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Questions about Imuran and Prednisone combo - starting tomorrow

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/14/2014 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
I am starting 100mg Imuran for the first time tomorrow in combination with Prednisone which Ive been on over a year ago.
Although I know everyone experiences Imuran differently, and the doctor warned me about possible side effects, are there any very common side effects almost everyone gets? I am pretty scared of what may happen. I am doing blood tests every five days.
The last time I was on Pred for over a month, plus tapering, I had the worst side effects. It was so bad I wanted to die. I got moon face. :( I was literally crazy during my therapy, screaming, crying, and having mood swings every 20 minutes. I also had these episodes when my brain would simply shut down for a few seconds. Several days into Pred, I woke up to find out that my body got covered in acne from the neck down overnight. It all resolved quickly after I finished my therapy, but is there any way to avoid or ease these terrible side effects?
Since Imuran lowers the immune system, I plan to maintain the hygiene in my apartment on the highest level possible, as I want to avoid any risk of infection. The problem is, I have a beautiful golden retriever which I love more than anything in the world. I know many of you must have pets, so could you please give me some advice how to minimize risk from infection from him, as he loves to roll in the dirt outside. Its the first thing he does when we take him out. Sending him away is out of the question, as he is one of the very few things that make me happy these days, and is very attached to me and my partner, and would suffer a lot if he was away from us.

Thank you, and wish me good luck... :(
Posted 1/15/2014 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
As far as the pet, I haven't done anything. He would be devastated if he ever had to leave his home. He's like my child so I could never in a million years get rid of him. I may have some type of infection at the moment and, who knows, it could've been from him. I doubt it though. I was around a lot of people through the holidays.

Imuran didn't work for me. I didn't take it long before I started Humira though. I was put on it only to get me through until my Humira arrived. I know that doesn't help much. Just become a clean FREAK and monitor your every symptom. Even if it's the most irrelevant symptom, tell your doctor.

The prednisone was a nightmare for me, as it sounds like it was for you. My hair is STILL falling out. LOL Not that it's funny, but I guess you just gotta laugh about some things.

I didn't provide a whole lot of useful info but I hope everything turns out well for you and keep your head up, as hard as it is some times. God bless!
Posted 1/15/2014 6:29 AM (GMT 0)
Leaving my dog is not an option. I would die of grieving if I had to, and so would he. Not being able to hug and kiss him anymore is bad enough for me. l also have left sided uc, but mine was mild at the beginning three years ago. Due to bad choice of doctors, and incomplete treatment, it progressed to this monster left sided colitis that hardened my sigmoid walls. l hope imuran works for me. l dont think l can handle much more. l am not anemic, but l am in so much pain l can barely have any physical activity. My crp is raging, and l am shaking with fever for weeks, despite my temperature being 98.8. l already bought stacks of cleaning and disinfecting products, and my home is practically sterile. l am so sorry you have hard time with pred. lf there's anyone out there who knows a way to soften the blow, please, please tell us. My face looked like a melon while l was on it last time, and yes, l had to take a picture for my id like that hahahahaha... l am so sick of pain, and depression, and everything, and l am so scared will this even work. Sorry for turning this into a whine fest, but l just burst into tears writing this. l am a complete mess. lts 7am over here, and l haven't slept all night. ln a couple of hours, l am taking my first imuran pill. Thank you for responding KentuckyGal88. l hope with all my heart you find relief as soon as possible, and l am so sorry everyone if l seem unstable writing this. l really dont think l am at the moment.
Posted 1/15/2014 9:45 AM (GMT 0)
My advice is concentrate on the uc symptoms and bad health side effect. although having moon face is no fun (trust me I know!) it is not the worst thing as if imuran kicks in pred will come down and moon face will start to go.

Secondly make sure you are on pred for at least 3 months or more while on Imuran as if it works for you can take 3 - 6 months to kick in. the best way to do this is drop by 5mg a week till you hit 10mg. Then get enough 1mg tablets to drop by 1 mg a week there after rather then stay on high doses if possible.

Good luck
Posted 1/15/2014 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
I think you are a little confused about what you need to do while on an imunosuppressant. What you need to do is be more vigilant if you suspect you have an infection: see a doctor right away rather than wait it out, since you have a surpressed immune system. Many us on immunosuppressants have puppies, not a problem, snuggling puppies is a good medication even if they roll in dirt in the yard. It helps to use hand sanitizer to reduce the risk of the cold or flu. If you get the cold or flu it might last a little longer than if you weren't on it. You don't have to become a complete germophobe on uc dosages of immunosuppressive meds as you still have an immune system that works, it is maybe working at 85% of its capability is all. I recommend relaxing about it.
Posted 1/15/2014 12:17 PM (GMT 0)
Not that many things can be transmitted from dogs to people. Hug, kiss and pet as much as you want. Just wash your hands before you eat, rub your eyes, etc.

I basically act like someone in the house has a cold at all times - wash my hands, don't share cups, wipe down door handles and light switches. I don't seem to catch more things, but they tend to linger longer now when I do get them.
Posted 1/15/2014 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
Funny timing on this post. I went to my GI yesterday and am slated to start 40mg Pred and Imuran 50mg today.

I just decided I'm going to delay it two weeks though- I'm trying a gluten-free/Paleo diet first. I think this is a possibility and if I don't try it now I'll likely never get the chance again. (If Pred knocks me into remission and Imuran keeps it there, I would never just stop the Imuran to try gluten-free)

Post Edited (HL_WI) : 1/15/2014 6:02:10 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/15/2014 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
Pred is the only uc med that gives everyone side effects, and it is meant for only short term use. Imuran isn't going to give you side effects like pred does, so no worries. What might happen is you feel better and I wouldn't exactly call that a side effect. Just hang in there it will take a couple months to build up to therapeutic levels in your body. Your dr might increase the dosage of your imuran after a few blood tests. Good luck.
Posted 1/15/2014 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
I have a dog and cat and have done nothing differently with them since starting Imuran.  I also have an 11 month old in daycare and visit him daily on my lunch hour - the other kids are always crawling all over me and I've been OK and haven't caught any colds or anything else, I just wash my hands a lot more.

My GI said the most common side effects from Imuran are abdominal pain, joint pain, nausea.  He said it's extreme so you will know it if you have it, usually within the first few days after starting it.  I have not had any side effects from the Imuran. (Pred is a different story.)  I think the Imuran is starting to kick in for me because the last three days I have noticed more formed BM's, yahoo! 

  

 

Posted 1/16/2014 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
The dogs not gonna give you an infection or anything. Play with him//her as usual. Many of us have been on Pred/Imuran and biologicals and been just fine around our pets etc. It's just that it;s the first time is all for you.

I think the tendency is to worry at first cause well, in a way it seem scary suppressing your immune system. I did for the first year then I was like what the heck... why am I fussing.

I work a lot with my hands, cut them, get them dirty, come in contact with a lot of people each day, have a cat that plays rough.. and sleeps with me (unfortunately lol)..

Never had any issue. Just once I had a terrible cold that took a while to shake. That's it.

Sometimes I use hand sanitizer if I'm say at the gas station and I pump gas or at the grocery store etc but I tend not to these days as much. I do it more just cause I want to avoid getting a cold or the flu as best as possible as it does take a bit longer to recover so I miss work.

I would however avoid people if you know they have a cold or are just getting sick or getting over being sick. This I do with my relatives. If they want to come over I just say hey - are you sick? haha... if so come another day when you're feeling better.
Posted 1/17/2014 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much guys for all your responses. Its really encouraging to hear its not that bad. The most ridiculous hing happened in the meantime. The day I was supposed to take Imuran for the first time, I got a fever, which turned out to be the beginning of a flue. Now I have to wait until it resolves... Somebody up there has a really cynical sense of humor. :)
Posted 1/18/2014 7:35 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry, that sucks...

I took my first dose of both today with zero side effects. I've heard that (rarely), some people get nauseous when they take Imuran for the first few days. So I took it right before bed just to be safe.
Posted 1/18/2014 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
HL_WI, I wish you the best of luck with your therapy. Obviously, Imuran's side effects are not that bad at all for most of the people. Now that other members of this board explained that to me, I am not that scared of it. It's the Prednisone that everybody hates. I wish you the best of luck with it, and hope you have minimal trouble taking it.
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