Sulfasalazine

As some of you know I have ulcerative colitis. I wasn't taking my Colazal consistently because it's expensive. Even with my insurance co-pay it still costs me to $100 to fill the prescription every couple of months. My doctor asked me if I wanted to try to something different and I said sure. He put me on sulfasalizine and recent results haven't been good. I'm suffering from a few of the side effects, the worst being fatigue. I slept for 12 hours Friday and still feel like I haven't got any sleep. I'm thinking it may be best to switch back to the colazal, it should be easier to pay for since I paid off a loan and two credit cards last month.

I was wondering if anyone else has ever had side effects from taking sulfasalazine?

Is it a new drug? I have never taken it but the name sounds familiar. I'm thinking maybe DH took it for his Crohns. I'll ask him when he comes home tonight and see. They played around quite a bit with his meds trying to find the right combination that worked for him, and I remember he said he had some strange side affects to some.

In any case, if I were you I would call your doctor and explain what is going on.

Sulfasalazine is the generic for Azulfidine. It's used to treat ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and a couple of other things.

http://www.medicinenet.com/sulfasalazine/article.htm

I stopped taking them last night but need to get them out of my system. I'm going to call my doctor Monday and I'm going back on the colazal which I don't have a reaction to. This is the first medication I can remember where I've suffered any adverse effects.

i know that some sort of sulfa-based drug is often used for UTIs in humans. my grandmother & mother are both allergic to sulfa - i've never had any drugs based on sulfa because i'm allergic to TONS of different stuff, so thought it best to not even try it.
here's some info i found online:

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to sulfasalazine, or if you have:

• a blockage in your bladder or intestines;
• porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system);
• if you are allergic to sulfa drugs (such as Bactrim, Septra, Cotrim, and others); or
• if you are allergic to aspirin or other salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others).

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also:

What are the possible side effects of sulfasalazine oral?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using sulfasalazine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fever, sore throat, or other flu symptoms;
• pale skin, easy bruising;
• dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• pain or burning when you urinate;
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• the appearance of a whole tablet in your stool; or
• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach;
• loss of appetite;
• headache, ringing in your ears;
• dizziness, spinning sensation;
• white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
• sleep problems (insomnia); or
• mild itching or skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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all of the above from healthline.com
also found these links: wikipedia
medicine.net
drugs.com

I took it many years ago fro my Crohns. I didn't have any bad side effects. but it didn't help much either. Sounds like its a good idea to go back on what has been working for you..I take Imuran now and it has been working fairly well.

This drug has given me headaches, fatigue, sore joints and some abdominal pain. I'm feeling a little better but not all of the way yet. The worst has been the fatigue and headaches.

I never had any problems with the Colazal.

Bryan,

I don't know about the drug you mentioned, but I am sorry to hear you're not well, and hope things greatly improve for you SOON.

Originally Posted by MargeCat

Bryan,

I don't know about the drug you mentioned, but I am sorry to hear you're not well, and hope things greatly improve for you SOON.

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Thanks.

I'm feeling better now. I had to get that drug out of my system and I've been back on the Colazal. There is a generic available for Colazal, it's called Balsalazide, which is much cheaper than Colazal.