Sulfasalazine and Pain: What Users Say

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2022

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I've been on sulfasalazine for 4 weeks. I am taking 2 in the morning and 2 at night, with methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine. The first 2 weeks were great as I was only on one in the morning and one in the evening, but since using this, I've had more flare-ups worse than ever, like when I got when I first got R.A. 15 years ago in my 30s. I feel so ill, so I'm going to cut down to 1 in the morning and one in the evening. I can't move with pain in my shoulders and rib cage. Just want to be pain-free again."

• Amr...
• March 25, 2017

For Crohn's Disease "Have been on several medications over the years. This being one of them. Was taken off about 9 years ago. Went to many others over the next 6 years. Was put on Lialda 2 years ago with worsening symptoms. More pain and a distended belly. Went to the emergency room for the 4th time in three months. Asked my doctor about putting me back on this. I shouldn't be having this many issues. It's been 2 days on sulfasalazine, cypro, flagyl, and zofran. Stomach is half its size. Way less pain and eating chicken and stars soup. Yeah."

• Jaz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2018

For Psoriatic Arthritis "Started sulfasalazine three weeks ago. I have been feeling quite ill, flu-like, drained of energy. Mornings are like the worst hangover feeling. My joints are never like before, with constant pain. Tiredness never leaves me. Some diarrhea. Is this drug for me?"

• 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."

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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!"

• bar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2023

For Ulcerative Colitis "I am experiencing some pain on the left side of my stomach (on the left ribs)."