HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Starting imuran

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/17/2012 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone. I recently started taking imuran while I'm on a taper of 30mg of prednisone to ensure I don't flare when I get to a lower dose of prednisone. I was told about the side effects and risks of imuran but wanted to know if there's anything short term/long term I can expect from this drug that anyone has had to deal with? I've been on it for about 4 days and notice I dont get cramping or pain like i was while only being on prednisone but have been getting naseau and acid reflux which doesn't make much sense since I am on ranitidine. Thanks for the input
Posted 1/17/2012 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
When do you take it? If you don't take it at night, you should start because it helps with the side effects. Nausea is common when first starting this med but it should subside as your body gets used to it. You might also experience headaches and hair loss. It's very important to have your blood drawn frequently while on this med; did they set you up on a blood draw schedule?
Posted 1/18/2012 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
I take it in the morning with prednisone and ranitidine. I take warfarin at night and my GI said that he had one patient who would take imuran and warfarin at the same time and it affected their INR. I did also schedule a time to get blood drawn in 2.5 weeks. Is hair loss experienced when taking this drug long term?? Not looking forward to that side effect
Posted 1/18/2012 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
I've never noticedd any hair loss from it. I had a lot of hair loss when I started Asacol.
Posted 1/18/2012 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
Not everyone will experience the same side effects but normally it's short term; just until your body gets used to the drug.
Posted 1/20/2012 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
Like you, started Imuran about a month ago, to allow me to taper off of pred. I take it about 3 hours before bed - it doesn't upset my stomach, but I've noticed I'm super tired lately. Hoping that will pass eventually too. I had some hair loss the first couple of weeks, but it seems to have tapered off. Good luck - hope you have minimal side effects.
Posted 1/20/2012 10:07 AM (GMT 0)
Imuran made me nauseas too but found ginger ale (made with real ginger not flavoring) or ginger tea helped settle it. I still suffer nausea occasionally. I have been on Imuran for around 18 months now with some issues (low wcc, B12 levels and slight aenemia). Suffered hair loss for first 6 months but when my dose halved (to 100mg) my hair started to grow back. Only other thing I still seem to have is mild dermatitis on my hands but not sure if it's Imuran related although I never suffered previously with it.
All said and done, i have been in remission now for 5 months! As Red_34 said, everyone experiences the meds differently. Good luck!
Posted 1/20/2012 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Imuran for about 16 months with no side effects at all. It is going to be difficult to know whether the side effects you are experiencing are from the pred taper or from Imuran until you are completely off the pred. I was on pred a few times before Imuran and it made me nauseous sometimes and it ALWAYS caused reflux for me. I also sometimes had headaches on pred - especially as I started to taper off.

So - anytime you are on more than one medication it is going to be difficult to know if the combination of the medications are causing side effects or if one medicine alone is causing them... Also, fatigue, hair loss and other things can be results of the disease and not the drugs so it is always a guessing game to some extent to determine the cause of the symptoms.

Just from my personal experience I would not say there are any short or long term side effects you should expect from Imuran but you should always be aware of the possibilities so you can discuss any adverse reactions with your doctors. Also remember that pred can have devastating long term side effects so (again my opinion) I would try to use it as infrequently as possible.

Imuran has been a life changer for me and I wish you luck!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply