High Dose Of Imuran ?

I don't know the answer to that question. My hubby was just increased to 200mg from 150. Since we incorporated the Mayo Clinic in his care which is a year now, his Dr at Mayo prescibes his Imuran (azathioprine) on a month to month basis only because he insists on monthly labs for AST, CBS, ALT (If I have my initials correct). Once he gets the lab results and reviews them his nurse phones in a month's supply of medication. We do this every month - sometimes it is a pain if the lab hasn't faxed the results I need to call them and have them re-fax it. I have a chart and make sure I allow a full week for the entire process so we won't run out of medication.

His lab work has been fine and since the UC is slow to respond to a remission is the reason he increased it to 200. My husband's weight is approx 180 lbs.

I was initially concerned about this drug which started out at 75mg (his local Dr was ultra conservative starting him on the medication to begin with) and when increased to 150mg his Dr @ Mayo assured me not to be overly concerned as he insists on the monthly monitoring to keep close tabs on it. He told me this is a "safe" medication when monitored properly. Sooooooooooooo you might want to have a little more dialogue with your Dr especially with the higher dose you are on if you have any questions and are concerned. You need to feel comfortable and assured regarding your care.

I hope and pray the trust and confidence we have with the way his care is being managed is correct. I have no problem with asking questions on his behalf so we can stay as informed as possible.

I've been on 350mg for a couple years. Bloodwork every 3 months, always comes back fine. My GI told me that over 350mg is wasted on UC patients in most circumstances. My understanding is the dosage is determined by how your body metabolises the drug, and not based on weight or anything else.

The Remi transfusions can be two hours tops for most patients, and they are really non-events- I don't feel a thing, not even from the prick for putting the thing in my vein. You sit in an easy chair with a book, a laptop or watch a DVD and it is over before you even know it. In my case it has no adverse effect on me on the day of the infusion and knock on wood I have not felt any side effects yet. Good luck with the Imuran dosages.... I will never know if a higher dose would have helped me but it never seemd to do anything for me all the way to 150 mg. But noone checked my metabolities for optimum dosing, though I got regular bloodwork.

festeris101 said...
In my case we worked up to the 550 mg. with 50 mg. increments until I went into a kinda remission. I've tried to dose myself down on the sly but everytime I get down to the 350 mg. mark I flare up immediately. My blood is tested every month for liver function etc. and it's beginning to get high though and they're looking into PSC.

My GI is trying to talk me into Remicade and I know it sounds foolish but the though of 3 hour long transfusions freak me out. If it was in a pill I'd probably give it a shot!

Anyway I just worry about the longterm effects of the Pred & Imuran especially where my Doctors say I'll likely be on this dosage for the rest of my life...

The long-term effects of Imuran are way better documented than those of Remicade; it's a much older drug. I would definitely worry about the prednisone, though, and the question mark over the Remicade was too much for me to take it. Is there a reason why you're not considering surgery?