Sulfasalazine and Hair Loss: What Users Say

• aus...
• June 9, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been on these meds for 6 weeks now. I started with one pill a day, then increased weekly to four pills a day. It has greatly helped with my pain. I'm sleeping better at night and especially within the last week, I have been able to go about life almost how I did pre-diagnosis. So for that part, I would recommend giving it a go. As for side effects, I've been fortunate enough to not experience any type of stomach upset or headaches or anything like that. I have, however, been losing a lot of hair. I can run my hand through very lightly, no tugging whatsoever, and end up with about 20 strands. I can run my hand through continually like this and the same thing happens. No pain from pulling, just falling out. :( Choosing to tough it out for now."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2021

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been dealing with RA (ankylosing spondylitis) for about 30 years. My medications have run the gamut from A to Z. The last medicine was Humira, which ended up giving me Hodgkin's lymphoma and 6 months of chemotherapy to put it in remission. I am now back to square one and was prescribed sulfasalazine. A few weeks after taking it, I noticed constant nausea, ringing in my ears, hair loss, and constipation with no relief for my swollen knees. I am done being a guinea pig for these pharmaceutical companies and am looking at a natural approach using a strict diet, turmeric, and other natural compounds to manage this. No more science experiments for me."

• Mum...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 30, 2018

For Psoriatic Arthritis "Diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) at 44, had nail psoriasis since 14 years old. Forced to stop methotrexate at week 8 due to hair loss. Switched to sulfasalazine 7 months ago on 2000mg. 4 months on 2000mg per day but no improvement, but also no side effects. At 5 months, I developed plantar fasciitis, severe fatigue, apathy, low mood, and stiffness throughout my whole body. I was told it was the PsA. I put on a stone in weight - I am 5ft 2ins and normally weigh 9 stone. I felt and moved like a woman twice my age. I gave up on sulfasalazine a week ago. The next day, I felt a different person and have felt better again with each passing day. Fatigue has gone, mood lifted, stiffness lessened, and the joint pain significantly reduced. Whilst I still have some joint pain, stiffness, and sore feet, I am significantly better in myself since coming off this drug. I start Otezla tomorrow."

• Mil...
• February 15, 2018

For Ulcerative Colitis "I had never heard something positive about this medication for colitis, but I had to find out myself. From day 2, I started using sulfasalazine, and I got super watery bowel movements. It worsened over time, including blood. My doctor told me that it had to take around a month to be fully effective, so I kept taking it. I had to go 25-30 times, and even at night. The bloating started, and there was so much gas in my stomach that I was in real pain. On the 4th week, I got a high fever. I stopped the medication, but the fever lasted a week, and I had mild stomach bleeding. When I started it again, I got a fever within 6 hours. Also, my hair was falling out in chunks, and my beard thinned out heavily. It worsened my life in the past 2 months. I was taking 2000 mg."

• Mrs...
• March 15, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 22, 2024

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "After taking this med for four years I’m having: digestive distress, itchy skin and rashes, cough and tightness in my chest, losing hair, weakness and extremely tired, tinnitus."