Sulfasalazine for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 3)

• kjc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 2, 2023

"I've taken sulfasalazine for a few years and it really worked well for my rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, I've experienced swelling in my feet and lower legs. I'm wondering if this could be a side effect of the medication or the RA."

• DrG...
• June 12, 2017

"My husband has been on sulfasalazine 2 gms a day since November 2016 for his severe RA. He developed RA in January of last year and was on methotrexate for 8 months when it was discontinued due to severe bacteremia. He is also taking minocycline. He had a probable flare at the beginning of May this year, six months after starting both drugs. At that time, he also developed atrial fib that reverted on drugs. He was prescribed flecainide, which he took for two weeks but discontinued due to side effects. We blamed that for his loss of appetite and weight loss - 36 lbs in six weeks. It's now three weeks since he stopped the heart drug. I'm now thinking it might be the sulfasalazine. His RA symptoms are gone apart from a little stiffness."

• Roj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2017

"I started this medication because my liver levels were high. Took it for a month, noticed no change in my RA. Finally had to stop this sulfasalazine...totally constipated me really bad. Took a week just to go, had stomach pain, sweating, and thought I was going to explode! Back to taking ibuprofen."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2024

"I've been taking Sulfasalazine for six months and this is the first drug that's really worked. That said, I'm suddenly getting a hive-like rash and bruising down my arms. I hate to think it's this drug, but think it likely is."

• Ana...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2021

"Been on sulfasalazine now for 7 weeks, along with methotrexate. Started off at 1 daily, increasing to 6 daily by week 6. Feel rubbish, nausea, headaches, night sweats, poor sleep, and generally exhausted. RA pain has improved but not at this cost. Need to find something else."

• Sel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 28, 2022

"After being on sulfasalazine for 7 weeks, I had continually bad headaches and a spinning sensation. I went to the doctor's, who performed neurological tests. I failed each one and had to go to the hospital. I got worse and was unable to walk. After spending 8 days in the hospital and stopping sulfasalazine, I was able to walk out of the hospital, no headaches, no head spinning. I'm awaiting test results from having an MRI scan, CT scan, and lumbar puncture, but I feel back to normal."

• Jin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 16, 2023

"This drug has worked incredibly well for my rheumatoid arthritis. It really changed my life. However, I have had terrible side effects: chronic insomnia, headaches every day, a feeling of having a cold or flu all the time. I have kept on taking it because without it all my symptoms come back and I cannot function properly, but the side effects have greatly affected my quality of life."

• Kei...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 25, 2023

"I've taken this drug for at least 5 years, and it controls the swelling and inflammation in my hands and arms. I'm one of the lucky ones that has little or no pain from the disease. I've tried other RA drugs that haven't worked. I've had no side effects with the exception of loose bowel movement."

• Low...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2023

"After three days of 500 mg for RA, blood pressure consistently lowered. Today 81/50, pulse 83. Taken with hydroxychloroquine (200 mg twice a day). I take metoprolol (25 mg am/12.5 mg pm). Avg blood pressure without sulfasalazine 110/65."

• Mar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 24, 2024

"I have been on this drug for RA since 2012 and have found it generally agreeable. I am prescribed 6x500mg tablets daily but I only take 4x500mg. Anything above this dosage gives me a bad headache, so I just follow my body on this. I don't appear to have had any side effects over the years. It has helped stabilize my RA, and I live a pretty active life. (March 2024)"

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 27, 2023

"Diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica. Symptoms were so severe that I could barely get out of bed. Had to take a heavy dose of prednisone for many months to help counter inflammation until the sulfasalazine kicked in. Took several more months, but now symptom-free. Have to have blood monitored every three months. Has been a lifesaver. No side effects other than bleeding gums. Taking 2000 mg daily."

• Moo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2020

"I take oxycodone for three types of arthritis, and all my doctors thought sulfasalazine would help me. I'm also starting a Prolia injection on October 6th. I'm already on nausea pills, so I'm doing okay there. So far, the main side effect is that I am drowsy and hurting all over, but I've only been on one 500 mg pill for two days and I'm going to continue and hope it helps. I have terrible inflammation all over and a lot of inflammation in my feet. They are not swollen, though it's inside. I'm going to get cortisone injections in both feet on October 6th also, they've always helped, although this time my pain is more in my toes, like rubber bands are around them. Hopefully, all I'm doing will give me relief. I try to get out every day with a mask on for some walking. If I stay home, I get too stiff. I also fractured my hip in December."

• Hor...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 18, 2021

"I have had RA for at least 25 years. I have tried many RA drugs with not much help, both injection and pill. I have also been on sulfasalazine for a number of years now. It has helped to some extent, nothing overwhelming. But better than any of the other drugs. It has helped with IBS, which I have as well. Just before Covid hit, I was about to try yet another drug that would lower my immune system to fight the RA, but held off. Now that I am vaccinated and the Covid numbers are falling, I am going to try another drug. But during this Covid year, sulfasalazine did keep RA somewhat under control with no side effects."

• Mrs...
• March 15, 2018

"Diagnosed in 2010, lots of medications, and wore ear muffs daily. In 2017, I began methotrexate and became ill, along with Neurontin and 2 Tylenol 2 times a day with ear muffs. Now, after week 1 of just the sulfa, I stopped the ear muffs, but when I got to week 2 and added the hydroxychloroquine, I needed the ear muffs again. My head hurts bad, constipated, and with hair loss and more pain. So, I stopped the hydroxychloroquine. Today, I took a pill called Ultimate Immunity along with sulfasalazine, 2 pills 2 times a day, 1 prednisone, 1 folic acid. I make a mustard pack and put it under my feet at bedtime and 1 fiber capsule, no ear muffs. The moral to this is finding what works for RA and how to treat the side effects. I put mustard on a paper towel and put it in the pit of my feet at night for the headaches. The fiber is for constipation, the Ultimate Immunity is for the immune system, and the rest is prescribed for the RA and hair loss. I'm 2 months in and LOVING IT. In my opinion, hydroxychloroquine stops the sulfasalazine from working."

• Mrs...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 17, 2023

"I have been taking Sulfasalazine for several years and had to increase dosage (tripled) over that time period. It works fairly well for pain, but the heat sensitivity/intolerance to sun is horrible in the summertime. I also get a red rash on my arms from it, worse in the summer. I become a prisoner in my home. I will probably go back to Leflunamide, however, that causes hair loss, so I'm not sure what I'll do just yet. Sulfasalazine is fairly effective, but I had to give it a lower rating due to the side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2023

"I am noticing that I'm eating less since I started the second dose, which I find quite interesting, and having questions if I should be concerned. The RA has slowed down kind of, but still having issues with it on my left hand."

• Lou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2021

"After 8 weeks of taking the drug, increasing from 500 mg to 2000 mg dosage, some improvements with RA, but suffering with depression and anxiety and unable to continue living like this. I would rather have RA, waiting for the consultant to advise if I can try a different treatment."

• DrG...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 8, 2017

"Update from June. My husband has been improving in terms of his anemia of chronic disease on prednisone 15 mg daily. However, still on 2 gms of sulfasalazine, he has had pleuritis for two months and now has conjunctivitis and scleritis. All of which are listed as side effects of sulfasalazine. These are his only symptoms associated with RA. While reluctant to reduce the sulfasalazine, we will do so. We increased the minocycline to 200 mg on alternate days a few days ago."

• she...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2023

"It worked well for my joint pain and discomfort from rheumatoid arthritis. I was taking 500 mg of it 2 times a day, but not long after taking it, I began to break out, first itching, biting feeling, then, within a week, 3/4 of my body was covered in flaky skin like fish scales."

• Nun...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 1, 2017

"Been on six a day, a lot of help. Don’t feel much better after 2 years on them. They don’t do enough for you. There is a drug called the liquid gold. I have spoke to people, they are normal again, no aches, pains, stiffness, etc. But only the queen and Simon Cowell and rich will get them. I been told it costs £36,000 per year for years of the course of tablets!"

• Rob...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 15, 2024

"Been taking sulfasalazine for about 5 years for RA and some stomach issues. It has helped with the upset stomach and pain, and I was able to decrease my Tylenol use. Very recently I found my legs swelling more and feeling very heavy... and SOB."

• Kra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2023

"I have arthritis pain. I cannot tell you if it has helped with my pain, I still have arthritis pain, but maybe it would be worse without this medicine. I do know I am extremely tired, I believe it is from the medicine. One good side effect is that it has curbed my appetite, really not as hungry as I once was. That I am pleased about because less weight helps with the effects of arthritis."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2019

"Been using the sulfasalazine medicine for 45 days now, dose 2+0+2 per day. It has reduced my pain significantly, but I feel nauseated, exhausted, and lost my appetite."

• Anonymous
• August 24, 2017

"I couldn't move without a lot of pain. My doctor put me on it, and in a month I was pain-free and have been taking it every day since. About ten years now."

• Jax...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2020

"Avoid sulfasalazine. It gave me chronic pancreatitis, almost finished me off, and now I'm diabetic due to this drug!"