Day 10 on Imuran, feel terrible.

The first week was okay, but this second week is terrible,  I feel awful.

Mostly nausea, but also have some stomach cramping,  and feel more tired than usual.   Why am I on a med that makes me sicker than I was? 

I am having the same problems,  I have been on the Imuran for 20 days now and feel terrible.  Nausea, cramping, terrible pain on the left side.  I was previously taking 500 mg Pentasa 4 x times daily and felt pretty good.  Went for Colonoscopy and GI said inflamation still present so he put me on Imuran, but I felt like crap also.  I have called the GI, but have not heard back from him yet.

What dose are you on and what is your weight?

Unfortunately, lots of Crohnies have trouble tolerating imuran or 6mp. Nausea and/or lethargy is quite common.

As NCOT said, you can try taking it at night, or splitting the dose through the day, or taking it with food (or without). Just experiment and see if you can find a way to make it work for you.

That said, it has been estimated that about 1 out of 4 people with Crohn's just can't tolerate these meds. I'm one of them. At a low dose to start with, I was fine, but anytime I increased my dose above 50mgs/day, it made me terribly nauseous, and no matter what I did, the nausea just wouldn't go away. I tried to tough it out for a couple months but to no avail. That was imuran. I then switched to 6mp and started all over again. But the story stayed the same.

I was in such pain last night, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, black outs and obstruction pain. I never felt pain like that since before my surgery. To make things worse, I was getting continual and lingering foot cramps while this was happening. I went into Emergency, and they did find, active crohn's inflammation, dehydration and low blood pressure. They weren't able to give me an answer as to why my feet and legs were continuously cramping. After getting morphine twice and asked if I needed it a third time, and also several injections of an anti nausea drug they were able to get the pain and nausea somewhat under control, but it did not take it away completely, although it did help to ease some of it. .

The ER doctor said if imuran doesn't work for me to maybe try high doses of cyclic prednisone for 5 days only during attacks just to get the bowel under control . Having been on it for several years and quitting it altogether last fall, I allowed it because of the pain.. In a way I feel a setback because it took a lot for me to quit prednisone in the first place but right now I do need to get the bowel settled

But there was problems in the bowel already, (Stricture) but the pain not to the extent this week, yesterday and today brought. The crohn's is also more active now, I still have diarrhea but very scanty, with no gas.

I feel as sick as a dog, I can't be like this for 6 weeks or 2 months waiting for the medication to work? They say we know our own bodies, well, I believe that the new medication is worsening my already fragile state.

I am on a low dose of 50 mg, and I weigh 80 lbs, probably less now after the attack I had the other day. Called my GI this morning. When I asked if it was possible that the Imuran was making my symptoms, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain worse, he told me he doesn't know but I could tell by his voice he didn't like my question. He said I could go off of it, but he followed with "he will not put me back on steroids", so I hung up the phone and figure I've have no choice but to keep trying it. If it doesn't kick in and start working soon, I plan on going off the medication.  He thinks I have an obstruction and told me to go on a fluid diet. 

Thanks, the nauseau is not as bad, but the stomach pain persists among other things that may or may not be related.  I am on week 3 and on a lower dose.   I wish you every success and hope the med works for you. Please keep us updated on your progress.

Sorry to hear you aren't doing well. I'm on a low dose and still having problems although I will say that it isn't as bad as the 2nd week? I still have some nausea and stomach pain on and off.  I can't imagine the doctor increasing it?  Hopefully you will feel better soon.

Keep us posted.

I dont want to intrude - but nobody has mentioned this.... do you take the imuran before a large meal.... I find it doesnt upset my stomach if I eat more then just a piece of toast...

I take 150mg of imuran - always before breakfast.... but I eat a muffin, banana, and zuchinin bread.... like I stuff myself lol.

If I take it with just a slice of bread - then I am feeling sick....

We found, in my son's case, Immuran was ineffectual. caused arthritis. also maybe iritis. Other than that,it was of no benefit for his Crohn's, and he was on it for two years

Today the hospital confirmed the tests from when I was in ER and said it was a small bowel obstruction. My daughter thinks the imuran aggravated the problem and brought it on. Anyways, still on the imuran. 1 ate today, mashed potato and a bit of boiled chopped chicken. Wish me luck. I'm still taking the imuran.

You have blood in your stools? That doesn't sound right? did you have blood in your stools before you started the medication? Have you contacted your doctor and asked him or her if this is normal for a side effect? Hope you feel better soon.