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If Imuran puts you into remission, do you need to keep taking Asacol?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 3/30/2009 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
I was wondering if anyone was put into remission with Imuran and told to stop using Asacol if that did not put you into remission. Asacol is not putting me in remission, but it has helped me in the past and maintain remission for a few years.
Posted 3/30/2009 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
I was on both and my doc told me to wean myself off of the asacol cause our pharmacists said that it was unnecessary. I was in remission and was doing fine. I held off stopping it for 6 months because i told him I was afraid I would flare. I went off in Jan I flared in Feb and now got put on Humira. I would say, if you are on both and are doing fine, just stay on it unless you want to take the chance. I could have been the exception.
Posted 3/30/2009 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
There is some evidence that 5-ASA meds like Pentasa and Asacol might interfere with TPMT levels, and so interfere with Imuran. However, studies have not been able to prove this theory.
Posted 3/30/2009 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Were you just put on imuran to go into remission or did you have to go on steroids. I am refusing to use prednisone because of the side effects. I am hoping that imuran can put me into remission. I have heard from people that it has put them into remission.
Posted 3/30/2009 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
I was taken off Asacol once Imuran (and maybe Remicade - it's been a long time) put me in remission. I've been on Imuran and Remicade, then just Imuran, then Imuran and Humira and now just Humira since then.
Posted 3/30/2009 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
How long of a period did you go through those medications?
Posted 3/31/2009 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
I was on Asacol pretty much since I was first dx and Imuran about the same. I started Remicade in ~ early/mid 2002 (and probably stopped Asacol at that time or shortly before) and had my last infusion in Dec. 2003 (or maybe early 2004?). I got pg with my older daughter in Aug 2004 and I know I was just on Imuran for that entire time. Then I flared up, had a resection in June 2006 and started Humira in March/April 2007. I was still on Imuran until June 2007 or so, but started flaring pretty much as soon as I went off it, so I went back on quickly. I was on both Imuran and Humira when I got pg with my younger daughter in August 2007, then stopped Imuran sometime in my first trimester. I've only been on Humira ever since.

I know that probably is confusing and I'm sorry I can't remember more clearly exactly what and when everything happened. But that's basically the timeline.
Posted 3/31/2009 5:34 AM (GMT 0)
How long did it take you to go into remission with Imuran in the beginning?

Thanks for the info.
Posted 3/31/2009 8:18 AM (GMT 0)
I was put on pred unfortunately for about a month with just the asacol. Then after 3 months, because the asacol wasn't cutting it by itself, they added the imuran. It took about 4 more months for the imuran to kick in and my body to cooperate.
Posted 3/31/2009 11:36 AM (GMT 0)
What dosage did you get of Imuran?
Posted 3/31/2009 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
I had a similar result with 6mp and Pentasa (similar drugs). 6mp got me to remission when Pentasa didn't, but Pentasa has kept me there. I am a strong believer in taking some med to maintain remission.
Posted 3/31/2009 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
I started on 50mg of imuran 3x a day + the asacol 400mg 3x day and then I lost 40# so after about 8 months he changed it to 50mg 2x day for the imuran and asacol 400 mg 2x day.
Posted 3/31/2009 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
Both meds do something different. One works on the immune system directly(Imuran). One helps with the intestines.(Asacol)

I think Imuran is the one with more side affects, asacol had no side affects I noticed, when I last took it, but asacol is kinda expensive.(No generic)

I am thinking that asacol works in the small intestines, and colazal works in the colon, but I am not sure, it may be the other way around.

I would think that stopping either one, would not have any impact on the other. Or stopping one would not be reason enough to stop the other.
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