PATIENT INFORMATION ON SULFASALAZINE

( SALAZOPYRIN-EN ) 1. WHY AM I TAKING THIS DRUG? SULFASALAZINE has been prescribed to control your arthritis. It is NOT a painkiller, but is aimed at reducing the activity of your disease and may help to improve the symptoms and slow the progress of your arthritis. 2. HOW DO I TAKE THE TABLETS? • Take the tablets with or after food to minimise any

stomach upset. • Your dosing instructions are detailed below. The dose will

be gradually increased over a period of approximately 4 weeks. The initial maintenance dose is 1g (2 tablets) twice daily.

Date Dose: Each tablet = 500mg

Days PM Days AM PM Days AM PM Days AM PM • Dose may be increased further after 2-3 months to a

maximum of 6 tablets daily, in 2 separate doses. • You may not notice any improvement for several weeks or

months. Do not be discouraged and please continue taking the tablets as prescribed. If this treatment suits you, you will probably be on it for many months or years.

• Anti-inflammatory tablets and painkillers should be continued unchanged after starting the SULFASALAZINE.

3. ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS? As with all medicines some patients may experience side effects. The most common of these include: • Nausea, vomiting, indigestion or a bloating feeling. • Skin rash, mouth ulcers, headaches and fever rarely occur,

but if they do, inform your GP/Rheumatology Nurse via the Help line.

• During treatment your urine, tears and sweat may be coloured orange. Some soft contact lenses may also be stained.

• Sulfasalazine can cause sensitivity and skin rash on exposure to sunlight, using sun-factor 15 and above is recommended.

• SULFASALAZINE may affect your bone marrow causing a fall

in the number of platelets (needed for clotting) or white cells (needed to fight infection). Please stop the drug and inform your GP or the hospital if you become unwell without cause, develop infections, bleeding or excessive bruising. Occasionally inflammation of the liver can occur.

These complications are very rare, but can be serious if not discovered early. As they do not cause any obvious ill health early on, they can only be detected by regular blood tests as arranged by the Rheumatology nurse or your GP. August 2010

4. DO I NEED ANY REGULAR TESTS TO ENSURE IT IS SAFE TO CONTINUE THE TABLETS? • A blood count (FBC) and liver function tests (LFT) should

be checked every two weeks for 2 months. Once stabilised on Sulfasalazine, monthly for 4 months.

• Thereafter, these same blood tests should be rechecked every three months, unless your doctor (GP or clinic) request more frequent tests. Blood test forms can be obtained from the clinic or your GP.

5. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • The Rheumatology nurse usually monitors the blood

results, and will inform you and your GP of any problem. If you live out of our usual area your GP may be asked to do this and to fill in your results on a record card, which we will provide. If this is the case then please bring the card to your clinic appointments.

• Indigestion remedies should NOT be taken at the same time as SULFASALAZINE.

• SULFASALAZINE is best avoided during pregnancy, although few serious problems have been reported.

• SULFASALAZINE may cause infertility in men. This is reversible on stopping the tablets.

• If you wish to start a family please discuss this with your consultant in advance to allow appropriate plans to be made.

August 2010

PATIENT INFORMATION ON SULFASALAZINE ( SALAZOPYRIN-EN )

Consultants: Dr Binder (Lister) Dr Ellis (Lister) Dr Axon (QEII) Rheumatology Nurse Practitioners: Fidelma Gordon Sharon Lerpiniere Rheumatology Nurse: Julie Smith Alex Greengrass Useful Numbers: Rheumatology Helpline: 01438 285624 Dr Binder’s secretary: 01438 284128 Dr Ellis’ secretary: 01438 284473 Dr Axon’s secretary: 01438 285399