6MP Questions...

For anyone who has been on 6MP, how long does it take to start working?  I know that the doctors say 3-6 months but would like to hear from any of you.  Started about a week ago and am already experiencing hair loss...

Post Edited By Moderator (Lonie) : 7/22/2009 9:56:58 AM (GMT-6)

     Been on 6MP for almost six years.  I was on 50 mgm but experienced my second flare in less than a year in remission.   My GI increased my dosage to 100 mgm on June 11th.  I am on 30 mgm of prednisone and tapering by 5mgm weekly.  Bleeding is gone, still have some pain in rectum.  My main problem is ulcerative proctitis.  I also take Colazal, Cort enemas nightly and Canasa suppository in a.m.

     I have experienced some thinning of the hair, but try Nioxin.  It works wonders!  You can purchase it the hair dressers.  6MP does take anywhere from three to six months to "kick in" along with the prednisone.  However, it has NOT kept me out of flares.

     I am not a candidate for Remicade because I was exposed to the TB virus years ago while working in a hospital lab and the Remicade could activate the TB.

I started on 6mp just about 3 months ago and have been on Prednisone since May 22nd (finishing my dose in a week).  I havnent seen any improvments from the 6mp at all.  I started on 50mg and then jumped to 100mg within a month.  I had to get off of the 100mg because the side affects were so hard to deal with.  I'm most likely going to give it another month and if doenst work, Remicade here I come.

It took me a while. I think I was taking my Asacol with the 6MPs for about 3 months before we started to taper. But again, I feel like the meds never worked for me anyway. Good Luck and keep up with the blood work. That is the best way for the docs to track your immune system.

I have been on 6mp for almost 3 years. I started noticing a difference around 7 weeks but I didn't get the full effect until about the 3 month mark. The hair loss is temporary. I loss massive amounts of hair but after a while (maybe 2 months or so?) it stopped. I was also extremely tired, slightly nauseas and I had a lot of headaches when I first started it. Now I don't get any of those side effects. I still get tired on occasion but I don't know if it's the meds or the UC that is causing my fatigue.

I have taken 175 mg of azathioprine for the last 6 years. I started it while on a full dose of prednisone and by the time I tapered off that the azathioprine had kicked in (I assume) and I was in remission. So that would have been a few months. I have never noticed any side effects. I do get hair loss occasionally but that seems to coincide more with tapers off of prednisone. I credit azathioprine with keeping me in remission for 3 years, so I hope it works for you as well!