Hi all,

I am the partner of a UC sufferer (diagnosed 4 years ago). He has
been on a combination of Sulfasalazine and Imuran (Azathioprine) for
over two years.
Over those years, I have seen him develop into an extremely highly-
strung, prone-to-outbursts individual. He never was a laid-back man,
but I feel that the drugs have changed his personality to some
degree. He was someone who would never lose sight of social
conventions, and would worship reason and logic as the paragons of
human intelligence. He is a very educated man, in a comfortable and
influential position. And yet countless instances of his violently
losing control, and forgetting the most basic social rules, have
been witnessed since he has been on that heavy medication. He
stresses about absolutely everything ; there is no lightness about
him any more.
It might be a coincidence, and the effect of the UC itself
(incurring depression), but I cannot help thinking that there is a
link with the drugs. Ironically, stress does generate UC bouts; but
I fear that the stress has a lot to do with the medication which
holds those bouts in check. A vicious circle?

He is slowly coming off Imuran (he is now on 50g a day), but will
remain on Sulfasalazine (4 X 500mg a day). I have not noticed any
improvement in his behaviour. Could Sulfasalazine be responsible for
it?

I wish to read other people's opinions about this. I may be
totally wrong, but if there is someone else out there who, as a
partner of, or a UC/Crohns sufferer, has noticed a psychological
change for the worse (involving higher levels of stress, violent
outbursts, etc which could not solely be accounted for by the
depressing, stressful awareness of one's condition), please could
you tell me more about it?

Thank you all in advance for your answers.

Tamteille.