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How long before you noticed improvement with Imuran/6-MP?

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Posted 2/22/2008 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
I've been on Imuran for over 5 weeks now and am actually starting to flare-up a bit. I'm at 100mg right now...will be bumping it up to 125mg next week.
Posted 2/22/2008 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
they say that it can take a month or two before Imuran even starts to take any effect, so you might have to wait still, or talk to your doctor about it, going up in dose soon might find helpful. I just started it too and thats what they tell me, so I am on prednisone until the Imuran can have a chance to start working.
Posted 2/22/2008 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
i was told it takes about it 3 months to really get in your system and do something. i was on it from april 1995 to october 2007 and i question whether or not it did anything for me besides making me more susceptible to getting sick and bruising easy. i also believe it was the cause of my anemia. but then some people swear by it...
Posted 2/22/2008 5:41 AM (GMT 0)

The following link provides info about Imuran, which can take 3 months or longer to work. This is why many patients go on Entocort, prednisone or some other maintenance med while waiting for Imuran to work:

http://www.gihealth.com/html/education/drugs/imuran.html

Posted 2/22/2008 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi it can take up to a month or two for it to start working. It took me a month before iI noticed anything with Imuran. I have no been on Imuran for almost 5 years. I would ask your doctor about a low dose of pred.
Posted 2/22/2008 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
When I started imuran my GI also started me on pred at the same time so that it would keep my flaring under control until the imuran kicked in. I was on pred for about a month. I have been on imuran 150mg a day for about 2 years now. It has been working great for me. I would ask your GI if you can take pred at the same time if you are starting to flareup. Hope everything goes well for you.
Posted 2/22/2008 3:22 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for the responses.  The thing is I'm on Entocort 9mg right now.  I've been on it since I was diagnosed (almost 5 years ago).  I've never been in remission and have had a lot of the typical steroid side-effects from the Entocort.  I haven't even been well enough to lower the dose at all in all those years.  I was always trying to avoid Imuran, but I'm so desparate to get off the steroids now, I'll try anything. 

I can't afford Remicade since I don't have insurance.  I think I'll give the Imuran about 6 months to work.  The next step is probably Methoxetrate, and then maybe the anti-MAP antibiotics (I'll try anything).   


Posted 2/22/2008 6:44 PM (GMT 0)

So, are most in agreement that if one is going to go on Imuran or 6-MP then one should stay on steriods?  Hubby says he feels marginally better on prednisone.  But at the same time that he went on the prednisone, he also developed an upper resp. infection. I wonder if feeling bad from the URI hid how well/not well the prednisone helped.

If he feels the pred didn't really help, should he try this entocort instead?

--NCF

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Posted 2/23/2008 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
4 months here. I have to alternate between 75mg to 100mg every day because I'm one of the rare ones that have a genetic intolerace that keeps me from breaking it down by my liver. I was toxic once when they were trying to adjust my dosage, however, I felt pretty good then too!
Posted 2/23/2008 12:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi My DR. said it takes 6 months for the Imuran to kick in I just started on the Imuran again a week ago. Now lowering my pred. to 15mgs .I just had a resection so things are working great and I feel 100% now .Hope things get working good for you soon. lol gail
Posted 2/23/2008 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi My DR. said it takes 6 months for the Imuran to kick in I just started on the Imuran again a week ago. Now lowering my pred. to 15mgs .I just had a resection so things are working great and I feel 100% now .Hope things get working good for you soon. lol gail
Posted 2/23/2008 3:44 PM (GMT 0)

newcrohnswife said...

So, are most in agreement that if one is going to go on Imuran or 6-MP then one should stay on steriods?  Hubby says he feels marginally better on prednisone.  But at the same time that he went on the prednisone, he also developed an upper resp. infection. I wonder if feeling bad from the URI hid how well/not well the prednisone helped.

If he feels the pred didn't really help, should he try this entocort instead?

--NCF

 Entocort *is* a steroid, but it's a topical steroid, much the way you'd put hydrocortisone on an itchy skin rash, Entocort tries to topically apply steroids to the inside of the colon (with varying degrees of success). Supposedly less than 10% of Entocort is actually absorbed and processed as a systemic steroid. This supposedly helps to reduce all the nasty side effectes of prednisone.

I responded wonderfully to prednisone (as far as the CD was concerned), but have gotten minimal improvement from Entocort. My GI kept me on a full dose of Entocort even when I was taking Prednisone.

Posted 2/23/2008 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
It was pretty soon for me. I used to "gag" every single morning of my life before Imuran,and now my mornings are much better. :-)
Posted 2/23/2008 4:09 PM (GMT 0)

newcrohnswife said...

So, are most in agreement that if one is going to go on Imuran or 6-MP then one should stay on steriods?  Hubby says he feels marginally better on prednisone.  But at the same time that he went on the prednisone, he also developed an upper resp. infection. I wonder if feeling bad from the URI hid how well/not well the prednisone helped.

If he feels the pred didn't really help, should he try this entocort instead?

--NCF

-

Since Imuran (et. al) take so long to start working, he'll definitely want some faster acting treatment to hold him over until the Imuran starts to work.

Some GI's recommend continuing prednisone while starting a biologic and/or an immunomodulator. Mine suggested it to me, but I was unable to handle the pred.

Posted 2/23/2008 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
The doctor told me 6mp would take up to 3 months - I actually noticed a change pretty quickly. My appetite increased and I was able to eat, my bowels changed more to normal and the bleeding stopped within 3 - 4 weeks. My stomach I noticed wasn't always bubbling around and making noises - One day I just stopped and felt my stomach and my boyfriend got nervous and I just looked at him and said - my stomach isn't doing anything??! - I hadn't felt that, I think ever! It was really weird.. but awesome.

Unfortunately (I think because my doc changed the dose a few times 50mg to 75mg (constant nausea) back to 50mg) I developed hives and had to stop the 6mp. Since then I've still been OK - the bubbling/gas is back, I monitor what I eat and making sure I get lots of sleep, no meds at the moment. Which leaves me to be confused...
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