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Experiences with Azathioprine

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/10/2008 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I was recently hospitalized for the first time due to complications from UC.  Specifically, I was slightly anemic and dehydrated due to the bloody diarrea. Whenever I have flare ups they are accompanied by lower back pain that makes it difficult to stand...for this I was given MORPHINE.   My doctor has me on a prednisone taper (40 x 7, 30 x 7 etc) and colazal 9 a day along with a hydrocortisone foam (10 % or approx. 90 mg).  Since I left the hospital I have seen positive results from the prednisone (bleeding is subsiding) BUT my doctor has suggested (and prescribed) azathioprine. I am TERRIFIED of taking this medication...In two weeks I have a follow up appointment just to make sure that it ( the azathioprine) isn't killing me.  Is anyone else taking this drug and if so what has your experience been like?  Do you get sick often due to the effects on your immune system?  I've been reading up on bacterio therapy (probiotic fecal infusion) and am considering going to Sydney (my disease is confined to the lower left side of my colon and rectum and I think that I may be a good candidate for this treatment IF Ulcerative Colitis is indeed an immiunological response to an upset balance of gut flora.   I'm 26 years old and have been in and out of remission for about two years (diagnosed in January, 2007).

Thank You,

Posted 10/10/2008 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Hopefull-- hey, keep us informed on the fecal bacteriotherapy. I have printed out and kept all the articles on it, such as those on Bardody's instute's website, and I ponder even trying to do it myself (minus the antibiotic regimen), since mixing feces and saline and getitng a bunch of enemas wouldn't be all that complicated. Of course, this therapy is based entirely on a couple of small studies with a dozen or so people, so it may have been a fluke- but it sounds harmless enough, if one gets the donor (ideally a spouse, sibling or someone similar whose history you know)'s stool and blood tested for infections. Heck, it is on my "must try" list before resorting to surgery, so that if I do it it wil be without any 'what if' thoughts.
Posted 10/10/2008 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
One thing that I've also discovered is that there is a possible link between Ulcerative Colitis and an antibiotic called Levaquin. Levaquin can potentially destroy normal gut flora... around the time preceeding my initial symptoms of UC, I was taking levaquin but it never crossed my mind that this could have something to do with my digestive problems. I'm going to continue to research the bacteriotherapy and will keep you posted on what I decide to do.
Posted 10/10/2008 10:26 AM (GMT 0)

hi, i've been taking azathioprine for 12 years now and i've had no problems with it.

 i had to have bloodtests every week at first, then every month, now every three months. so if anything was going wrong they would soon know about it.

i dont seem to get sick any more than anyone else.

make sure you have a flu vaccination every year though

Posted 10/10/2008 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
I've been taking asathiprtine (Imuran) for about a year and a half. Get my blood drawn once a month for doctor monitoring. Been fine. It keeps the ulcers away. I've been very healthy, I work in child care, and suprised that I'm not sicker than before I got this disease.
Posted 10/10/2008 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on it for over a year now. Feeling good (once it started working, which takes a while, and got the dosing correct.) Never sick.
Posted 10/10/2008 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Hopeful, I was scared too! My stomach did not feel very well the first few weeks taking aza but after that was ok. I had problems being tired too, still do I take it at night and go to bed around 8:30-9pm during the work week.

Hope it works out well for you!
Posted 10/10/2008 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
I'll be giving that fecal transfusion a shot as soon as my newborns poos get established. Doesn't seem to hard from reading the studies, but like you said I think I'll skip the antibiotics. I was making my own probiotic enemas pretty easily with capsules... this will be much cheaper and more effective.
Posted 10/10/2008 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on azathioprine for almost a year now and havent gotten sick at all.
Posted 10/10/2008 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
I went to Dr. Borody's clinic and tried fecal bateriotherapy. Unfortunately it didn't work for me, but I still think anyone considering it should give it a shot. The interesting thing about your post is dr. Borody wanted me to go on azathioprine before trying the fecal infusions. The thinking was that I would need to stop taking 5-ASAs which are believed to have an antimicrobial affect which would kill off the good effects of the infusions. I wasn't able to go on azathiprine for 3 months prior to the infusions so I only went on 10mg of pred. I lasted about two months after the infusions with no 5-ASA drugs and then went in to a flare. I had a flare a few years ago when I stopped my 5-ASA while on SCD and it took about two months before I got really sick. So I don't think the fecal infusions did much for me. Again I still think Borody has the right idea and it may have been the fact that I wasn't on aza or maybe I just didn't get the right donor that caused my results. Maybe you should try both.
Posted 10/10/2008 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
5-asa's are antimicrobial? Thoughts on that? Never considered that one. I would have to go off the lialda for a bit.
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