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Should I continue taking Imuran?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/12/2010 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi - just wanted opinions on whether or not I should continue taking Imuran.

I have been taking Imuran for about 8 years now.  At one point in my life, I think it helped to keep me in remission. 

But this current flare-up started in Oct 2009, while I was on Imuran.  Well, it has been over 7 months of a really bad flare and I have been taking Imuran the whole time.  I have also tried several infusions of Remicade, which haven't worked.  Then I switched to Humira and have had 6 shots and not seen any improvements.  Nothing is working and I have had bloody diarrhea for 7 months now!!! 

So, my question is, is there a point to contimue taking Imuran when it obviously isn't working at all???   (Especially with all the side effects, including diarrhea!!!)

Posted 5/12/2010 11:29 AM (GMT 0)
Imuran shouldn't be causing diarrhea but Uc itself can. I think you should contact your doctor to make this determination to stop it or not.
Posted 5/12/2010 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
I agree - when you've tried such a mix of meds as you list, I would think your GI would have the best overview...
Posted 5/12/2010 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
     Your story sounds exactly what I went through.  Although, I was on 6MP which is similar to Imuran.  You can read the meds at the bottom of my post and see all the "crap" I went through.  I set up an appointment yesterday to schedule a perm. ileostomy at the Pa. Hospital in Philadelphia with Dr. Robert Fry who is head of colorectal surgery there.

     I wish you luck but there comes a time when enough is enough.

Posted 5/12/2010 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
I think I'd call your doc, and also start looking into surgery if I were you. Hope you get to feeling better.
Posted 5/12/2010 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
yes, of course i will be talking to my doctor about it...i just wanted opinions from others to see if my line of thinkning seemed logical.
Posted 5/12/2010 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
I quit taking it. If it were up to my doctor I would still be on it. Took it for a over a year with no change, but instead of taking me off of it he thought it might be better to just stay on it.
Posted 5/12/2010 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hon, that's not the side effects if you've been on it 8 years without getting them. That's a flare.

At this point I'd either try unconventional remedies (like helminths/LDN/fecal transplants) or get surgery done.
Posted 5/13/2010 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, it is definitely a flare...i just meant that i was on it before the flare, on it for 7 months during the flare....so it doesn't seem like it's doing any good....so why stay on it???
Posted 5/13/2010 11:27 AM (GMT 0)
Agreed Serpentskurt....but even if it doesn't seem like it's working, maybe it is but marginally and keeping this flare from becoming outright scary? There are times that I think my 6mp isn't working (well it doesn't work right anyway proven by Prometheus metabolites test) but I'm scared to stop it in fear of it making things 10xs worse. But I can definately see where you're coming from.
Posted 5/13/2010 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
I know what you are saying.. I too was taking Imuran before and during (Still) this current flare. Im with Red_34 on this one, maybe its holding things back from getting really bad?!.. Which is why I actually increased my dosage to 150mg from 125mg. I know my GI and Doc is gonna go mad once they hear that..lol - Ive been on 150MG for around 10 days now, and I think its making a difference. Strange as I never actually thought it was working before hand!?..
I weigh just less than 10Stone (Lost LOTS of weight during this flare).. I know Im taking more than what I should be taking, originally on 100MG, then got increased to 125MG (November, Start of flare) & I increased it too 150MG.

What weight are you??.. what dosage (MG) are you taking?? - That question is also for anyone on Imuran/Azithiroprine???
Posted 5/14/2010 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
i weigh 155 and i was taking 100mg/day. i stopped about a week ago and will see my doctor on Monday. i know he will want me to start taking it again. maybe i should just increase it instead. i just want to stop pooping! :(
Posted 5/14/2010 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
100mgs of Imuran is the same as 50mgs of 6mp so you might be able to up it a bit. But never do so without consulting your GI because too high of a dose can have negative effects on your liver. However, 100mgs of Imuran is an average dosing but maybe a tad shy on the under mg's side.
Posted 5/14/2010 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Definitely look into your dose.. I am 110 lbs and take 175 mg and I know dose is determined by weight. You might be needing more in the long-term.
best of luck
Posted 5/14/2010 6:55 PM (GMT 0)

AmyWaffle said...
Definitely look into your dose.. I am 110 lbs and take 175 mg and I know dose is determined by weight. You might be needing more in the long-term.
best of luck


Hi Amy,
You are just under 8 Stone.. (110lbs) and take 175mg Azithiroprine? - My GI had me on 125, surely that was too low. I understand it maybe precautionary but why not increase it (For me) a little before giving up on it and trying remi or humira!
I take it that its working ok for you??
Posted 5/14/2010 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
If you are taking Imuran and it isn't helping you could ask about other versions of it. I took 6mp.
It didn't help me but other people seem to have had positive results. I was 160 lbs and 175 dose at the end.
I did not like the side effects either but if it had helped I would have continued.

Instead I started diet mod. and reached remission finally.
Posted 5/14/2010 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
Do you take 5ASAs along with Immuran? If I start 6mp do I have to continue taking Asacol/Colazal?
Posted 5/14/2010 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
A question unrelated to Imuran. It says in your signature that Remicade no longer works for you. Just curious, did it ever work for you? Or did you try the several infusion you mentioned with no change at all?
Posted 5/14/2010 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
yes, Remicade used to work for me wonderfully! it was like a miracle drug. but with this last flare that started in Oct it has not worked. had about 5 infusions with no changes. now i am on my 7th Humira injection and it doesn't seem to make any difference either.
Posted 5/15/2010 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
Please DON'T discontinue Imuran. What Imuran is actually doing is repressing your immune system. UC is anti-inflammatory in nature. It an auto immune disease so your immune system is acting in a weird fashion and no one knows why. The best way to deal with it, taking into account our current knowledge is, to keep it suppressed. Imuran is exactly doing that. It is not doing anything to your UC as such but its preventing it from getting worse.
Now, how you got such bad flare when you were on Imuran, you should talk to your GI. Touch wood, so far I am fine and things get worse only when I am in stress.

As far as my knowledge goes, Imuran dosage is 1-1.5mg/kg of body weight, You can go upto 2mg/kg of body weight but only under careful eye of a doctor with routine tests.
Also, Azathioprine gets metabolized to 6MP for its action. So essentially, its similar to Sulphasalazine and Asacol (5-AminoSalicylic Acid).
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