Maintenance drugs

I know there's plenty of 'maintenance medications' to keep UC in abeyance, I happen to be using azathioprine (6MP). Although it seems to be doing the job so far, I've never felt comfortable taking this powerful and risky drug. I've been on it for two and a half years and still get the sneaky feeling that my immune system is precariously compromised, and I'd prefer to try an alternative.

Especially with all the crazy bugs flying about hospitals nowadays, not to mention the ever growing swine flu epidemic.

Does anyone know what is considered the safest oral (long term) maintenance drug at the present?

Drug companies love using scare tactics to sell maintenance drugs for Colitis. They don't give the real picture.

I've usually heard ASAs referred to as "maintenance drugs," not powerful immunosuppresants like 6mp. ASAs have a much lower risk of long-term side effects, from what I've read and tend to be better at "maintaining" remission rather than causing remission in tough cases. Lately, a study showed sulfasalazine has the benefit of lowering the risk of colon cancer in IBDers of ten years or more.

I stayed in remission for a couple years on azathioprine. I have no long term side effects and never found myself to contract colds or viruses any more easily than others around me. I have been flaring for so long now that being able to take a 'maintenance drug' and be in remission sounds like a dream. I would not want to upset that situation!

Thanks for the help guys. I was on the 5ASA's initially, both oral and rectal. I reacted badly to the suppositaries and the enemas. When I say 'reacted' I mean feeling really sicker than I already was, awful headaches and nausea usually the following morning. I found the rectals very difficult to administer but I should put that down to me having severe inflammation at the time. Maybe I should ask my GI to let me give them another try as there is less inflammation now.

Capsid. Like I said I've had no adverse problems with 6MP over two and a half years, but you can't get away from the fact that it's risky drug. Having to get blood tests every 3 months might mean that it could trigger something at any time.

Without my GI's knowledge, I made a decision to taper down from 150mg to 50mg over a period of six months. I realized I was taking a calculated risk. As it turned out I suffered no adverse affects.
I had a c-scope in Jan. (8 polyps removed--no infammation) My GI wanted another c-scope in July, I just had it last week (3 polyps removed-'active' UC) I asked him what 'active' meant, he said it indicated 'inflammation'. I then informed him about my tapering the azathioprine, he didn't seem too perturbed about it but told me to go back up to 100mg and see him in a month, when he intends to try me on salofalk?. I suppose the one piece of good news is that I don't have another colonoscopy for 3 years.

I will always wonder if my tapering the 6MP caused a recurrence of the inflammation. Even though I had no apparent 'symptons' ie blood, D, etc.

There's a lesson in here somewhere. Probably something like 'don't take unnecessary chances'.

I still don't trust 6MP though!

     Been a UC sufferer for almost eleven years.  First drugs prednisone and Asacol.  After the prednisone taper, stayed on Asacol but since I was in remission, decided to stop taking it after a year....big mistake.  Suffered a flare two years later and place on Colazal because my UC is located in the rectum.  Been on Colazal ever since.  Suffered another flare in 2003 which is when my doctor put me on 6MP along with the prednisone.  Make a long story short....still suffer yearly flares.....this is my second flare in less than a year though.  Now on 100 mgm of 6MP, 30 mgm of prednisone (weekly 5 mgm taper), Colazal, Cort enemas nightly and Canasa suppository in morning.  Also on Benicar for high BP, probiotics, Fish oil supplement, calcium.   Prenisone has left me with osteoporosis, insomnia and mood swings...ugh, I hate this disease.

Probably those of you who can tolerate strong drugs should be happy.  I failed them all - or they failed me!  Anyway,  my new gastro doctor took me off 6 MP - could not take strong enough to do any good without getting so sick.  I have been on rectal drugs only for over a month while tapering from 20 mg. of prednisone and a week ago stopping.  Doc told me I am too old for Remicade, etc. as there is too much risk!

NOW - symptoms of UC returning - blood, mucous and low pain and cramping. No diarrhea - YET!  No sure what to do next.  Have to call doc I guess - such a fun disease!!

ElaineNY