I would really like to try sulfasalazine for my AS but my doctor thinks I am not a candidate for it. I have heard of others on here that are taking it for AS and IBS symptoms. If those that take it could post what symptoms caused their doctors to prescribe it, I would appreciate it. I'm wondering if I should go that route first (my doctor is pushing the tnf-inhibitors.

Thanks

Hello Teri,

I was lucky with my first ever rheumatologist back in mid 90's. He was aware that sulfasalazine could help AS. So he put me on it and it worked wonders for me.

I moved around States quite a bit, in 2 cases I had to beg doctors to keep me on the sulfasalazine. They in my opinion were more old school and stated there was no evidence it helped for AS.

You may be running up against old school doctor.

I found alzulfadine more effective (enteric coated version). Need blood work done, after 6 years I finally have to drop the med, caused some issues with my liver. But i know other posters here that have taken in for a decade or more.

Take care,

Tim

I hear alot of people actually get relief with sulfasalazine. My doctor had put me on them and an anti-inflamatory. I had to slowly increase the amount of pills I took, I didnt get any relief from these pills and I got violentely ill and had to discontinue them.My doctor told me they rarely work when inflamation is in the spine. Everybody is different though dont let my story discourage you. All us AS'ers are different, what didnt work for me might work for the next person. I hope you can convince your doctor to try them because Im think all other options should be covered before TNF blockers are considered. I hope you find relief soon
Nat

i was supposed to start it this past year, but then my rheumy noticed that my ALT liver enzyme was a bit elevated (prior to ever going on the drug, probably due to insulin resistance / fatty liver / nsaid usage). so we held off for now. and if we decide that the liver shouldn't be pushed any further, we'll do humira instead.

the reason SSZ was recommended to me is exactly because i have the spondy inflammatory arthritis along with the inflammation in my gut (IBS not IBD). SSZ is supposed to be exactly for that is my understanding.

but i can see where maybe your doctor just wants to go straight to the biologics instead.

either way......

Hi utamom - my probs were *exactly the same as nat5150 - horrible. I was real sick. Almost landed up in hospital. Never to go there again. (Interestingly, nat5150, my inflammation is mostly in my spine but no one picked up on that 'reason'...Hmmmmm. Interesting.)

But, we are all different.

Molly C (France)
Keeping on Keeping on (as we all must...)

I was put on it and it alone at the age of 28-32 and it put me in remission for many, many, many year's. Now I am out of remission and that was the first thing they put me back on. My liver is good so they still want me on it. No other side effect's. It wasn't working alone though. I am now on Remicade, and MTX and now on something for my Fibro and feel really good.

I was put on Azulfadine after Enbrel caused me a lot of nerve damage. The SSZ never seemed to help my pain much, and it turned out to be the cause of my digestion problems. I now just take some Aleve along with being on NSD, and I've very pleased with the results.

--Greg

So far I'm also getting great results from NSD (as long as I don't blow it like I did this last weekend). I have very little pain. do I really need to go on anything at all if I'm getting these results? This disease can be so confusing.

I was put on sulfasalazine when i was first told i had AS...
I had to change to something else because i was not sleeping very well.
I was only getting about 1/2 an hr sleep a night....
As soon as i got off it i started to sleep a hell of alot better....
My doc said that its not very common for that to happen
Hope this helps.

Hi Terri: I just started Sulfasalazine a few months ago. I had to slowly increase the dose. I ended up with a terrible sinus infection. Still on the third antibiotic to kick it out so I stopped the Sulfasalazine because I thought it was contributing to my lingering infection.

I would say I was getting mild pain relief from being on it. If I can tolerate the full dose, maybe I can get more pain relief. Sorry guys to have to put this out there, but I did have problems with yeast while being on it so take your probiotics!

I tried Remicade, Humira and Enbrel. Remicade and Humira did not work. Enbrel worked great for a few years and then I started picking up too many infections and was breaking out in hives constantly so I had to stop the Enbrel .

Hope this helps!

Shari