[Guest]

Hi! I've been taking sulfasalazine (sometimes called "Azulfadine") for almost 20 years for my colitis. Fortunately I'm not allergic to it (as many people are), and my doctor has prescribed a very high dose (10 pills a day, and each is 500mg). I have trouble just REMEMBERING to take the entire dose -- even dividing it into 2 doses of 5 pills each doesn't often work. So the result is that I'm taking less of my medicine; lately my IBS symptoms have been much worse, and I'm wondering if it's due to my decreased use of sulfasalazine. Of course I need to get my dosage back up, to see if that cures the IBS, but this is so hard to do! Anyway, I'm curious about others' experiences with sulfasalazine...Natasha[This message has been edited by Natasha (edited 07-09-2000).]

 

[LNAPE]

I was put on that for I bet more than ten years and it never did help. I felt like I had a low grade fever most of the time a sore throat and it makes you sensative to sun light and usually a skin rash at times.Have you thought about giving the calcium a try it can help control the diarrhea a lot better than any thing I ever tried.Let me know if you have question after you read some of the success stories posted.Linda

 

[CeCe]

I have been taking Sulfasalazine for almost a year. I take 4 pills in the a.m. and 4 pills in the p.m. equalling 4000mg daily. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis last summer and was initially put on Asacol. It made me more ill. My doctor stopped the Asacol and placed me on Prednisone ### 30mg. daily after 20mg. did nothing. Fortunately the Prednisone and Sulfasalazine worked. Within three weeks I was symptom free after suffering with the worst of colitis symptoms. My doctor was unsure if my asymptomatic status would remain after he weaned me off Prednisone. He did so VERY slowly. Since Christmas I have not been on Prednisone and have remained symptom free. I have learned so much about this disease from Dr. Stephen May who contributes personal answers to questions/concerns expressed on the "Ask The Specialist" forum of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America website. His help has been a Godsend! In addition to the Sulfasalazine I also take all the recommended (by Dr. May) vitamins and supplements. It works for me. Good luck! Cecile