Sulfasalazine for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 2)

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

"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."

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

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

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

"Finally got dx serum-negative RA (on top of 20 years fibro) almost 3 years ago. Flunked methotrexate (night terrors!); on Plaquenil x2, but still had immobilizing pain. Added Leflunomide, still stiff & painfilled. Add in Tramodol - discovered it's an OPIOD and got off it asap. Using Medrol dose packs (prednisone) for severe Fibro+RA flare. Finally building endurance for standing/walking. Then RA dr puts Sulfasalazine in my med mix. Can't walk 30 steps without severe muscle pain (like I did a 10Km run?). Can't stand >2 minutes. Not fun! Emailing dr to get me off of SZS. I am so frustrated; I have even lost wt (30+ pounds) and still feel like my muscles are wasted."

• NZNurse
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 11, 2019

"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 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 500mg 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 Anaemia 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."

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

"Diagnosed with RA 9 years ago. Have been on hydroxycloroquine 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 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 what to do as very little guidance from specialist or GP! Frustrating"

• rebbie
• October 20, 2017

"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 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 plaquenuil, as I think it was causing muscle weakness and heart enlargement.(a rare side effect of Plaq) Not sure though, so 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 next best thing. I take 6 per day now, and few aspirin too"

• db68
• July 23, 2017

"Was put on sulfasalazine 2 weeks ago! I've had methotrexate...plus injectable meteject...leflunamide & now this traumatizing horrible stuff. Every single DMARD has had horrendous effects on me. Started sulfasalazine 2 weeks ago & have had continual non stop pressure, headaches and sweats, nausea & 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. :"("

• Edano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2020

"I reacted poorly to sulfasalazine. My fiancee 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."

• IssyB
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2017

"I started on 0.5g/day (1 tab) and increased the dose weekly until I reached a max dose of 3g/day (6 tabs). At first I thought it wasn't working at all because my pain never improved, but eventually I realised that brand new symptoms were presenting in new joints and that I was now also experiencing awful muscle spasm (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 after effects. What a terrible terrible drug this is."

• rebbie
• September 27, 2016

"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 throat-almost unable 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. :("

• JBano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2019

"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 500mg twice a day her mood started to deteriorate and developed symptoms of plantar fascitis. She became bed bound and in the fourth week developed flu like symptoms together with rash on the upper torso and feet. Her medication was stopped as the initial worry was that she may have Steven Johnson syndrome. Luckily it was not this. Her symptoms of plantar fascitis improved since stopping this drug so we suspect it was most likely symptoms due to sulfasalazine. The Rheumatologist now want to start my mum on methotrexate but at the moment we are holding back and symptoms are being controlled with prednisone."

• RRLE
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 24, 2020

"This sulfasalazine is the fifth or sixth drug my doc put me on. It seems to be helping, but I can still feel my joints getting worse, just not as fast as they were. I had my first knee pains when I was 9 years old. I was told it was just growing pains. IMHO, there is no such thing as growing pains. I have been on sulfasalazine for well over five years now. It does not make me sick, lose my hair, dizzy, or more grumpy then normal...for me anyway. It works well as long as you are not allergic to sulfur."

• Sweet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2018

"Awful drug!! I was on this drug for 2 months. Started at one tablet a day then increased to 2 tablets a day equaling 1,000 mg. It seemed to help some with joint pain but the side effects were awful. Intense migraines from the start then a few a days ago, I had to call an ambulance as I felt like I was having a heart attack and couldn't breathe. I was vomiting as well. My liver enzymes were through the roof and now they think I have liver damage. I'm due to have a liver biopsy soon. Run, run far away from this med!!"

• Humbled...
• June 22, 2017

"I'm a late 50s male recently diagnosed with RA. Thus far, it has not worked at all for me (have "ramped up" over the past two months). To be fair, I was told it could take months before it "kicked in." I'm fairly miserable every day - hands, feet, and jaw, alternating or at the same time. Had no idea how nasty RA is until getting first-hand experience. Fatigue is an issue for me as well, RA or the sulfasalazine? This has been tough as I have always been very active."

• Tdcime
• February 26, 2017

Sulfazine (sulfasalazine) "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 wks. Stopped it two days ago, still not well. Maybe go back to methotrexate."

• DeeDee
• March 13, 2021

"My rheumy, after RA diagnosis in 11/2019, put me on prednisone, then added plaquenil, then sulfasalazine, gradually to 3 tabs 2x day. No side effects. After my joint pain was 75% diminished, my doctor weaned me off the 10mg daily prednisone. Took 3 months. There was a little bit of flare up after each lessening of prednisone dosage but after a few months, nearly every joint felt 90% better. It's been about 1 year since I went off prednisone completely and I've noticed one of my knees has become pain-free and only one has some pain. I also have a little pain in one shoulder but compared to the 20-something joints that had been initially affected I'm happy with this drug cocktail. I believe both drugs are helping me greatly but I'm not sure how efficacious if I only took one and not both. For that reason, I must rate this drug 9/10. I'm very grateful that my doc was able to get me from excruciating pain to nearly normal function. I hope you will all find your magic elixir."

• Hurti...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 6, 2019

"I started taking sulfasalazine (SZS) with Plaquenil 2 months ago for RA. Immediately felt dizzy, confused, nosebleed and depression and also severe vision changes. Bi-Weekly blood draws were a total painful waste of time. Then began a very intense ringing in my ears. Discontinued Plaquenil twice a day, and dropped the SZS from 4 per day to 3. I did get some relief from RA, but far from worth the suffering of the severe side effects. Ringing in my ears continued especially bad in the mornings. Stopped SZS 2 days ago and ears still ringing like crazy. I hope this stops soon as I am almost crazy with it. Both drugs are very nasty and I will never again take either of these drugs. Appointment with Rheumitologist as soon as the ringing stops. She suggested an appointment with Audiologist to address the tinnitus. I know it is the SZS causing it. Going to try a different treatment, might as well go all the way at this point. Not ruling out Humira or another Biologic."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 11, 2022

"Without doubt, the worst medicine and side effects. After long use with no relief, my body became septic and I nearly died. These reviews are all rosy and do not reflect the negative side. Read Patient reviews, you will be shocked. I have permanent side effects."

• Penny
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2019

"Was on this drug sulfasalazine for RA, although the real problem was severe carpel tunnel in both wrists. Two month after starting the drug my blood tests started showing liver damage, I am now awaiting a liver biopsy. Little improvement in liver damage after 8 weeks off the drug."

• Marty
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2021

"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 Hodgkins 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."

• Elaine
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2021

"Hi I have been on Sulfasalzine for 6 weeks and last 2 weeks I have been unwell, tight chest, feels like I have lump in throat. Fuzzy head and I feel so congested and generally weak and unwell. Anyone had symptoms like this?"

• Rojin
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2017

"I started this medication because my liver levels was high. Took for a month notice 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 ibuprophen. "

• kjcs
• 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 Methorexate for 8 months when it was discontinued due to severe Bacteriaemia. 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 it 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."

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

"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 only on one morning and one in the evening but since using this I've had more flare up worse than ever, like when I got when I first got R.A 15 yrs ago in my 30s. I feel so ill so going to cut down to 1 morning one evening. I can't move with pain in my shoulders and rib cage. Just want to be pain free again."