Sulfasalazine User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• 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."

• Bec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "No benefits of using sulfasalazine for RA. Just stomach pain, asthma, depression, anxiety, and a constant feeling of impending doom. Strange, but I'm post-menopausal and had menstrual bleeding after 1 week on sulfasalazine. All of this stopped when I stopped taking this drug."

• jon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Was diagnosed with RA in July 2018, started on Plaquenil a couple weeks after, then in December 2018, they started me on the sulfasalazine. I was very gassy when starting out. It took me 6 weeks to go from 500 mg per day to 2000 mg. My symptoms were pretty severe in July 2018, and it took about 4 months for Plaquenil to do anything. At about 6 weeks on sulfasalazine, I started getting improvements. I'm now at 9 weeks, and I went all day and barely had any joint pain. The only thing that sucks is it seems to be making my GERD symptoms a little worse at times still. I'm hoping that this will gradually decline in the next few weeks, though. Other than that, I get a bit drowsy and seem to sleep longer on this. But so far, I'm pretty happy with it."

• She...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 13, 2017

For Psoriatic Arthritis "Was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis at 28 years old. In a span of about 8 weeks, I had 3 joint flare-ups. At first, I just thought I jammed a few fingers, but after having the same issue in my toe (and the fact they weren't healing), I finally saw a doctor who recommended a rheumatologist, and I was diagnosed. Took a while to take effect, but I started noticing a difference at 10 weeks. After 10 weeks, sulfasalazine plus 660 mg naproxen sodium was enough for my fingers to feel 85% normal. After 4 months, my joints felt 85% on sulfasalazine alone. By 6 months, it's as if I don't have arthritis at all. Truly a miracle drug."

• Tol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I started on sulfasalazine three months ago. The first four weeks were difficult as I experienced headaches, palpitations, and felt exhausted. I also had severe mouth ulcers and required antibiotic therapy. I found that increasing the dosage weekly was too intense, so I reduced the increase to four weekly and found my body tolerated the increase better. I am now on two in the morning and one in the evening and am starting to see improvement in swelling and flare-ups. I noted that once a flare starts, it is time to increase the dose. I started feeling aches all over this weekend, so I plan to increase to two in the morning and two in the evening. I will update on my progress. NB: I'm in the UK."

• LWa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 10, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I've been on this medication for 6 months. Started off with 2 pills a day, then went to 4 pills a day, now on 6 pills a day. Also take 2 Celebrex a day. I'm on/off prednisone when I get flare-ups. Cold temps seem to make my symptoms worse. Sulfasalazine seems to help, but when I have a flare-up, it's bad. Flu symptoms and extremely tired. I don't think the meds help with my fatigue, and that's very frustrating."

• Eva...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2019

For Ulcerative Colitis "Noticed after 1 month, my blood was going away and my stools near normal. No side effects. I take one pill morning and night daily. Have my energy back, and I am back outdoors doing what I love again instead of looking for a toilet."

• Bec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Diagnosed with RA 9 years ago. Have been on hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate - had liver problems, so have had to come off the metho. Started this drug 2 and a half weeks ago. Mild symptoms at first, nothing too bad, but 3 days ago I upped the dose as prescribed and have had intense head and neck pain since. Pain has been so bad I was taken into the hospital last night. They gave me codeine, oromorph, diazepam, and it was still bad, eventually, I had anti-sickness and IV fluids and was able to sleep for a bit. On waking, I felt improved, although head and neck pain is still there. As yet, I have not taken today’s dose as I’m actually scared the intense pain will return. Confused as to what to do, as very little guidance from specialist or GP! Frustrating."

• Jpa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 28, 2019

For Ulcerative Colitis "I’ve been using salazopyrin (sulfasalazine) for over 30 years for my ulcerative colitis. This drug has kept me in long periods of remission. I have tried other treatments, but my colitis responds to this drug best. No side effects. My theory is if it works, stick to it. I take 3 in the morning after breakfast and 3 at night after dinner. This drug has been my savior to a relatively normal life :)"

• Dan...
• September 16, 2015

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I'm a 31-year-old male. I've had little to no side effects. I had loose stool for the first week, other than that, I've had no problems. I wouldn't say it's a miracle drug, but it has relieved my pain significantly within the first 2 weeks. My wife is happy because I complain about a quarter as much, lol. Still have some lower back pain, but my neck pain has pretty much disappeared. The rest of my body feels better, but like I said, not 100% (that may be because I'm getting older, who knows, lol). Very thankful for this drug. I've been on it for about 4 months."

• NZN...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 11, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Update from 2017. My husband is still taking sulfasalazine after almost three years, along with the minocycline. He has no symptoms of RA and no joint damage whatsoever. However, after an episode of severe kidney/back pain in the night last week, I took him to the ER. A CT showed one stone in his right kidney and one stone in his bladder. Kidney stones are a known side effect of sulfasalazine. He has cut down to two 500 mg a day, but because he continues to have back spasms and chest pain, he has been put on a week of prednisone. The previous episode in 2017 was actually diagnosed as anemia of chronic disease and treated with prednisone. He now has it again. Seriously considering stopping the sulfasalazine, as most of his episodes can be attributed to this drug. Still no other symptoms of RA."

• Eda...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I reacted poorly to sulfasalazine. My fiancée expressed that it had some weird cognitive effects on me, as if I were on heavy opioids or recovering from anesthesia. For my part, I felt like I was moving through molasses for the four months I was on it. I got really fatigued regularly, too, and experienced tightness in my chest that left me after I stopped the drug. It didn't provide much relief."

• Bux...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 18, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Finally got diagnosed with serum-negative RA (on top of 20 years of fibromyalgia) almost 3 years ago. Flunked methotrexate (night terrors!); on Plaquenil x2, but still had immobilizing pain. Added Leflunomide, still stiff and pain-filled. Add in Tramadol - discovered it's an opioid and got off it as soon as possible. Using Medrol dose packs (prednisone) for severe fibromyalgia + RA flare. Finally building endurance for standing/walking. Then RA doctor puts Sulfasalazine in my medication mix. Can't walk 30 steps without severe muscle pain (like I did a 10Km run?). Can't stand for more than 2 minutes. Not fun! Emailing doctor to get me off of Sulfasalazine. I am so frustrated; I have even lost weight (30+ pounds) and still feel like my muscles are wasted."

• thw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2019

For Crohn's Disease "Diagnosed with Crohn's over a year ago and was in pain daily. Still waiting on insurance to cover gastro and surgery. In the meantime, my PCP offered up sulfasalazine, and I agreed to try it. It's the first time I've been symptom-free in years. I barely have any bloating or pain anymore, and I have almost normal bowel movements again. I did feel an attack coming on, so he added prednisone for two weeks, and everything calmed back down. As long as I'm taking this and not eating too many processed foods or heavy meats, I'm good. As far as I'm concerned, this drug has been a miracle for me."

• pai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I thought my head was going to explode. I started at 2 a day, then went up to 4 a day. I've been on it for about a month now. But not taking it anymore, I've been unable to go to work for 3 days now. Run, run - do not take - it is too much."

• db6...
• July 23, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Was put on sulfasalazine 2 weeks ago! I've had methotrexate, plus injectable Meteject, leflunomide, and now this traumatizing, horrible stuff. Every single DMARD has had horrendous effects on me. Started sulfasalazine 2 weeks ago and have had continual, nonstop pressure, headaches and sweats, nausea, and feel bloody awful... so, so, so bad. I went away for a week on holiday and I've never felt so ill! It completely ruined my family holiday. These headaches are ruining my life! It feels like someone's got a clamp around my head and has turned the heating up to full blast in my bones and body! Not happy at all. :'("

• reb...
• October 20, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I wrote another review here earlier. I got off sulfa thinking it was causing me to go hoarse, but after 5 months on methotrexate, I developed 2 ulcers, so I got back on sulfasalazine. No hoarseness, so it was something else. I love it. I've got severe RA for 38 years. This is one of the safer ones-try to stick it out past the early symptoms, go slow, add 1 pill a week until you get up to where you need. I just got off plaquenil, as I think it was causing muscle weakness and heart enlargement (a rare side effect of plaquenil). Not sure though, so I will see what happens. Best med ever for RA is minocycline-I got 17 great years on it-but it may have caused drug-induced lupus (rare), so sulfasalazine is the next best thing. I take 6 per day now, and a few aspirin too."

• row...
• September 18, 2009

Sulfasalazine for Ulcerative Colitis "I have been using Salazopyrin for many years and have found it excellent. I am in remission at the moment and am taking 2 tablets a day as a 'holding' dose. I move it up to 5 or 6 when I have an episode which can last for up to a year."

• Iss...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I started on 0.5 g/day (1 tab) and increased the dose weekly until I reached a max dose of 3 g/day (6 tabs). At first, I thought it wasn't working at all because my pain never improved, but eventually, I realized that brand new symptoms were presenting in new joints and that I was now also experiencing awful muscle spasms (in my calves, fingers, and toes) - I had never had this problem before. My fatigue also became more and more severe... Eventually, nearly 4 months after starting treatment, I stopped this awful drug... Sadly, 1 month later, I am still struggling with the aftereffects. What a terrible, terrible drug this is."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 13, 2014

For Crohn's Disease "Severe flare put me in the hospital. Have had no problems in 9 months of taking sulfasalazine, went against doctor's advice, chose this over stronger medication. All labs have been good since. Also got a new doctor!"

• reb...
• September 27, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I've been on sulfasalazine for just about 8 months. I started it as they advise-increasing dose each week until up to 4 per day (for RA). It began working fairly well after a few weeks, however, by the time I got up to the full dose, I began to have a feeling of something stuck in my throat-almost unable to croak out a sound. I'm a professional singer/musician, so this was impossible. I immediately cut back, and it got better. I really wanted this to work, it's cheap and one of the safest RA meds. Anyway, I was able to totally control my RA with 1 sulfasalazine and 2 plaquenil daily. Still hoarse/throat problems, and now fingers are peeling and sore. Time to switch to methotrexate to see if it gets better. :("

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2012

Sulfasalazine for Ulcerative Colitis "Upon taking sulfasalazine, I experienced a severe headache, dizziness, bruising on my feet and legs, chills, bloodshot eyes, pain in my joints, hives, and swelling in my face and neck. The headache became so bad I could not get out of bed."

• Tdc...
• February 26, 2017

Sulfasalazine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "Nasty stuff. First had extreme tiredness, then stomach pain, diarrhea, headache, fever, chills, rash. Went to emergency. Was on it total of 3 1/2 weeks. Stopped it two days ago, still not well. Maybe go back to methotrexate."

• JBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "My mum was started on sulfasalazine 4 weeks ago for RA with severe bilateral hand pain and swelling. Initially, everything was fine, but when the dose was increased in the 2nd week to 500 mg twice a day, her mood started to deteriorate and she developed symptoms of plantar fasciitis. She became bedbound, and in the fourth week, she developed flu-like symptoms together with a rash on the upper torso and feet. Her medication was stopped as the initial worry was that she may have Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Luckily, it was not this. Her symptoms of plantar fasciitis improved since stopping this drug, so we suspect it was most likely symptoms due to sulfasalazine. The rheumatologist now wants to start my mum on methotrexate, but at the moment, we are holding back, and symptoms are being controlled with prednisone."

• Mum...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 20, 2017

For Psoriatic Arthritis "Been a psoriatic arthritis sufferer these last twenty years. My flare-ups are dreadful. After taking them for just two weeks, symptoms are abated; it really works for me despite convincing my new GP I knew what I was on about! Methotrexate was awful. No side effects with sulfasalazine with me. After three months, no pain at all....but one needs to drink lots of water. I've had periods on and off this drug, all due to flare-ups..."