Imuran.... and now I'm sick

Yes I had this and had to stop after 2 weeks
Then we gave it a go for the second time and ended the same.

Are you sure you don't have the flu or something?

Talk to your doc see what he says.

It definitely feels like the flu. But I've had both H1N1 and the seasonal flu shot months ago. Guess I'll give it till Monday and call the doc if it continues. Just happened the same day I started Imuran so I'm thinking it lowered my immune system so I caught this. I haven't been sick with cold/flu symptoms in like 2 yrs. This is yuk!

Yeah....I've never had rashes before this. But I did start the imuran right after my infusion. So the rash could be a reaction from the infusion or the imuran. I took benedryl which seemed to help. And the rash does seem to be getting better over the last four days. It itches like crazy. I have bloodwork scheduled for wednesday so maybe I'll wait till then to see if something shows up.

I would call your doctor and let your doctor know how you are feeling. It also sounds like the
Imuran is to hard on your system.

Sickofitall - I agree with teddybearweiser....talk to your doctor...it could be "just" the flu or it could be a bad reaction to imuran, itself.  Imuran is an immunosuppressant which would make you more susceptible to anything going around ...also, the first two years I got the flu shot, I still got the flu...it only protects against the most likely strains, not all strains.  I never took imuran, but I took 6-mp (similar med, but metabolized differently).  Before starting it, my doctor did the enzyme test and mine came back ok, so I started 6-mp.  I never felt quite right on it, mostly a feeling of malaise and a headache that wouldn't go away.  about a month after starting 6mp i wound up in the hospital with high fever (106), stomach pains, diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration.  I had a feeling it was the 6-mp, but doctors wouldn't listen to me because my enzyme test said I was able to tolerate it (they treated it as a crohn's flare).  After a week and half of no improvement and getting worse, the docs finally decided to stop my 6-mp since it was the last med I started.  It was like night and day...the day I stopped it, my symptoms stopped.  To be certain it was a reaction to 6-mp, my doctor had me take one dose when I was feeling better....I had the same reaction only this time I had the full blown reaction immediately.  Long story short, even if you've had good results on the enzyme test you still might not be able to tolerate imuran/6-mp.    I don't know how the half-life of imuran compares to 6-mp, but talk to your doctor -- if it's the imuran, stopping it for a day or two to see if there's improvement might give you the answer.  Even if it's the flu, your doctor may want you to stop until you get over it (I know with methotrexate, any little cold I get turns into a big event and my doctor has suggested that I stop methotrexate until I'm over the cold).   Hope you feel better soon.   Melissa

Though I didn't have flu symptoms I felt very sick as soon as I started taking Imuran. AFter four days, I developed a rash and had to stop them.

I"m now on 6 mp. Only a low dose to start with incase of the same reaction but so far so good.

Highly recommend you goggle 'remicade and imuran' there's some important information you may not be aware of.

sickofitall...this link describes the side effects of imuran, which seem to match with what you're describing, doesn't mention sneezing but that doesn't mean it's not from the imuran (though it could be a cold that you've developed coincidentally at the same time as starting the imuran)...

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/imuran-side-effects.html

:)

vixen said...
It seems like a lot of you got side effects on the Imuran. Son has just taken his first 50mg of Azathioprine(believe it the same as Imuran) thought he could take it in the evening and then if he does feel nauseous or anything hopefully he will sleep through it. Subject to blood tests he will be going up to 100mg in two weeks. I have also noticed that there are quite a few of you on 50mg and not a higher dose and I am quite sure that most of you must be a fair bit taller/larger than my boy-I thought that he was doing pretty well but I guess that maybe he isn't if he needs a 100mg dose. I'm confused!!

vixen i have been on immuran (atathioprine generic name) for over a year now at 200mg dose.  I started at 50mg and increased to the 200 which is the norm dose for crohn's (adult dose) however everyone seems to vary so much and we are on so many meds that at times i think the dr's really do try and lets try this and if it works great if not lets try something else.  At least it has been that way for me for many years now.

Hey guys just wanted to give u an update.... Well bloodwork came back and dr says I'm metabolizing the imuran well.  So we will continue with treatment.  Rash, fever, nausea, and insomnia are gone.  Still feel sick though: sore throat, sneezing, congestion.  I guess its a cold.  My abdominal pain has been coming back though.  Its like I didnt get enough remicade.  Hopefully my body adjusts to the lower dosage.  I wanted the double dosage every six weeks but dr says thats too much.  Even though I know alot of you guys are on that regimen, he doesn't agree.  I hope the imuran kicks in soon.  I haven't had the D- just alot of abd pain like i normally get.  The imuran must have really suppressed my immune system bc I've never been sick with a cold this long.  Could be turning into a sinus infection.  Anyway thanks for the support as usual!

I have been on Imuran for quite sometime and I had severe allergic reactions to everything... and i mean everything.. I am now officially allergic to Pressure....or "Chronic Urticaria" That means wind, rain, sun, when they give me needles, and IV is inserted anything that may touch my skin I react too.

The only thing I have found helpful is taking Reactin everyday, but to be honest it hasn't done much. Apparently sensitivity to Imuran is quite normal.

Sorry to hear about that. Hope you can find some relief!