Should I give up hope - 14 weeks and no results

I started it in April and I want to say it was Aug/Sept before I felt the full effects. I was on pred. at the same time as well ending in mid-August. What's your doc say? I'm sorry you are having a tough time.

I did get up to 150mg. I was on it a few weeks and my promethus tests and labs showed it was way too high of a dose so I cut back to 100mg. Has there been any talk of upping the pred until the imuran kicks in? How many colazal are you taking?

Hi porclein -- my husband started on the aza mid May. He has improved somewhat but not in remission. He is on 75 mg and his recent prometheus test results pleased his GI and she is keeping him at the 75mg. We have an appt with the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville soon and it will be interesting to see if they agree on the 75 mg dosage or not. Maybe a higher dose will help bring a remission sooner? I remember hearing it takes 3-6 months or maybe longer. He is currently tapering on the prednisone down from 40mg to 17 1/2 mg. Not sure what will happen when we get to 10 and lower as the really low doses and discontinuance is when he got into real problems but was not on the aza then. Plus he still needs the daily regimine of pain meds to allow him to be functional which concerns me. Without them he would be miserable and probably not get out of bed.

We helped to host a 60th party on Sunday - not a very good day for him - he was uncomfortable. In addition to the normal daily pain meds he needed additional pain meds in the afternoon and at night. Monday he woke up and had an unbelievable normal day all day and last night we had two couples over for cards. Almost no discomfort whatsoever...go figure. It was like a "normal" day when he never had UC and his mood and personality was top notch. (Our friends and myself really enjoyed seeing his "old self" back even if it was temporary.)

Today was just ok - had an eye appt - we had to do a few errands - but he had some discomfort and came home and rested the remainder of the day. I don't know how many are on this kind of see saw and it is somewhat discouraging. But you have to take each day as it comes....I hope they will get better for you soon.

Yes he is always tired and his energy level is so low. If your Dr hasn't had the prometheus test done yet maybe that will be a good idea to evaluate your dosage??

Good luck with the new job - hope it goes well for you.

I've been on it for about five years. It's been a very good drug for me.

You do need to give it time. In the interim, maybe a bump in your pred, until it kicks in and starts working, is the best course.

Good luck!
Mitz