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Azaphoprine causes Liver Damage

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Ulcerative Colitis
Azaphoprine - liver damage
Portal Hypertension - 0.0% - 0 votes
Enlarged spleen - 0.0% - 0 votes
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Posted 3/20/2023 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I’ve been on azaphoprine for 10 years for UC. My stomach has been fine and I’ve felt well. However, recently my GP noticed my blood platelets were dropping!

Anyway, long story short, it turns out the azaphoprine has probably caused portal hypertension and my spleen is enlarged too. I’m having a blood test tomorrow for blood clotting and will need a liver biopsy and camera down my throat to check how much damage the azaphoprine has caused!!! sad

Frustrating as my bowel fine on it, where other medications haven’t worked (Octasa, Sudulak granules). I have now been prescribed steroids Cortiment which work but I hope they find a strong medication to help
My stomach too!!

I can’t believe how much potential damage the azaphoprine has done- it’s one thing after another.
Posted 3/20/2023 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
You posted about these issues a month ago & stated then you would be having some tests this month. Good luck with your testing.

Let us know when you get your results back.
Posted 3/20/2023 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
Oh wow! I'm sorry you are going thru this. It's good that you are posting about it so that you can give others a "heads up".

I hope you find your answers and that the damage isn't too bad.

Is there any chance that your body can heal some of the damage?

Clo
Posted 3/21/2023 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on 6mp for almost 10 years and it did keep me in remission and my regular blood work always came fine. But since 2021, I started seeing blood. It was little and just one stool so I kept going without colonoscopy due to Covid. But in 2022 June I had colonoscopy with my new GI(old one retired) and he saw some colities in left side. He just called in new prescription of 6mp increasing it from 75 mg to 100 mg with out discussing with me. I did take 100 mg for few days and then I remember my old GI told me that if 75 mg doesn't work, we have to think about biologics because he can't go further as I had enough medicine in my system. So I called my new GI and I told him that my old GI did some blood test every time he increase dose. So now my new GI orders blood test and THIOPURINE METABOLITES and my 6TG is 350 which is fine but 6MMP is 18647 which it way too high . So now way, he can increase 6mp.
Anyway then we spoke about all biologic options and going to start entyvio soon. I really don't trust my new
GI. He may be good for other conditions but don't have in depth knowledge of IBD. Thankfully my liver functions were all good during 10 year.
Hope everything works out for you but sometime, I think change in treatment is good.
Posted 3/21/2023 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
I'm very sorry to hear about this.

Question - are you talking about Azathioprine? I can't find anything on a drug called "Azaphoprine" ... and as I am on Azathioprine, just want to understand what we're talking about here.

Thanks,
DeWayne
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