Sulphasalazine?

[Skellington]

I was wondering if anyone was on Sulphasalazine? It turns out that before I am allowed to go on Remicade, I have to go on this first. The insurance company will provide the remicade only if I have tried other, (less expensive) medications like Sulphasalazine. I know very little about this medication and wanted to know how people deal with it. I hear its mainly used for people who have UC or arthritis, so I don't know how well it will work for me. I really don't want to take something that won't help me and do more bad then good to my system just because the insurance companies don't want to pay for the more expensive medication. Can somebody help me get more info on this drug/its effects on real people?

 

[effdee]

Sulfasalazine is used for Crohn's, as well. I took it when I was younger. It's a pretty mild drug that's more for keeping remission than getting you there. I don't remember having any side effects from it.

 

[Lisa]

I think that was the first drug I was on (for years) as a child when I was orig. diagnosed with UC......would put me into remission for a while.....finally stopped working for me after 10 years plus?

Don't remember any side effects - but I'm not sure if they have changed the pills - there are uncoated ones which are NASTY...(but not as bad tasting as pred)....if you can, get the coated pills as they are easier to swallow.

 

[ThanksP]

I tried it for one week recently. Made me so sick to my stomach that I couldn't continue taking it any longer. It's a maintenance drug used to keep you in remission. My doc switched me from Apriso to Sulfa to see if it would help my achy joints. He told me that it is what they always used for Crohn's years back until new drugs came out without the side effect of nausea.

 

[My Butt Hurts]

Sulfasalazine is the first drug that I was put on, and it kept me in remission for several years. I can't remember if I started it while on prednisone, but I imagine that would have helped it kick in.
I didn't have any side effects from it.

 

[peterh88]

I was put on Sulfasalazine when I was first diagnosed along with prednisone. I suffered from a lot of head aches and became very sensitive to the sunlight, so much so that I was affected with sunstroke on two occasions after only being exposed for 1 hour or so. Since I stopped taking Sulfasalazine the headaches have stopped and the sensitivity to the sunlight has stopped.

 

[outlier]

I take sulfasalazine for my AS. It did help with my canker sore and for a while. I have also been on others in it's family, but they upset my stomach and made me light headed. It makes me very paranoid about ring in my ears. If one gives you side effects there are others in the family to try.
Good luck

 

[Awbrey]

I was on it for almost a year, I really don't like it at all. I have read the side effects however I feel extremely tired on it and also like I cant loose weight :-( Im on humira now love love love it. Good luck

 

[nomad]

Hi Skellington! I've been on Sulphasalazine since the very diagnosis, back in 1985. Never had a problem... in fact, in 1998 the doctors attempted to replace it with Mesalazine, and it just didn't work: started having really bad arthritis, couldn't move! So back to the good old friend in no time. It seems to work for some people, not for others, like all medications... but in my case it's all been good.

 

[Rebecca85]

There's a kid at my school with Crohn'd who takes sulphalazine. Mum said he got worse on Pentasa and wants to try all the mild stuff first before trying anything harsh.

 

[Skellington]

Thanks for all your help guys, I will most likely be going on this very soon because my stupid insurance will not let me go on Remicade until I try the more mild (less effective) drugs. I am really not looking forward to taking any medication. How bad is it? Does it taste bad? Is it hard to swallow? I will be doing the liquid stuff since I cannot swallow pills so how does it compare to Buckley's cough and cold syrup?

 

[Inwe]

I live in saskatchewan and the government (who pays 99% of all my meds so I don't see why they cared) told me I had to go on imuran before remicade. My GI worked the system and started the proccess of getting on remicade without imuran. Maybe yours can do the same?

I was on sulphasalazine for a year and it really worked for me, it pretty much put me in instant remission (no prednisone!). The only reason I had to stop taking it was because I got a SUPER rare side affect dealing with my blood &$@(*. It was rare so don't worry. Other than that, the other side effect for me was orange looking pee (weird and gross but *shrugs* thought you should know !)

Don't worry, sulphasalazine is the lowest type of drug on the podium. Side affects are quite mild compared to biologics like remicade.

 

[Skellington]

Thanks

Thanks for letting me know about your experience (and the orange pee!) My doctors have been battling with the devils at the insurance company and have tried their best to persuade them that Remicade is the better choice right now. Because I haven't been on any other medication yet, they are unwilling to pay for the "heavy duty" drugs until all other options have failed. I guess its Sulph for me....thanks for all your help. If there is anything else I should know about this drug, or if there are any websites about it feel free to let me know. This is all new to me and I am freaking out!:frown:

 

[Dras]

Uhm, sulpha is o.k I guess. Hasn't had such a big effect on my disease. My only tip would be that sometimes it leaves the most disgusting metal taste in your mouth. And of course that beautifully NEON orange wee is something to get used to seeing lol! Other than that I think it would be just fine.

Good luck!

 

[DougUte]

Thanks for letting me know about your experience (and the orange pee!) My doctors have been battling with the devils at the insurance company and have tried their best to persuade them that Remicade is the better choice right now. Because I haven't been on any other medication yet, they are unwilling to pay for the "heavy duty" drugs until all other options have failed. I guess its Sulph for me....thanks for all your help. If there is anything else I should know about this drug, or if there are any websites about it feel free to let me know. This is all new to me and I am freaking out!:frown:

Hi Skellington. I have been fighting the insurance company to. My Doc wants to put me on Humira. I just had surgery, but I have not been on a Crohn's medicine before now. I have to try Sulfasalzine for 2 months and then (if it fails) try something else for 2 months, then, if that fails to, the insurance company will pay for Humira. I HATE the insurance company playing doctor! I guess it is Orange pee and, if today is any indication, Orange diarreah for a while.