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Azathioprine

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/6/2009 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone...

Just started on Azathioprine about 5 mins ago. Had a colonoscopy about a month ago, and the pentasa just wasn't doing it alone. It somewhat controlled my D, but never got the inflammation totally under control.

My dr. put me on 60mg of pred and did some bloodwork and suggested Azathioprine. I was pretty hesitant and took a couple weeks to decide. My dr. let me make my own decision, but ultimately said that was his suggestion. What made my decision is that fact that I'm on pred but still not 100%.

I am staying on the pentasa...and tapering the pred. and just starting this.

I guess I'm just wanting to know if anyone has had any luck with this working for them and what to expect. Please don't tell me any horror stories... haha.. i put up a pretty tough front, but I'll stay awake all night wondering haha.

Thanks for your feedback...wish me luck...I'm gonna fight to keep my colon as long as I can safely do so....wanting remmission so bad!!

Posted 10/6/2009 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
I was on Asacol and it kind of did what you described, and it just wasn't enough. I had to go on pred too much. My doctor put me on azathioprine (I knew nothing about it so I was all gung-ho, hehe). I tapered the pred, and stayed on the Asacol until the aza kicked in. I've been great ever since. No side-effects whatsoever. Fully formed BM once every morning (til I added hormones, darn it, but I'm gonna stop those; I doubt you'll have that problem, lol).

I don't think you'll get a whole lot of side-effects, as you're only on 50mg... I'm on 125 and doing great! Get your flu shot, take some vitamin C. I know some people get nausea, if you do, just take it at night. Wear your sunscreen.

It should kick in in a couple of weeks, good luck!
Posted 10/6/2009 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
I was on it for a few years and it worked fairly well for me. I stupidly got off of it becuase I thought it was causing my hair to fall out (it wasn't) and after a few years of trying other things, I'm now back on it...just waiting for it to kick in. Wishing it would kick in sooner. I'm in your same boat--rowasa enemas right now and 40mg pred, but still pretty much unable to eat anything besides Ensure. Hope it starts working soon!
Posted 10/6/2009 12:42 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks both of you for the positive feedback...that's exactly what I was looking for!!

You hear a lot of negative, but you have to take in the positive in order to stay positive and have this stuff work. If it's worked for you guys, it can for me. I'll do what I can to stay as healthy as possible.

Thanks again .. really helps!! :-)

Posted 10/6/2009 12:43 PM (GMT 0)
OH...and good luck to you both in getting into remission and staying there... I am working on that too!! We'll get there.
Posted 10/6/2009 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on azathioprine for about 6 years now with no side effects and I've been in remission for all but 2 months. And I take 200mg/day; 100mg in the morning and 100mg at night. It needs 3 months to become fully effective.
Posted 10/6/2009 5:54 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks Mark.

All of this makes me less nervous and more positive in tryng to feel better. Since I believe the state of mind is important, it helps to believe the treatment will work.

Hoping for remission!!!

Posted 10/6/2009 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
I like it too- have been taking 150mgs/day for over a year now. I started at 100mgs, & after about 6 months of little to no change, we upped the dose. We had also done prometheus testing to see how I was metabolizing it, & I was at the low end of the therapeutic range. I swear, the 150mg daily dose has done more for me than the Remicade. Urgency is my only real symptom now, aside from the bad day every now & then. At first it made me super tired, but I take it at night before bed, so that takes care of that side effect. And I think it did make me lose some hair, but again- who knows if it was the med or something else. Overall I'm happy with it- I haven't found myself getting sick more often or anything- you can't do live vaccines on it, like the nasal mist flu vaccines, but other than that it's an fairly easy, low-maintenance drug to be on. It did take forever though to do anything- I had all but given up on it when I finally realized it was helping.

Posted 10/7/2009 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
I've been taking 75mg of Azathioprine for 7 years and never had a problem until my GI upped my dosage to 100mg because blood work showed my inflammation count was high. Went back to 75mg and everything has been fine and dandy. My doctor called me an enigma at my last visit because the inflammation number went down after I back to my normal dosage. Other than that I've never had any side effect problems. In fact, I think I get less colds, etc. than I did before I was diagnosed. I only had one bout with pneumonia 5 years ago. Getting blood work every 4-6 months is important though. I bruise easily and become tired easily, but that's about the worst of it.

word of advice- do not take this with water as the pill easily dissolves and in my opinion tastes disgusting, which if i take it with water makes me gag.
Posted 10/8/2009 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
I am so glad I read this. I just had the Prometheus testing done and the doctor gave me the script for the Azathioprine today. I am going to take 200mg. I have been putting it off for weeks. The Remicade has done nothing and I have been on and off steroids for a year come Nov. I am currently on 5mg of the pred. I was reading about the Imuran all day and I am scared to death to take it. After reading your posts and not making to the bathroom twice in two days I am going to go for it. I hope it works. I will be flaring for year come November and just can't take it any more.
Posted 10/8/2009 7:59 PM (GMT 0)

I was on it earlier this year because I was having a problem tapering off prednisone.  I ended up having to quit it because it my liver couldn't handle it but it did serve it's purpose of helping me get off prednisone. 

Posted 10/9/2009 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on it since January this year. Within a couple weeks I quit the Entocort (I was sooo fed up) and shortly after that I was feeling strange....because I felt NORMAL. Or close to it.

Today, literally today, I feel great. Just a little tired (I took my azathioprine dose an hour ago), but that's it. I haven't felt this good ever since having this stupid disease.

Good luck with it. =]

I still have my bad days in between, but they are over in a day or less. It's niiiiiiice.
Posted 10/10/2009 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
I still have an inflammed colorn, mostly lower, and most of my stools are firm. I am like Chuck (pushingforward). My dr has recommended Humira, but I was leaning towards azathioprine. It seems that it has lesser serious side effects. Did any of your doctors suggest Humira or Remicade before azathioprine? Or did they think azathioprine was a better option? Thanks I need to make a decision and just not sure:)
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