Has anyone had to stop Imuran because it caused your white blood cell count to plummet?

     My doctor had me on 75 mgm of 6MP.  My white count went down to 2.4.  My red count is normal.  Being a former laboratory technician, I certainly didn't like that low of a white count.  I was not afraid of lymphoma, I was afraid of contracting an illness for which I wouldn't be able to fight off with that low of a white count.  Your white cells contain the antibodies to fight foreign bacteria in your system.  My GI doctor was not concerned at this low of a white count.  He said as long as I was in remission, the 6MP was doing its job.  Well, I lowered my dosage myself, not drastically, but I take 50 mgm one day and 25 the next.  I started doing this back in December and I am still in remission.  I get monthly CBC's.  My white count inched up to 2.9, not great, but better.  I see my GI doctor every three months.  My next scheduled appointment is June 7th.  My next blood test will consist of CBC, liver enzyme levels, and Amylase and Lipase.  I added the Amylase and Lipase myself because they are tests for pancreatic enzyme levels.  When I was hospitalized last year, those tests were extremely high.  My GI doctor took me off the 6MP while I was in the hospital because he thought the 6MP had affected my pancreas.  By the time I was discharged (ten days later) my enzyme levels had returned to normal.  Following my hospitalization, I was unable to get off the prednisone.   As soon as I finished the taper, within two weeks I was in a flare and had to go back to prednisone.  The doctor placed me back on the 6MP at the end of July with careful monitoring.  I was able to achieve remission and have been off prednisone since Nov 1st.  By the way.  I started taking 6MP over five years ago.  My previous dose had been 50 mgm and my white count was always 3.5.

Thanks for the info. So you both went back on the med/s (6MP or Imuran) that caused the white blood cells to decrease? I'm more than a little freaked to ever go on it again after all the fuss that was made about all this. I also want to have another baby soon too, but that is a whole other story. I know my TMPT, or whatever the acronym for the liver enzymes are that are measured when you are on Imuran were always on the low side, so I was never on more than 75mg. Luckily, I never got any kind of infection or anything, which is even more remarkable as I have a 2 year old who I'm sure is bringing in all sorts of fun germs into the house. I remember noticing simple cuts turning into infections and taking forever to heal when I was on Imuran. Christine, I have totally been there with the prednisone...the imuran was what helped me finally get off the pred, at least one of the times I was on it.