Starting imuran tonight...

I'm on 6MP (similar to Imuran). I haven't had any side effects. It has taken several months to start working, though.

I can't guarantee that you won't get sick overnight, but it shouldn't give you side effects that severely that quickly.

I am not in remission. I got too sick for mesalamine to work (sad day for me), and so I was put on Remicade and 6MP at the same time. In between Remicade doses, I'd get sicker again, to the point where my doc had to up the dosage and frequency recently.

But in between my last two doses (6 weeks) I started to improve after we upped my 6MP to 75mg from 50mg. Not enough that I would have been okay waiting longer on the Remi, or okay with the original dose of Remi. But enough that I could go to work and not ALWAYS need to run to the bathroom as soon as I had some urgency.

So, hasn't gotten me into remission (nothing has with this flare ever since my insurance fiasco last summer), but it's helping a lot.

I'm on Imuran (150 mg) at this time and I'm symptom free. I don't dare to say remission because I know 100% I will flare again if I don't take my meds regularly.

Side effects: I've got thrush (not sure if it's connected to Imuran) and I have nausea all the time.

I have been on 6mp (which is very similar to your Imuran, just metabolized a little differently in the body) since Jan of this year. I was given 6mp and pred to combat a nasty uc flare and I am finally on the tail end of that flare. I got through flu and cold season on 6mp without getting sick even with people hacking and wheezing all around me at work. I have had no side effects from the 6mp whatsoever. I've never known remission, present included, but my symptoms aren't terrible. My GI started me on a lower dose of 6mp, and then boosted me to a higher dosage which seems to be working much better (most GI's will start you at a lower dose and up that dose if needed).

Just know that 6mp/Imuran can take a long time to reach its full effect, beyond the 1-2 month figure many here cite. I started 6mp at the end of Jan and it just know seems to be reaching its full effect. I've been on pred a long time (5 months) waiting for 6mp to fully gear up. I don't think my results are typical, all of the uc meds seem to work very slowly on me.

You can take your Imuran before bed, if you are worried about the possibility of nausea (some, but not all people, feel nausea within a few hours of taking Imuran/6mp) -- it doesn't cause me nausea.

I had hoped Imuran was my remission drug, but after being on 150mgs for several months and finally getting off Pred, I started having problems. Each morning I would wake with low back pain. It usually went away by lunchtime as i moved around. After a few weeks of that, fatigue kicked in, then full flare. I quit the Imuran when I threw them up 2nights in a row. By the 3or 4 day, back pain gone, but ER visit for flare.

Take the Imuran, but listen to your body! If anything weird starts, tell your doc immediately! Hope it works for you!

I have been on Imuran for 17 years. Initially at 100 mg now at 50 which seems to help with remission.....at higher doses I got weird skin infections....and when I get sick, I am sick longer than someone who is not immunocompromised. Really that is the only side effect I have noticed. I love how the instructions tell you not to pick your nose unless you thoroughly wash your hands first, and to "stay away from sick people"
You should have cbc done very 3 months..at a higher dose my liver enzymes got a little borked out. Having been on the evil prednisone, the side effects from that are far, far worse IMHO

well, exhaustion came from being anemic due to constant GI bleeding. Even 5 mg prednisone gave me terrible insomnia, and that contributes as well. THings get better.....I was in that real of chronic pain, bloating etc After reading the FT thread I think that might be hopeful....
I am now on 50mg Imuran and was on asacol but got switched to apriso because the delzicol was a $210 copay. Something magical happened a year ago and I was totally symptom free and colon looked totally normal, then had colonoscopy and got little flare again. I swear it is not a good idea to have the horrible prep done as think it just upsets the microbial flora you have and makes you worse.
I do probiotics but I make yougurt with it so that I am getting way more organisms in there and also have done probiotic enemas..culturelle, reuteri and have used stonyfield yogurt as well. Like many others really think (for SOME with IBD) microbial flora adjustment is key to this disease.
BTW, indiegogo had an offer to sequence one's microbiome (the uBiome project) and soon I will get my kit and have my gut bugs identified and compared to others with IBD and normal folks. That will be interesting! -you can google it-

I've been on Imuran for 6 months and it is definitely helping. I am not in full remission, but some days I am close. I find that when I get lazy with my rectal meds, symptoms return. I am still getting my blood work done every 2 weeks so the doctor can get the right dose. Right now I'm on 150 mg one day and 175 the next.

I have been very vigilant about germs. I don't shake hands at Mass, I don't touch public door knobs and I wash my hands a lot. So far, I haven't gotten sick. In fact, it was the healthiest winter I've had in years. I, too, was tired when I went on it, but I think it was because I was weaning off the pred and because the disease was so active. I hope this helps. Feel well.

Hi Machina,
I had some joint pain (especially in my fingers) for a few weeks when I started the Imuran. It's now gone. Also, I gained 20 lbs on pred (and I was overweight to begin with). Over the past 2 months, I have limited my calories to 1200 a day and added more varied exercise. I've lost 16 lbs! So, it's an interesting question about energy levels. When I start a new exercise ( I had been only spinning and doing elliptical before), I can get more tired. I've now added pilates and strength training. It tires me out, but in a good way. I think that's normal when you're using muscles you haven't used in a while (or perhaps ever in my case!). The exercise has made me feel better. Not only losing weight, but being more fit.
My normalcy of life is pretty good. The first few hours after I wake up I often have 2 crampy BMs. If I use my suppositories or enemas, I tend to not have blood. Last night I went out for a margarita and I started cramping when I got home. So, I guess I'm not "totally back to normal", but I am living more, doing more.
Don't be down about summer! You will start to feel better and enjoy the weather. When I was complaining to my husband the other day that I was not in full remission after being on Imuran for 6 months, he responded that he thought I was doing much better. And that was good to remember. The Imuran is helping. I am not stuck at home anymore. I sleep through the night and I am feeling better. Not perfect, but better. You will too!

Oh and one more question for anybody. I know pred kills libido but what about imuran?