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6-MP side effects, when occur?

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Posted 12/10/2008 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
I just started taking 6-MP. My current dosage is 75 mg which I take in the evening and I also have blood work done weekly for the next 4 weeks.

The only side effect I can report is that I have been extremely gassy the first 4 days and I had loose stools, but that disappeared. I can't tell that I am more tired either like a lot of people say. The only thing that I am scared of is getting nauseous. I can't explain it, but nausea triggers anxiety attacks in me. Anyway, I would like to know ...

When side effects from 6-MP like nausea, tiredness, fatigue occur, do they occur from day one or is there still a chance that I could get nauseous even after weeks? What side effects did you have? When did they occur, that means from day one, after two weeks or months of taking 6-MP without changing the dosage?

Heck, it took a lot of convincing from my doctor's side to get me to take 6-MP, because we all know that stuff is a bit stronger than swallowing a handful of M&M's. I read a lot from people here on this site who take 6-MP, but I would ask everyone to break it down for me, please!

Thank you so much, I guess I am in dire need of some support and encouragement!

Scarlett

Posted 12/10/2008 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Scarlett,

     The only side effect I seem to have from the 6MP is loss of hair.  Bummer, since I have thin hair to begin with.  I do tire more easily than I used to, but then I am 62 yrs old.  You say that you have to have weekly blood tests?  Hmmm...doc only prescribed monthly CBC's for me.  He does have my liver and pancreatic enzyme levels checked from time to time also.

Posted 12/10/2008 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
I noticed I was starting to get nauseas after being on it for about a week so I started taking it before bed and that went away. I also had headaches and fatigue but once my body got used it, around a month, then all that subsided.
Posted 12/10/2008 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Christine,

I am having weekly blood tests for the first month I am taking 6-MP, so tomorrow I am going to my second blood test. From what I understand, I will be having monthly blood work after the initial month.

I already lost a lot of hair with Pred or at least I think so. My hair got so thin, although I can find the hair in the brush or in the shower. I can deal with the hair loss personally. That's not the end of the world personally for me.

Thanks for your reply, Sherry. How long are you on 6-MP?
Posted 12/10/2008 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
I had weekly blood tests in the beginning too, then I think I went to bi-weekly or straight to monthly, then every two months, now I think I go every 3 or 4 months. I've been on 75 mg for 2 years. I don't notice any side effects. When I tried to go to 100 mgs a year ago, I suffered from really bad loss of appetite. Nothing sounded good and it was so hard to eat anything.
Posted 12/10/2008 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I started off on 6-MP at 50mg and went for bloodwork after 2 weeks at this dose.  I felt fine with no side effects during this time.  When i increased my dose to 75mg i became very nauseous (increasing as the weeks went on) as well as extremely tired, i also started losing a lot of hair.  After increasing to 75 i went for blood work 2 weeks later and my liver levels were elevated.  Two more weeks at 75 and getting sicker and my levels skyrocketed.  Doctor dropped my dose back down to 50mg.  still nausesous but not as bad and tired.  two more weeks and bloodwork not showing much decrease in levels, had prometheus test done and found 6-MP toxic to my body (even though initial test said it could tolerate it).  Dr. took me off completely (just on pred now) and two weeks gone past and had more bloodwork today to see if levels back to normal or at least lowered.  I have not had any nausea since ending 6-MP and i am no longer tired.  Going to Dr. Monday to see what next step is....

Posted 12/11/2008 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on 6mp now for little over 2 years.
Posted 12/11/2008 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on 75mg of 6-mp for 5 months and at the beginning i was getting weekly CBCs.  Now it's once a month.  The only side effect for me is losing lotsa hair...my dr. said if I can't tolerate the hair loss then i could try Remicade, but don't want to go on that! Does anyone know if the hairloss eventually stops?  Erin- he may mention Remicade to you...Good Luck! 
Posted 12/11/2008 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Regarding blood work and the tests that are on my lab sheet:

Week one was CBC with differential/platelet, hepatic function panel (7), Lipase, Serum and Sedimentation Rate.

I go in for lab work today and I have CBC and hepatic function panel on my sheet. Next week it's gonna be CBC only and week four it is again CBC and hepatic function panel. No idea what's coming after that.

Thank you for all your replies! I am either very anxious today or I feel physically weak and shaky and dizzy. I can hardly stand on one spot for longer than a few seconds like brushing teeth or preparing food while standing or making the bed. My lower legs burn and feel heavy and weak. I am also trembling - not only my hands, but I also have a "bobble head". No clue what that is ... . I noticed that since Monday. I usually wake up slightly shaking and it used to disappear by noon, but now i have that trembling all day long. It is so obnoxious! I hope it is from getting off the Prednisone since it is day 7 on a dose of 5 mg. confused

Posted 12/11/2008 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
I never had any nausea. I had fatigue, massive hair loss and may nails grew strange horizontal ridges.
Posted 12/11/2008 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
It could be from the Prednisone...it's a great but awful drug! I was hospitalized in July for one week and had IV steroids then went home continuing on tapering from 60mg..total of 2 months and thank god it healed the flare but i had major side effects. Moon face (gained 14lbs in 3 weeks) extremely hyper (caused some trembling), couldn't sleep, major night sweats, joint pain, interruption with menstrual cycle...I had nausea and fatigue at the beginning of 6-mp but that went away then 2 months after starting the drug i noticed my hair falling out...i wonder if it'll stop..

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