I've being on sulfasalazine for about 14 years now, but have seen info online that says you should be given folic acid if on sulfasalazine which I was never given or told to take, anyone any views or are you on sulfasalazine with or without folic acid, thanks.
Just take over the counter folic acid, double the dose because a prescription will only give your 1 or 0.8 whatever the measure is, so two of the 0.4 otc would fulfill that. However I thought the folic acid was necessary when you take MTX.
I was just going to give the link - then realised I can't on here without it being moderated!
This is a short excerpt from the Royal Berkshire NHS Trust leaflet about sulphasalzine:
"Can you take other medicines with the new treatment?
− Other antibiotics can make Sulfasalazine less effective by interfering with its absorption.
− Sulfasalazine can reduce absorption into the body of the heart drug Digoxin.
− Sulfasalazine can also reduce the absorption of the vitamin Folic Acid. A few people on Sulfasalazine, therefore, need to take a folic acid supplement in the form of tablets.
− If you are on Warfarin, the does may need to be altered".
So it depends on the patient - if you develop any side effects that are identifiable as due to lack of folate, you need a supplement. The majority of patients probably have enough in their diet to cover them. If you haven't had side effects, especially mouth ulcers, I doubt there is anything to worry about.
Even patients on methotrexate sometimes get away without needing supplements although normally they do need some.
Thanks.
Yes, I'll just get some folic acid, thanks.
My doctor did prescribe me Leucovorin Calcium (folic acid) because my blood showed a bit low...forgive me I can't remember...liver or kidney markings???
So she said just incase I should take these one time a week (4 tabs, 2 morning, 2 evening)
In reference to LayneTX's response, I also take leucovorin which is the metabolized form of folic acid called follinic acid. My MTX prevented me from metabolizing prescription folic acid so I need the follinic acid. The need for it showed up in a blood test, called a CBC, which showed the volume of my red blood cells increased suddenly because of a folic acid deficiency.
I’m also on sulfalazine and started to get a really sore tongue and mouth. I wasn’t given Folic Acid, do you think this could help?
I don't know - but it is worth asking your doctor. Being on immunosuppressant drugs of any sort can also make you more likely to develop thrush - and that can also cause a sore tongue and mouth. But the doctor is the person to ask as they can see if anything is there.