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Posted 12/4/2008 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
I saw my rheumatologist today and he thinks I should be on Imuran through my pregnancy and afterwards to keep the lupus and nephritis at bay.  I have to agree with him.  I am feeling optimistic.  So far my blood pressure is good and I dont know the status of protein in my urine until next week.  Those of you who have taken imuran, what were some of your side affects/ outcomes?
Posted 12/4/2008 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lilmiss,

 

I'm glad to hear your pregnancy is going well! 

 

I've been on Imuran since my diagnosis in 2000.  It's been an amazing drug for me.  Life saving actually.  I had no side effects at all.  Some people experience stomach upset, mild hair loss.  But those go away once the body is used to the medication.

 

I have nothing bad to say about it at all.  You will have to watch your liver enzymes.  They'll go up. So don't be alarmed.  Nothing to worry about, it's just the way the drug is metabolized in the body.  My liver enzymes are totally normal right now, so it all depends on what your body is doing.

 

What is your dose?  I take 50mg twice a day.  I hope you have as good an experience with it as I do!

Posted 12/5/2008 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
What is Imuran for? I guess what I mean is that I'm on Methotrexate and I have SLE and Lupus Nephritis, but with Methotrexate its not possible to become pregnant. Did your Dr. put you on that because you want children or are there other reason too that put you in the category for Imuran. I'm curious for your Dr.s reasons for that drug choice. I would like children (soon?!) but I've been sick ever since a few months after my wedding. Maybe if the methotexate doesn't help me into remission I could switch meds and have a baby.
Posted 12/5/2008 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
I took Imuran the last 4 months of my pregnancy. My son is almost 7 months old and doing great.
Posted 12/5/2008 2:07 AM (GMT 0)

I took Imuran as a new drug in the earlier part of this year. This drug did not agree with me at all. I had night sweats along with terrible body aches. Once I stopped those symptoms stopped.

Good luck with your pregnancy!

Posted 12/5/2008 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
Lupus "big guns" consist of things like Methotrexate, Imuran, Cellcept & other meds. It seems we all react differently to these - what works for one might not work for another & visa versa. Most doctors start with whichever one they've had the best experiences with, or the one they think will work best for you...it varies. Sometimes they use a combination of meds....it's really a mystery with a touch of science thrown in. In my case I was on Imuran over a year with no effects -- nothing good, nothing bad -- so my doctor switched me to Cellcept for about 18 months -- which *drastically* improved and turned around my badly failing cognitive processing. Only bad effect was some hair thinning, and that has grown back since I've been off the Cellcept. Once they find something that seems to help with your symptoms, they really resist switching to another. Part of the reasoning is that something working now, may not work if you get off of it, try something else, then go back to it. So it's best to stay with a working med as long as it's continuing to work! Just my 2 cents on the meds -- good luck with the pregnancy issues!
Posted 12/6/2008 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
I also take imuran, have for several years. I have not noticed any side effects at all! I hope it does well for you. Keep us posted on your pregnancy.

Firebabe- are you saying you can't become pregnant while on Methotrexate because of birth defects or it leaves you sterile? My brother took Methotrexate and they told him he would never father children. He has 3 happy, healthy children.

I took Cytoxan and they told me it would leave me sterile, but according to my gynecologist, I am not. I still ovulate. Your doc is going to tend to be a little more aggressive with you having Class II Nephritis. I'm end stage renal failure and on dialysis. I would highly advise you to follow his advice and let them be as aggressive as they can to prevent further progress of the disease in your kidneys! God Bless you both, Judy
Posted 12/6/2008 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Methotrexate can actually cause miscarriage in pregnancy. When I had my ectopic pregnancy 2 years ago they actually injected me in each arm with a large dose of Methotrexate to hopefully terminate the pregnancy. That didn't work so I had to have surgery to remove it and ended up losing my right tube. I guess when the time comes to try to have babies the swimmers only have one way to go:) My doctors wants me to use 2 forms of birth control while I'm on it. I'm on the pill and we are supposed to use condoms too. My husband isn't really thrilled about being the only married guy he knows buying condoms like some teenager who doesn't want to get his girlfriend knocked up. Metho isn't supposed to be a drug that can leave you sterile. My dr. and I talked about this quite a bit before I would agree to treating my Lupus more aggressively.
Posted 1/26/2009 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi lilmiss! I am so sorry to hear about your loss a few years back.  I am also pregnant right now with kindey involvement.  I am 26 weeks along and have been on Imuran the eniter pregnancy along with 20mg of pred, plaquenil and baby asprin.  In the past I have taken Cytoxen treatments and have also been on cell cept for quite a while. I have not had ANY effects from the Imuran. I am only on 100mg a day and am not sure of how high a dosage you can go during a pregnancy.  Things have gone pretty smoothly so far but I am definately starting to leak more protein than usual.  Like you, I ALWAYS leak protein but not as much as I am now.  Im not too worried yet becuase I knew this would happen at some point.  My creatinine level has been normal the whole time too.  Besides being COMPLETELY exhausted I feel pretty good.  I also go to a holistic doctor and load up on some good vitamins and also give myself B12 shots to help with my energy level.  I hope this helps some.  Please feel free to ask any questions if you like.  I would love to answer them if I can.  I pray that everything goes well for you and your baby.  It is such a exciting time :)!

 

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