This medication is not a cure for rheumatoid arthritis. It can help with the symptoms, such as pain, swelling, stiffness and joint damage. When this medication is used for early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, it may be able to assist you in taking care of your daily activities and can prevent the breakdown of the joint, resulting in less damage. Typically, your doctor will prescribe this medication and ask you to get some rest or take part in physical therapy. You may also need to use it along with other drugs but it is not typically given unless you have not responded to medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

In order to get the most benefit out of Sulfasalazine, you will need to use it on a regular basis. It may take a few months before you experience the improvement in your symptoms that will come from using this drug. You should keep your doctor informed of any changes in your health and whether or not it is working to help improve your symptoms associated with your arthritis. You should also discuss any potential side effects that can occur as well as keeping Dr. Lavery informed of the side effects you are experiencing when you use this medication.

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect your quality of life in a very extreme way. By using this and other medications prescribed for your condition, it can help you to experience less pain and inflammation and can improve your quality of life.