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New member Wilting Orchid - 6mp question

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Posted 9/30/2011 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All!

I am new here, so forgive me if I am wandering around in the wrong forums as I get used to the site. I have been on 6MP for almost 2 months, and have seen no improvement. In fact, I have experienced a flare since I started taking it. I am currently on 40 mg of Prednisone, and 50mg of 6MP with no relief. I have read that the 6MP can take 3 months to kick in. I now have a really awsome head cold to go along with my colitis flare. I don't know if this is from the 6MP lowering my immune system, or just a turn of bad luck. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

*I made a new post for you as you attached to a 3 year old post, and this way you will get more responses*

Left sided Colitis for 21 years. Past medication ~ Colazal, Mesalamine Enemas ~ Developed pancreatitis. No longer able to take 5-ASA's. Hospitalized twice, 10 days. Now on 40mg Prednisone ~ 50mg 6MP ~ Will be starting steroid enemas. Praying for remission. :-)
Posted 9/30/2011 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
Response from McKenna:

Might be a coincidence, might not, hard to say.

I've been on 6mp for 10 years. Once we got the dosage correct, I haven't experienced any issues. I do get my blood checked every month or two, and in 10 years it's been fine.

My GI told me 6 months before it was in me long enough to really make a difference. Hard to say if 3 months is enough or not.

I was started at 100mg/day and it made me very very tired. We throttled it back to 50mg/day and I've been fine. Recently I was showing some symptoms after stopping Remicade after 8 years. We tried bringing it up to 100mg/day again and same issue as before. Tried 75mg/day, and still issues. 50 seems to be right for me. I'm 6' 4" 203lbs, so that's a pretty light dose for me.

I've had flares while on 6mp and Remicade, even hospitalized for a week. Could be that it hasn't built up enough yet, or you need a higher dose than what you are getting. Either way, your GI should take a look.

6mp will suppress your immune system, however it's pretty easy for your doctor to check. I've never had an issue in that area. I have a 6 year old son, and I did fine all through the last 6 years. I even work at a university, so I tend to be around a lot of people. Just make sure you wash your hands a lot, use hand sanitizer, and get a flu shot if you can.

Actually, if you don't mind me saying, for what you are going through, and being on a high dose of Prednisone long term, you are doing pretty good. I usually have way more issues from the Prednisone that I do from anything else. I know it works well, but for me, the side affect of Prednisone almost are not worth taking it.

Good luck, I hope you feel better soon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matthew McKenna,
Joey's dad.
Crohn's Disease and Guillian-Barre' Syndrome.
6MP, Humira and a few of their friends.

"I'm just along for the ride."
Posted 9/30/2011 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
2 months isn't a lot for 6MP to work - my understanding is that it's a long term drug, and once the pred has kick started your remission, the 6MP should help it stay there. My advice is to get your bloods checked regularly - I recently had a bad flare up, and that was because my 6MP dosage actually wasn't high enough to be fully effective. We've increased it to 75mg/day for me now, I've been on that for 1 month so waiting to see how it goes.

If you're worried, talk to your doctor, but I'd give it a few more months (minimum 6) before you make a judgment about its impact.
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