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anyone get really sick from Imuran?

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Posted 1/14/2008 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
I was wondering if anyone here has gotten really sick from Imuran. I started 150 mg/day a few weeks ago and took it with dinner. Ten days ago I started throwing up and dry heaving for 4 hour hours at a time at night, usually from 12:30 am to around 4:30 am. My gi at first said it was a virus but I've never had a virus where you puke the same time every day. Well I ended up at the hospital on day 7 with dehydration, I got 3 bags of iv fluids. That night I did not take the Imuran and was ok. The next night I took it and was sick. Didn't take it last night and was ok. So I emailed my doc and told her I'm stopping it.

And I was fired from my job because of the absences. How can you go to work after spending 4 hours throwing up and dry heaving instead of sleeping? This past 10 days have been horrible. I am so weak, but I did drop 8 pounds in 7 days (not the right way to loose but still a loss, hee hee hee). Luckily, my room mate has been great about this (I scared her, she thought I was going to die when I started getting blurry vision and almost passed out). And I have a place to live while looking for my next new job, she won't kick me and my cats out. I am blessed to have such a great friend.

Anyway, I was just wondering if Imuran did this to anyone else. Thanks.
Posted 1/14/2008 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
When I first started taking Imuran, I started out at a lower dose. I think I started at 50mg/day and worked my way up with bloodwork done every 2 weeks. Within 2 months I was up to my reg dose I take now which is 150mg/day. I take mine at night and had never had any issues you are having. Ive been on it for over 2 years now. Im not sure if you are suppose to start with that amount. Hope you feel better soon.
Posted 1/14/2008 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
My response to Imuran was exactly like yours. My gastro took me off it and put me on mercaptopurine. Mercaptopurine is one of the breakdown products of Imuran and can be easier for some to handle. I've been fine with the mercaptopurine for 2 years so far. No nausea or vomiting. You might check with your gastro to see about trying mercaptopurine. Also, there's a blood test that can be run to check your blood levels of Imuran and mercaptopurine. It wouldn't hurt to have that run either. Feel better soon.

Jen
Posted 1/14/2008 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
I also had the same response to Imuran and my GI switched me to 6mp also. I,ve been on 6mp for over a year.
Posted 1/14/2008 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on 150mg Imuran too and I'm not having any problems, it's been 8 months. My doctor had me take it 50mg at a time, three times a day for 2 weeks, then 100mg in the morning and 50mg in the evening for a month, and now I swallow them all down with my Entocort (only 2 now!), 2 vitamins, a probiotic, and blood pressure pill that keeps my BP from dropping. He said that by taking the pills throughout the day it might help keep the nausea at bay, and it worked like a charm. Try explaining that to the nurses in a hospital though. If the script says to take 150 once a day, it's like fighting a tiger to get them to let you take it another way! Doing their jobs, and doing them well, I know!
Posted 1/14/2008 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
Our 3 yr old(last year) daughter got pancreatitis from Imuran and had to be hospitalized for 10 days. We were asked my her GI to get regular blood tests done(1-2 every week) to see if she would get pancreatitis because its a known side-effect of Imuran which can occur in certain people. She had to be taken off Imuran and put on steroids instead.

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Posted 1/14/2008 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
The 6-MP wiped out my immune system for a few weeks and injured my liver. I was hospitalized as a result. At first I thought I had a bad flu -throwing up. etc, but shortly thereafter I became extremely feverous and alternated from chills to burning up. I have never felt so sick in all my life since. I cannot tolerate imuran or 6-MP.
I'm sorry to hear about you job loss. Some people can be so insensitive regarding other's health issues. I wish we could let them live one week in our shoes during a flare or a medication reaction!

Good luck and hope you're feeling better soon.

Bev
Posted 1/15/2008 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Yes I was VERY sick from Imuran within 15 minutes of even 50mg doses. I vomitied until I dry heaved. Also went to ER for IV fluid resussitation due to dehydration. It was awful. My brilliant GI at the time also told me it was a "virus" and to keep taking it. Well, I took it one last time and that was it for me.
I am currently on 50 mg 6mp and doing very well, just started this week, but am on steroids for 10 days as well so I will know after the pred is finished.
Try 6mp if you can, it may be easier on you.
Feel better !!
Posted 1/15/2008 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
I'm starting Imuran on Wednesday. This thread has really made me feel more confident about it. sad
Posted 1/15/2008 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
So if 6-MP is a metabolite of Imuran and causes less side-effects, why do they prescribe Imuran anyways?
Posted 1/15/2008 6:42 AM (GMT 0)

Reef08 said...
I'm starting Imuran on Wednesday. This thread has really made me feel more confident about it. sad

Sweetie, no worries. Imuran is a miracle for some people! YOu may do great on it. Just try it, you will soon enough find out.:)))

 

Posted 1/15/2008 10:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I sorry about your job. they can be very cruel to ppl whom have an illness. On the other side I am on Imuran 150 mg I have no problems and no-side effects. I think your doctor started you on to high of a dose. I started on a lower dose of imuran they my GI doctor moved me to 150mg were i am now.
Posted 1/15/2008 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
I also am on 150mg and have no problems. I did start on 50mg and my Doctor gradually increased it by 50 mg each time so that may have helped. It is possible you could not tolerate it. I hope you get a solution like the others suggested 6-mp or maybe you can try 50mg of Imuran at first. I gradually got used to mine I was nauseous at the beginning. good luck! Karen
Posted 1/15/2008 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Any med can cause problems. Cipro is fine for most people, but it caused my daughter to have fever that we had to fight for hours to keep below 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

This is why, with starting any new Crohn's med, no matter how "safe" it is supposed to be, it is important to keep a close watch on side effects and run blood tests to check for hidden side effects.

Posted 1/15/2008 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi no problems here been on it for 3 years, so no worries.. :)
Posted 1/17/2008 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
hi there i have had probs with imuran as well, after taking them for about a week i ended up in the er fighting for my life after getting severe hepatitis from imuran. I now have infliximab regularly and so far doing ok on that altough it seems like my options are running low. Anyway thats a whole new story will tell u all about it when i am more up to it right now think i need to sleep/   Hope u are all well take good care

andorable

Posted 1/17/2008 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
I take my 2 imuran every am with my entocort right after breakfast and i haven't had any problems and I have been taking the imuram for a month now.
Posted 1/18/2008 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
It made me violently ill, too. It was fine as long as I was on prednisone, but once I stopped that, taking Imuran was like taking poison.
Posted 1/19/2008 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Me too!  I went off prednisone two weeks ago, and have been having horrible problems with the Imuran, but my doctor doesn't believe me!  He says its my disease causing the problems, not the medicine.  He even wants me to increase my dose on Monday!  I'm scared to do it!  I have two reactions, either I get bad stomach cramps and throw up, or it gets past my stomach and causes bad gas, bloating and explosive D.  I'm not sure how much more I can take! 

Posted 1/19/2008 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
Been on it 3 yrs w/no problems. It is known for causing nausea. My gi has all his Imuran patients take it at bedtime to avoid this problem. Susie
Posted 1/19/2008 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I had to argue with my doctor, too. They really don't always know best. Listen to what your body is telling you. Just stop taking the stuff.

fan4iu said...
Me too!  I went off prednisone two weeks ago, and have been having horrible problems with the Imuran, but my doctor doesn't believe me!  He says its my disease causing the problems, not the medicine.  He even wants me to increase my dose on Monday!  I'm scared to do it!  I have two reactions, either I get bad stomach cramps and throw up, or it gets past my stomach and causes bad gas, bloating and explosive D.  I'm not sure how much more I can take! 


Posted 1/19/2008 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
I never got sick on Imuran, but I started at 75mg, 6 weeks later went to 150mg and I got really tired, and went back to 75mg.
The dosage might be too high for you, or it's not for you at all, either don't give up and talk to your doctor :)
Posted 1/20/2008 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
So sorry to hear of your experience with Imuran. My daughter is taking 75 mg/daily and hasn't had any side effects that I am aware of but it is possible that you are having a problem with additives in the medication. My daughter's GI doctor would only prescribe the Brand Name (no generic was allowed he said!) You may want to discuss that issue with your doctor. Good luck!!
Posted 1/24/2008 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
I had bad experiences with Imuran
I kept getting nausea and felt like getting sick lots of the time.
I was perscribed an anti-nausea tablet to help and that with the imuran kept me absolutely exhausted, I ended up stopping both and phoning the Specialist to let him know, I was changed to Methotrexate and had no problems with it
Posted 1/29/2008 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
Magnetic...my daughter has also experienced terrible fatigue and will sleep 12 hours a day if I allow her to.  She just seems to be doing well and I don't want to cause her any more problems (i.e. side effects)

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