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azathioprine??

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/24/2009 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
I was just wondering if people who took azathioprine tended to get sick more often since it is an immunosuppresent. With working at a medical facility and have too young kids I would getting sick too often.

 

Posted 4/24/2009 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Surprisingly, I have gotten fewer upper respiratory infections since I have been on both prednisone and 200 mg. azathioprine.
Posted 4/24/2009 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
I've noticed that I tend to get less colds while on azathioprine (I prefer just saying Imuran, the name brand, because its a shorter word and its pretty much the same thing)...

However, I'm not sure if its because of Crohn's itself or because of Imuran being an immunosuppressant, but I've been a lot more susceptible to a variety of different infections...

Such as UTIs... I get UTIs constantly. Last year, I must've had around 7-10 of them... It was awful.

I also had this mass on my ovary that got badly infected, which eventually resulted in me needing surgery to remove the mass (as well as the ovary)...
Posted 4/24/2009 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
I've taken Imuran for years. I haven't noticed that I get sick more often but I am very aware of my exposure. I avoid sick people. When I do get sick - it is miserable.
Posted 4/24/2009 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
I've taken Imuran for years. I haven't noticed that I get sick more often but I am very aware of my exposure. I avoid sick people. When I do get sick - it is miserable.
Posted 4/25/2009 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I was on imuran and remicade both for around 3 yrs....and I am the healthiest one in my house. I work in 5 different elementary schools, and I also have 2 young kids, so I am around germs constantly. I wash my hands nonstop during the fall/winter seasons. I am still on remicade, and I did not even get a cold this winter!
Posted 4/25/2009 6:06 AM (GMT 0)
I have taken Imuran for two years and nothing happened to me.
Posted 4/25/2009 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
It was also a concern of mine when I started the drug since I am a teacher and around sick kids all the time. I felt healthy and didn't get sick at all during that 6 month period. But then I did get a flu and pnemonia shot.

Elizabeth
Posted 4/26/2009 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
I've never really had a problem with colds and flus or any other contagions, and after being on azathioprine for 4 years I havent noticed any significant changes to that trend. Still, can't hurt to be careful, avoid close contact with sick people and the like.
Posted 4/26/2009 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi.  I'm a Pediatric RN so I'm exposed to all kinds of fun filled things,and I have not been sicker more since the Imuran,I get a few sinus/colds a year,but that's about it,so in other words,I don't think I get sicker more than the average person.  I have been on Imuran 4-5 years now.

Posted 4/27/2009 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
I was pretty sick when I first started. Sinus infections every other week and such. But I made it through most of the winter without getting sick until they upped my dose. BAM! Got sick.

Like others have said before me, I think that when you're told that you're more susceptible, you make a conscious effort to avoid exposure. Not being exposed helps.

That said, you've said that you will be exposed because you work in a medical facility and have young children. My father broke his neck this winter and was in the hospital for three months, and I spent almost every day over at the hospital with him. In that time, everyone in my family took ill at least once except me. I don't know if it was due to luck or because I obsessively wash my hands and wear a face mask when I know there's an exposure. Just be smart about it.
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