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Posted 6/13/2010 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I have a few questions about Imuran. Im currently on Remicade and it has worked well, but even with good insurance its costing way too much. I want to talk to my doc about Imuran

First, is there a generic for it?

Second, has it worked for people, and how long did it take to work?

Third, does anyone take it with remicade, or should i start taking it when I know im going to stop my last infusion?


Thanks
Posted 6/13/2010 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Yes there is a generic, I'm on it currently.

I'm not sure how long it takes to work, I was on it simultaneously with prednisone. My case was really stubborn though...I'd say I started seeing improvement within two to three weeks of starting but it may have been the steroids instead.

Just remember, once you go off remi, you can't go back on.
Posted 6/13/2010 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
     I was on 6MP.  My doctor took me off it two weeks to starting Remicade.  He said it was too dangerous to have me on two immunosuppressants.  I am 63 yrs old and I guess at my age, cancer was his main concern.
Posted 6/14/2010 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, there's a generic. In fact, there isn't a brand version anymore. It's called Azathioprine.

Yes, my doctor says he has had a lot of good results with it. I am currently on it and I do think it's helping my UC. I am starting Remicade but that's honestly because I have developed a 5ASA intolerance and the Imuran alone isn't enough for me. If I could take an oral 5 ASA I don't think I'd need to go on Remicade. My doctor says it generally takes 3 months to show results.

The last question is a matter of opinion. My doctor is having me stay on Imuran after I start Remicade, but at a lowered dose. He feels it helps keep people from developing antibodies to it. So, I could see you going on Imuran before you stop Remicade. Generally you start Imuran at a low dose and step it up every 2-3 weeks after checking your liver and pancreas levels. Ask your doctor what he thinks on this one.

:o)
Posted 6/14/2010 12:39 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah I'm on the generic too. For me it took a few weeks to kick in and it works great! Well... I'm flaring right now, but my UC has been questionable since taking birth control and lately I've had a lot of stress. No side-effects for me. Maybe healing slowly. But I still get piercings and things so it's not a big deal.
Posted 6/14/2010 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
I am on the generic form of Imuran, it's called Azathioprine.  Imuran comes in different dosages, that's the only difference.  Imuran can come in 100 mg dosages whereas Azathioprine can come in 50 mg dosages. 

It took about 3-4 weeks for it to really kick in, my wbc went from 40k to normal in about a month. 

No side effects, it has put me into a solid remission.

MyUC

Posted 6/14/2010 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Azathioprine (Imuran) and Remicade at the same time (along with Prednisone and some other stuff). And the doc was stepping up my Imuran dosage in 50mg increments weekly (starting from 50mg/day initially). The doc had every intention of continuing Remicade treatments and bringing me up to 200mg/day of the Imuran but I ended up hospitalized twice over allergic reactions to one or both of them (we initially suspected the Remicade, but after trying to put me back on the Imuran found I reacted the same - and yay back to the hospital).

I don't think the reactions I had were anything to do with combining the two medications. And the type and severity of my reactions are supposedly rather rare, so hopefully I didn't worry you. If I could get back on them I'd do it in a heartbeat. Without being able to tolerate Imuran, Remicade, or Colazol, and having Predinose not be particularly effective, I'm lookin' at surgery.

And, to confirm what others have said, the Imuran does take a number of weeks to be effective.

Oh, and I wanted to say - above, Christine mentioned her doctor saying that being on two immunosuppressants at the same time was dangerous. Surely, being on any immosuppressants comes with some danger, but combining them being any more dangerous I don't know about (provided you can avoid sick people). The docs comment may have been age related, might have had to do with environment, or might be specific to other health conditions. Being 29 and otherwise healthy I hear a lot of, "You're young, you can handle it," from doctors (in and out of the hospital). Also, you'll notice a lot of folks here on (as I was) multiple immunosuppressants; a common combination being Imuran/Remicade/Prednisone simultaneously.
Posted 6/15/2010 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on Azathioprine over three years now.  Once we got the correct dosage, 200 mg, it started working.  Minimal side effects included sleepiness and headaches.  Went away with time.  Been healthy and in remission since, and most importantly happy.  I don't want to be on it forever, but for now it isn't worth taking the risk of a flare.  I also think probiotics help. 

If you have insurance---check for a mail-order option.  Mine is free as long as I do mail order, which you have to order 3 months at a time. 

Posted 6/15/2010 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
I am on Imuran for almost 3 years now, taking 200mg a day (100mg twice) It has worked very well for me but as previous poster has mentioned, I have serious headaches (migraine) problem. I get almost every second day and its affecting my quality of life a lot. UC is way better than every second day migraine. I was prescribed Neproxen for migraine but now I am on flare due to Neproxen. Mostly, next week my doctor will start me on Ramicade.

This will be my first time on Ramicade. I was told that it should be administered as infusion. I wonder how much does it cost monthly? I am not in the US so it doesn't matter to me now but I will be in the US next year and then I have to crunch the numbers, still it will be good to know the costs involved.
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