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How many have taken Imuran and it put them into Remission?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/13/2012 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
How many have taken Imuran and it put them into Remission? JW if people can chime and say it was IMURAN that put them into remission without a shadow of a doubt and they like the drug. I'm on the fence still about getting on it. I'm going on vacation in three months, I want to try to achieve remission before I go.

 

Posted 9/13/2012 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter was allergic to it, and 6mp have made her liver toxic so I can't offer a success story (although it was working - as it built up in her system her ESR was 1 ! for the first time since dx). I fought against this drug for a long time and I understand your fear, but I was worried because she is a child. If it were me and I could tolerate the drug, I would take it without question. I don't know how bad your UC is but it seems like you've not had remission in years? If that's the case, Imuran might give you a great QOL.
Posted 9/13/2012 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Imuran for 7 years. It definitely put me in remission for a good 3 years. If I recall it took a couple of months to kick in for me. Unfortunately it just recently stopped working. However while it did I had no bad side effects.
Posted 9/13/2012 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
I was prednisone dependent for ages and then prescribed Imuran w/all my other myriad medications. It only worked for ~3 months before I started having issues with mucous and gas again. I stayed on it for at least a year and felt like it had a minimal effect for something so toxic (esp. b/c I have to take it w/ allopurinol).

However, to quote G.O.B. Bluth, I've made a huge mistake. I decided to stop the Imuran with out my G.I.'s knowledge in June. My rationale was, "Why take something so toxic when I don't know what contribution (above and beyond the other meds I'm on) it's making to controlling by illness?" This past month, I started bleeding quite badly through my meds, and have liquid BMs despite being on SCD and eating proteins and fats almost exclusively. I think that my disease has progressed higher in the colon by my foolishly discontinuing Imuran. So despite the fact that it seemed to make little difference to my disease progression, it actually made a big unseen impact. If it is the next pharmaceutical option for you, I would recommend it based on my (albeit mixed) experience.
Posted 9/13/2012 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Just don't forget that it can take months to work, it is toxic, and it also can have very unpleasant side efffects other than just being toxic. You really have to weigh the pros and cons.
Posted 9/13/2012 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
therearemiracles, how is everything going diet wise? Were you giving the SCD/paleo diet a shot?
Posted 9/13/2012 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
It put me in remission for about 2.5 years without side affects. 
Posted 9/14/2012 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
I can't say I am in remission, but I can say it has made a huge difference to me. Currently I am tapering from prednisone so that is why I don't claim to be in remission. Imuran gave me formed bms for the first time in almost a year. My dose started a little low (75mg) plus I went completely off diet with my first taper. This time I am on 150mg Imuran and tapering really slowly. I feel great and am eating "bad" stuff in moderation.
Posted 9/14/2012 5:34 AM (GMT 0)
I am pretty sure 6mp has gotten me to where I am. I was able to taper down to 2400mg of mesalamine and I use my rectals as needed. It's pretty easy taking 1 imuran and 2 mesalamine each day. I used to take 12 Asacol, 1.5 6mp, use an enema, a suppository and take supplements. For a while I was also on Allopurinol and prednisone, and on top of that, for a period of time I was taking some anitbiotics, an antidepressant and medication for my pimples. I felt like I was swallowing 30 pills a day so 3 is a big improvement. I've also been in a long stable remission since about a year ago. Hopefully it lasts a long time!!
Posted 9/14/2012 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
whats the difference between 6mp and imuran, looks like 6mp is taken in smaller doses? Please share and Thank you!
Posted 9/17/2012 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on imuran for about 8 months. It finally started to kick in at about 6 months and i was finally able to get off the prednisone that I had been on for 8 months prior. I am at a dose of 200mg. I am by no means perfect: still blood, urgency, etc... But soooo much better than I was! I am going to be starting remicade next week.

My understanding is 6mp and imuran are very similar. Imuran is converted into 6mp. Why take one over the other? No idea.

Good luck with your decision.
Posted 9/17/2012 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
I'm pretty sure that they are the same in essence the only difference is how well your liver can metabolize the drug,if you can do that well with no probs you get on Azathioprine/Imuran if your liver cannot do that so efficently you get the 6mp (its done for you).
I believe the dose of the drug is theraputic ie how well its working and also relates to body weight thats why they always should weigh you to make sure you don,t exceed the dose for your weight.
most adults are on 1050mg /200mg at most Imuran.
I was on it 5 years no real problems or side effects definately helped me achieve and maintain remission and the times I that I flared while on Imuran were much less severe episodes that I managed at home.
Personally I found taking Pred a lot more worrying.
Also if you have a bad reaction or can't tolerate it I think you know pretty quickly so can just stop it straight away.
Take care Anna
Posted 9/17/2012 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
Azathioprine has been a lifesaver for me, it brought me from a miserable point where I was constantly in some degree of a flare, to a point where I feel good 95% of the time, but I still get a flare every 1-2 years.

However in the last few months I've had side effects of other illnesses probably caused by having my immune system being weakened by Azathioprine. I have broken out in shingles (at 29 years old) and had strange infections. Still better than a constant flare, though.

Post Edited (UCinGV) : 9/17/2012 9:52:19 AM (GMT-6)

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