Hi Linda

I have Psoriatic Arthritis, so it's a bit different from your
condition, but I didn't have any problem with nausea etc. They seemed
to be pretty side-effect free but the main annoyance at the start was
the fact that the tablets are pretty big and you have to take lots of
them.

Later I did develop what the doctors thought was a stomach ulcer but
after a gastroscopy they found no stomach problems and the doctor said
that about a third of sufferers with Psoriatic Arthritis have these
funny stomach problems. As I sat there with a horrific sore throat I
wished she'd taken a guess at that at the start and hadn't needed to
do the gastroscopy!

Anyway, I'd say if you feel fine on them then go with it ... but watch
out for an unusual, uncomfortable feeling in the stomach after a few
months and if they diagnose a stomach ulcer then ask them to think
again. When I stopped taking the Sulfasalazine my stomach returned to
normal and all was fine. I am now on Methotrexate, which also has a
terrible list of *possible* side-effects but has worked OK for me! :o)

Best wishes,
Chris R.

yes.  another psoriatic arthritic, though.

i had no side effects from sulfasalazine, but i'm amazed that you can
keep going on those doses of other things.  my gp referred me to a
rheumatologist once it became clear that basic dosing with regular
ibuprofen wasn't going to help.

sulfasalazine is prescribed as a DMARD (disease modifying anti-
rheumatic drug, i think) -- the idea is it gets to the root of the
problem.  i'm afraid it didn't, for me.  you need regular blood tests,
though -- you've reminded me it was for liver function; i had to give
up sulfasalazine when the liver started reacting to it.  (it made my
pee a strange orange colour, iirc.)

sulfasalazine is a *very* old drug (it's in the textbooks i bought
when i was an undergraduate in the 60s -- istr it was first marketed
as an antibiotic).  there are a heck of a lot of these dmards, so
don't be down-heartened if sulfasalazine doesn't work for you.  every
single one of them has required regular blood tests, so the nurses at
my gp's practice know me ever so well (it's coming up to 15 years i've
been at it).

Hi Linda!

Sulphasalazine was the first disease modifying drug I was given for my
inflammatory arthritis, and it worked quite well for a while, although not
quite well enough.  It works on the disease process as opposed to co-codamol
which works on pain, and anti-inflammatories which treat the inflammation.

From (hazy) memory, I think you need to have regular blood tests, to be sure
that it isn't affecting kidneys and liver adverseley, and they do monitor
you quite closely in that respect.  It didn't work fully for me, and I went
on to try Arava, Methotrexate, and nowadays Enbrel injections (which have
been brilliant for me).

All of them are similar in that the rheumatology department insist on
monthly blood tests, and if I forget I get a nagging phone call, but I have
been fine in that I've had no adverse effects (apart from Arava and tummy
troubles).  All of these drugs have potential nasty side effects, but then
so does inflammatory arthritis.  I've had one knee replaced and am about to
have the other done, due to damage caused before I had a good treatment,
which is not altogether a good thing, as they don't last indefinitely and I
am not 46 yet.

I really wish you luck and hope that it is as they say a viral side effect.
They did wonder that about me at first and thought it would "burn itself
out".

All the best

Jayne

Hi Linda,,,  Please do not worry about posting long posts that contains
information and descriptions of what is taking place.   Sometimes it takes
every word and you will find that further questions are asked for more
information.
     I took Sulphasalazine for 5-6 along with Methx in an effort to control
my RA.   It turns a persons urine a shade of brown, so do not be alarmed by
that.
I am not sure how much control your condition needs to prevent on going
damage.   I hope your RD does.  It is a mild DMARD as Plaquinel (sp) is.  If
your condition does not improve,,, I would push my RD for a different DMARD
with stronger control.   With your history of liver problems, the use of
Arava or Methx  may not be smart to use.   One of the newer anti-tnf might
help without worry about the liver.   It is one of the things a person and
their RD have to work out.   Please do not endure for months on end living
with swollen joints and pain.   Expect help and changes from your RD about
your condition.
Harv

Hi Linda, my story in the begining was quite similar to yourself, however
after investigation with the rheumatologist I was diagnosed as Sero-negative
RA and was immediately started on sulphasalazine. The dosage I was put on
was 3x500mg in the morning and 3x500mg at night along with Nabumetone(NSAID)
and lansoprazole(proton pump inhibitor for the stomach). I did'nt suffer any
side effects whatsoever and had regular blood tests LFT, U&E,FBC etc
fortnightly then once a month after 3 months.The only downside for me was it
affected my chances of fathering anymore kids but I already had two lovely
boys, would have liked to have tried again for a girl but we both decided
that my health was more important, oh and it colours your urine.One plus
point of being on sulphasalazine was I could drink alcohol in moderation
which meant that I still has some sort of social life unlike now.I was on
this regime for 3 years until things began to get out of control. I was
moved onto methotrexate and couldn't get up to the required dosage as my
liver function went haywire and I started to lose blood and protein in my
water, hence investigation at renal clinic which involved nuclear tests and
kidney biopsies etc.Methotrexate was stopped and was put onto humira for 6
months and it failed to work so was moved to enbrel for 3 months and it also
did nothing so I was then prescribed Infliximab, again with the same end
result of no help. Had numerous cortisone injections in every joint in my
body but it was only a short term thing. I'm now on rituximab and doing well
on it having just undergone a further two infusions as well as leflunomide,
nabumetone,lansoprazole,paracetamol and dihydrocodeine, I also have blood
tests done every two weeks as well as in patient stays in hospital every 3
months.I've had my right elbow replaced and currently await a date for my
left elbow to be replaced and also for a triple arthrodesis of my right
ankle.The damage by the disease has already been done and its now mechanical
problems in the joints which needs the intervention of surgery.Currently use
the aids of crutches and a pulpit frame for mobility within the house and a
wheelchair out of the house. I wish you all the best with the sulphasalazine
it worked in the beginning for me then I guess my body got used to it and it
failed to have any impact.The thing you have to realise is that drugs works
in different ways with different people, you may have no side effects
whatsoever then again you could have nausea,runny nose, stomach problems etc
only time will tell which way you go.

regards

robert

Snip 8><

Have you tried asking them to treat the Fibromyalgia and not the RA?

I had a similar story, was on RA treatment for 3 is years. Never seemed to
make a dent in it, Went to a new rheumy about 3 months ago and was told he
thought it was fibromyalgia and not RA.
As a result I'm now on 10mg amitriptyline and 75mg lyrica twice a day. The
improvement is unbelievable. I've never been so tired I couldn't get up like
some, but the pain is considerably reduced, the stiffness as almost none (
about an hour after waking) and I've started to be able to walk for pleasure
again. My heart still races after any sort of aerobic exercise (even walking
up hills) but if I take a break and let it recover I find I can carry
without many problems.

It may be worth asking if they could try treating you for that first.

<snipped>

Actually, none whatsoever in my case: I just wanted to say Hello, and keep
Yer Chin Up and that.  Somebody below says that different people react
differently to the same treatments and this is definitely true - so if
something doesn't do the trick for you, insist on a change.  Mine are
working outstandingly for me at the moment, and I hope that gives you cause
for optimism rather than just soundiing like me being a bit smug.  Really
hope you get sorted quickish - and keep in touch?

Thanks

AF

PS take no notice of Jayne. (mimes swigging scotch from the bottle, raises
eyebrows, looks disapproving)
PPS Hi Jayney      :oP
PPPS All right all right I'm *sorry*, OK?        :oD