Mercaptopurine?!

Have you considered using the steroid enemas instead of the Rowasa? Do you still have UP or has it spread?

I have left sided Uc and I was running into the problem that the oral med wasn't reaching a certain area and the rectal meds were only treating so high up. It was that in between area that was giving me the most trouble so after flaring pretty bad for a year and being on steroid enemas off and on, my doc finally put me on 6mp (mercaptopurine). I've been on it now for 1 1/2 years and my flares have finally ended - I still get them, but not as severe and they are more easily treatable now. This drug can take anywhere from 3 months to a year to start working depending on the severity of a flare and how fast your body responds to it. I started having an improvement of symptoms at 7 weeks but at 3 months I felt like a switch was thrown. That is when I knew the 6mp truly kicked in for me. There are side effects when you first start this med. Such as fatigue, headaches, nausea and mild hair loss. I found that by taking it at night, it helped majorly with the fatigue and headaches. I only had mild nausea and very mild hair loss. It took about a month or so for my body to become accustomed to the med.

Oh and welcome to Healingwell! :)

have you considered alternative treatments like changing your diet?

Hey Red_34, One more question, how bad is the hair loss? I already have some from the strain of Colitis, and i am trying not to be vain, but its hard...
Thanks! LB

My hair is thick anyway - think Q-tip - skinny body and puffy head! :) So I didn't mind losing some hair. It wasn't that bad really and soon as my body got used to it, the hair loss stopped. One thing that you can take to help battle the hair loss is Biotin. Biotin is naturally produced in the intestines and if one has chronic D then it can deplete that causing hair loss. I had deep ridges in my nails so I started taking Biotin and within 6 months the ridges were gone and my hair became super healthy. I started at 3mgs but it didn't do anything so I've been on 5mgs for about 2 years.

Hi! I have been taking 100 mg of mercaptopuine for about 4 years had no side affects,still have to take prednisone guite often for flair ups. The doc wants to up the mg because of to many flairups and mentioned remecade.