Chronic pain and fatigue are probably the two issues that I find the most difficult to cope with. I have tried backing off of meds when the medical commty has tried to say the new problems were all b/c of my meds. I have tried taking everything they prescribe exactly as prescribed and neither way completely works. Definitely, neither way allows me to deal with the fatigue. There are times that all I can do is sleep. Even up and moving around, trying PT, etc, I can become a walking zombie barely able to keep my eyes open in an effort to force myself to stay awake and active.

If anyone else has found ways to help eliminate the fatigue, I would love to hear the responses!

I'm seeing my doc next week to go off it. I can't cope with the fatigue. I have a very high-pressure job and I have to be on my toes all the time when I'm at work, but since I started taking the meds it feels like I'm swimming through syrup.

Well some research suggest that TNF inhibitors do an excellent job on fight fatigue and suppressing inflamation I started the Enbrel recently.... I will keep you updated if you like

I took sulfasalazine for about 4 months and it did not help me personally. My rheumy prescribed Nuvigil to try for the fatigue but I take so many meds and it is a type of 'upper' and I am still afraid to try it along with the narcotics, muscle relaxers, anti-depressants and tranquilizers I already take. I mean my doctor is one of the best in his field but I am reluctant to add yet another pill to my arsenal :)  so it sits here on my desk waiting for me to try it. I hope you get to the right combo of meds that help you sooner rather than later.

Blessings~

I was taking Sulfasalazine for awhile, it just aggravated my UC.  My doctor said it really didn't help with AS he just had to go through the insurance company dance to get approval for meds that do work.  Always tired!

I took Sulfasalazine for a few months. I had more of a problem with nausea. I just feel fatigued all the time, no matter what I'm on. I agree with Catherine though, inflammation definitely causes fatigue. What dosage are you on? 500mg? 1000 mg? Don't know if you've ever taken Emergen-C, but that does help me with fatigue...plus you get other good vitamins from it. I'm also big on linking diet to some symptoms. If you eat a lot of starches/carbs, you're more likely to feel fatigued. Good luck!

I can't take sulfa.

However, once you find a medication that helps suppress the chronic inflammation, the fatigue gets better. And once the inflammation is suppressed, you can start exercising (really, I promise it is possible) and getting more fit will help, too.