Imuran side effects

A big hello to everyone!

First time poster but have been lurking a while. I've found this site to be an absolute gold mine of information about UC - I wouldn't wish this illness on anybody, but it's been a big comfort to read about the experiences of people going through the same thing.
I've only been diagnosed with UC fairly recently (Pancolitis). I'd had IBS since about 15 but for some reason things decided to step up a gear in December 2006 (much blood, cramping and freaking out), and following a few months of this I eventually had a colonoscopy in June 07.
Started on Prednisolone and Asacol, but every time the Pred got down to about 15mg I'd get the good old flare-up symptoms again and have to bump it back up to 40mg (tapering 5mg a week).

My GI decided to start me on Imuran / Azathioprine 100mg at the end of December, and I'd been ok on it up until recently, just feeling very tired and occasionally a bout of nausea which passed after an hour or two. Recently, I'd been feeling far more tired on it, and following a review with my GI on Monday, he decided to drop the dose to 50mg.
I'd been taking 50mg in the morning, then 50mg at night, so I figured I'd just now take 50mg in the evening and sleep off the worst of it.
Monday night, took the 50mg dose with food, as I have done for the last 3-4 weeks, and just over an hour later was projectile vomiting, followed by severe watery diarrhoea which lasted all night. It was like I'd taken a poison and my system was just purging itself.
Took a break on Tuesday, tried again on Wednesday night and had exactly the same reaction. Weird, because it's the same tablet I've been taking for the last few weeks with not much more than fatigue, now it's reacting big time.
I went to see my GP and we agreed i'd try 25mg am / pm, but to be honest I'm scared of going near the stuff at the moment - Imuran was working well, my inflammation levels were down and my weight was up, but I've lost about 3 pounds in the last couple of days. Was just wondering if anyone else had dealt with this sudden change in how the Imuran affects them.

Apologies if the post is a bit too long, but you know what it's like - you build up so much information that you terrify your doctors when you see them, because you believe that every little detail may be of some use - and they just look confused...

Just wanted to say Hi and Welcome! Unfortunately I can't help w/ the imuran reaction but hopefully other members can.

Hey Bum Deal - are you sure it is an Imuran reaction? I ask only because I noticed that you're also on 12 asacol tablets a day. I was also on that dose until a few weeks ago, when I started experiencing lots of severe nasea, and intense fatigue. my GI said some people react to asacol, and pulled me off of it (and switched me to colazal) and within 48 hours my nausea was totally gone. I am still having some flaring, but am much less tired and feel much better now that i am off the asacol. just a thought (not trying to complicate things, judt wanted to throw it out there). feel better soon.