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6mp: take with food ok?

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Posted 9/1/2014 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on 6mp for 3 months now. I have also been on Uceris and pred enemas for te same length of time.

Im not sure if the 6mp is working yet. And im worried now that i haven't been taking it correctly. I take it immediately before dinner. However i have read that you have to take it 1 hr before food!!!

Veterans and others here on 6mp: how do you take yours? Do you think it's possible that it has had no effect on my white cell count given the way i have been taking it??

I have my next blood test this week and seeing the GI next week. But i want to know if ive been doing it wrong this whole time :(
Posted 9/2/2014 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
I have never been very picky about when I take my 6mp. I usually take it later in the evening, around 5 or 6. I wasn't directed to take it any particular time in relation to food. I had good luck with it for a while but now I am not sure it's doing anything. Really the best way to find out how you're doing on it is the blood test that checks where you are in the therapeutic range, it sounds like you're getting that test done next week. I doubt you've caused any ill effects on the medication's functioning. I never paid attention to time and I saw the changes in my blood work. Have you had regular CBCs? Those should give some indication of how things are going.
Posted 9/2/2014 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
I've never heard anything that specific about taking 6MP. I took mine at bedtime to minimise the nausea, which a lot of people do. But I don't think it matters if you take it with food: in fact I've heard of some people doing that as well (again to minimise the nausea that can come with it).

At the 3-month mark it should be starting to kick in by now, tbh. But give it another month to be sure: it can take up to 4 months.
Posted 9/2/2014 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
Ok that's re-assuring. Any others on 6mp? how do you take it?

@NCOT: yeh im trying to stop myself from freaking out and keep telling myself it can take up to 6months for it to kick in. But yeh....im just tired of fighting this battle. I should change my username to "conquered by uc".
Posted 9/2/2014 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
i take my imuran with dinner every night but did the same with 6mp as well. been on it since 2011.
Posted 9/2/2014 7:47 AM (GMT 0)
in the morning after breakfast to avoid nausea (nausea sets in anyway but diminishes in a couple of months), also it takes months to kick in and the dosage depends on weight as you might be adjusting the dosage accordingly.
Posted 9/2/2014 10:18 AM (GMT 0)
I take it with or without food I don't really notice a difference. I take imuran though I don't think it's too different from 6mp because it metabolized into 6mp.
Posted 9/2/2014 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
Unless it is causing you nausea, the timing doesn't matter. If it is causing you nausea, then you could take it before bed or with food, see what works.
I take mine first thing in the morning, haven't had any side effects. And my bloods have all been fine too.
So far so good.
Posted 9/19/2014 10:18 AM (GMT 0)
Update: i've been tapering the enemas and the UCeris for 2-3 weeks now. And low and behold: today i saw blood. I have been noticing mucous the past few days but i ignored it. Well, here we go. So the 6 MP (now in my 4th month) at 50mg just before dinner is Not working.
I'll now try to take it half an hour before food, or atleast 20 min before, just in case it is not getting absorbed properly. I think it is though...because i've been having very vivid dreams even on the day i don't take steroids. And trouble sleeping deeply and soundly if that makes sense. And i've read here that this is a side effect of 6mp in some people.

Also getting joint/bone pain.

I don't know....i'm feeling pretty defeated right now...
Posted 9/19/2014 11:25 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear about the blood; super discouraging for sure. First thought, 50mgs is a pretty low dosage of 6mp. I weigh 145 lbs and take 75mgs of 6mp a day, and I could take a max of 100mgs (dosed based on weight).

Second thought, 6mp might have failed (or not been enough) you. Biologics? I gave 6mp about 6 months then added remicade, which finally got me off of the pred.
Posted 9/19/2014 11:28 AM (GMT 0)
that sucks big time - sorry conq cry
Posted 9/19/2014 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
That does really suck. Sorry to hear that. I'm on 50 mg and it had kicked in by that time for me, even though I flared shortly after. Can you take more than 50 mg? That could help. 50 mg is about my limit because of the metabolizing issue.

I usually take mine on an empty stomach about 10AM
Posted 9/19/2014 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
Ugh, so sorry Conquer.
Posted 9/20/2014 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
I am so sorry you're not having better luck. I wonder if you can adjust the dose to get things where they need to be. 6mp, for me, was very difficult but luckily, after a lot of persistence, I was able to get into a good long remission. It ended recently but I am thankful for the time I got... I guess it depends on how bad the side effects are for you whether you want to keep trying with it.
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