff and hurts pretty bad so I started back up on sulfasalazine (2 pills in the morning, 2 pills at night). I have no side effects. For those who get nausea from sulfasalazine, folic acid really helps with that. I highly recommend this medication."

10 / 10
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129 Report

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  • Dbe...
  • March 7, 2014

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Have been on sulfasalazine for a year since being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I am grateful to have it since other medicines aren't an option for me due to unexplained elevated liver enzymes. It has helped the pain of rheumatoid arthritis quite a lot and my inflammation has gone down. I just wish it addressed the fatigue."

7 / 10
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150 Report
  • Pus...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • December 17, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Initially caused severe headaches upon waking. The headaches responded well to Tylenol. Took months to become effective at all, and after that, my rheumy doubled my dose, which took even more months. Total time to achieve a tolerable level of inflammation was 7 months. I finally feel like a more 'normal' person again. It is not 100% effective, but I am satisfied as I do not need to take anything else like an NSAID or other pain meds anymore. I'm glad I didn't give up on it as it is working and is considered one of the more benign DMARDs available. I suffer from inflammatory arthritis (nonspecific/not RA). Check into turmeric (golden paste) to help with inflammation. Praying for a cure for all!"

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112 Report
  • SGM...
  • May 6, 2014

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Rheumatoid arthritis since 1994, pretty severe case. Had to stop taking Humira and methotrexate due to repeated bouts with pneumonia and lung damage. Currently on sulfasalazine, Plaquenil, and prednisone. Occasional flares but things are basically back under control."

6 / 10
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123 Report
  • Anonymous
  • October 24, 2010

Sulfazine (sulfasalazine) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "Been on sulfasalazine for 3 years, for me the first 2 weeks were hard on the stomach. Felt like I was going to vomit all the time but never did, it was slow to have the effect maybe a month, but after that it has been good. Still get flare up the odd time. It is inexpensive compared to the other medications."

9 / 10
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153 Report
  • San...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 23, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "It’s only been a few weeks, and sulfasalazine has stopped the shooting pain in my wrist, along with bad cramping in my fingers and thumb, that was waking me up at night. While the swelling in my hands and feet hasn’t gone down much, I’m enjoying the relief and feel grateful. I just now started the two-a-days but am optimistic about my ability to stay active. I’ve only experienced a little nausea so far, and it’s worth it. Headed to the gym to see what I can do!"

8 / 10
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71 Report
  • the...
  • June 25, 2011

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 18 months ago, been on sulfasalazine all time. First 2 months felt sick and headachey, but okay since. Found ringing in ears relieved by having high pillows, i.e. two good ones and a very soft lesser one. Visit Rheumatologist every 6 months, with blood tests every 3 months. Carpel tunnel was very bad prior to taking sulfasalazine. Much better now; keeping well."

9 / 10
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139 Report
  • Jbm...
  • June 25, 2014

For Psoriatic Arthritis "After being on methotrexate and Humira, I experienced no relief as well as a SEVERE LIFE-THREATENING episode called Ludwig's Angina. I ended up in a coma for 4 days and was told that if I had waited 1/2 hour longer to go to the ER, I probably wouldn't have survived! I swore off all arthritic medicines for a year, except for pain medicines. My rheumatologist understood, and after a year suggested we start back very passively as opposed to aggressively to treatment. She suggested SSZ (sulfasalazine), and I reluctantly agreed. I was told it could take up to 3-4 months before I would see any improvement. Within 3 weeks, I felt like a new person. I've been on it for a year and feel wonderful!"

10 / 10
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109 Report
  • Mog...
  • February 26, 2015

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "My reaction was unusual! After the second week, I began to get daily severe headaches and a raised temperature. After the third week, my temperature was quite high and I still had severe headaches. The doctor thought it was an infection. Blood tests showed extremely high CRP, ESR, and raised liver enzymes. I also had extremely low blood pressure. I was taken off sulfasalazine and treated with antibiotics. I improved quickly. I recommenced the medicine, and had exactly the same reaction within a week!"

1 / 10
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102 Report
  • Anonymous
  • May 16, 2012

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I've taken sulfasalazine for four months (1000 mg twice per day). It took at least six weeks to become effective, but combined with Etodolac, an anti-inflammatory, I have had good success with controlling a monoarthritic knee that had been diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis after almost 20 years of problems, various surgeries, etc. I worry about side effects, but the pain and extreme swelling is controlled after many years."

7 / 10
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120 Report
  • Peg...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 10, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I’ve been on the good injection for years, which has been amazing. Due to it not being sold anymore, they have put me on sulfasalazine. I’m on 3 a day now and have constant headaches, pain in my neck, no energy at all, and loss of appetite. I’m dreading taking 4 next week. I just hope my body can adjust to the medication and no side effects."

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  • tay...
  • May 14, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "After 6 months of symptoms, I was diagnosed with RA 5 weeks ago and started this medication immediately. The pain was primarily affecting my feet, ankles, and toes, and I had been totally unable to walk for the whole 6 months. After about 3 weeks, I noticed a major improvement. Although I still had pain, the locked-up stiffness was totally gone, which meant I could walk again. Today, after 5 weeks, the pain is drastically improved, and I hope this continues. Today, I went out to see how far I could walk, and I made it 4 kms. I also experienced no side effects coming onto this medication. I would also suggest anyone with RA check out the Paddison program. Clint Paddison developed very severe RA at 31 and got to full remission and off of all of his medications in only two years. You can do it too!!"

10 / 10
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72 Report
  • Cbs...
  • January 22, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I’ve been on sulfasalazine for RA for about 10 weeks. I increased the dose gradually over 3 weeks. Once I reached the full dose (2000 mg/day), I started noticing side effects. Mostly headaches and nausea. I decided to try to stick it out, and I’m so glad I did. Eventually, side effects went away as I adjusted to the med. Over the past week, I’ve felt better than I have in years! Still have joints that are sore, but the symptoms I have are very mild compared to what they once were. Hoping this continues to improve over the next few months."

9 / 10
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71 Report
  • Sus...
  • July 6, 2011

Sulfazine (sulfasalazine) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have rheumatoid arthritis and have been using Sulfasalazine for the last 4 years as an 'add-on' to methotrexate. I take the maximum dose, but must confess that I can only see a minimal reduction of pain using this medicine."

5 / 10
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115 Report
  • Lor...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • May 15, 2013

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I LOVE THIS MEDICINE! I had tried many medicines before this including methotrexate which was HORRIBLE - they all made me so ill. I only had loose stools at the start of treatment as a side effect, no others. I take it alone, without NSAIDs, and it manages all my pain and swelling like a champ. I have had no flares and I take 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening. My hair also stopped falling out after the 1st 2 months of taking it. It literally changed my life without shutting down my immune system. I could not be happier."

10 / 10
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100 Report
  • pin...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 1, 2019

For Psoriatic Arthritis "My doc started me on this since it’s the weakest medication with the least amount of side effects you can be on for autoimmune conditions. Docs aren’t fond of methotrexate in young adult females either (I’m a 23-year-old female). I have PsA, and it’s a night-and-day difference with this medication. I take 3 pills twice daily. My inflammation markers have decreased by 7 points and 0.2 points on the other. Life-changing medication, and I no longer feel like garbage. If you don’t like the idea of side effects, start with this first. Everybody processes medications differently, but you don’t know until you try it."

10 / 10
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54 Report
  • myg...
  • April 25, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have only been on this med for 4 months. It has helped with my stiffness. My body would become so stiff, felt like I had pre-death rigormortis... especially after sitting for any length of time. Getting up from a sitting position was extremely painful and awkward. My only complaint about the med is that it is too large for me to swallow. I take 3 per day, and I am fearful that I will choke on them. They scrape my throat and esophagus when I take them. Wish they would change the shape and coat them to make them easier to take."

8 / 10
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79 Report
  • kar...
  • April 11, 2010

Sulfazine (sulfasalazine) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have had a small improvement with sulfasalazine, but unfortunately, I started having severe ringing in the ears after 6 months. Also, it gave me pain in my Achilles tendon and calves at night. Keep in mind that I had the pain side effect also with cholesterol medications, but not the ringing in the ears."

4 / 10
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109 Report
  • Inf...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • April 16, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Been on this sulfasalazine for RA for 4 years now, and for the last 6 months, sharp cramping pain in the stomach right of the navel. I don’t know if anyone else has had this problem, plus pain under the left rib. Seriously thinking of packing it in, joints no improvement either, also dry, itchy upper feet. Also been taking it without folic acid, which is advisable apparently, but which I didn’t know about. This drug can cause folate deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency too. Horrible drug."

3 / 10
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45 Report
  • Hil...
  • April 7, 2016

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I was on sulfasalazine after being diagnosed with PSA. My first arthritis medication. I was also experiencing reactive arthritis when first diagnosed. I started at 1 tablet 2 times a day. I had some quite adverse reactions to start, such as trouble sleeping and nausea. My rheumatologist suggested Humira. After reading up on Humira, I decided it was worth trying to soldier through a longer trial period with sulfasalazine before switching, eating plain food, etc., to minimize the impacts of side effects. I'm so glad I did. Now I'm at 4 tablets a day. All the side effects are now gone, and I can eat normally. Sulfasalazine has reduced joint inflammation to the point that I can exercise. I recommend giving sulfasalazine's side effects a bit of time to equalize."

8 / 10
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71 Report
  • Kja...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • July 8, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Diagnosed with RA in 2013. Managed on hydroxy and Kenalog injections until last year when wrists, neck, and knees were in constant pain. Started on sulfasalazine last September - Kenalog injection initially reduced pain and swelling until it kicked in, and apart from a couple of blood issues, sulfasalazine has been great. No daily side effects at all, but when I reached 4 daily, my neutrophils decreased to an unacceptable low. I’m now settled on 3/day rather than 4, and it seems to be working for me."

8 / 10
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49 Report
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.