I feel like a pusher for Imuran. I really don't feel that way. I just share my experience that I have gotten my UC under control and I give credit to the Imuran. I wish I didn't have to take it, in fact I wish I didn't have UC at all. That said it worked for me and hopefully it can work for you. I was scared to take it at first but my GI doc who I admire and respect has told me repeatedly that it is safe drug with a long track record. My GI doc works at one of the biggest teaching hospitals in the world and is on the cutting edge of medicine. The GI dept there has about
1500 active patients either on 6MP or Imuran for Chron's or Colitis and to his knowledge all are doing well on them. I really pressed him and asked what problems his patients have had with it and he really couldn't come up with any. He said it either works for them or it doesn't. If it does it works well and for a long time. A different GI doc has his daughter on Imuran for Chron's and she has been on it for 12 years and counting. If it's good enough for his daughter it's good enough for me. The dosage we take it at is very safe and the blood monitoring will keep a check on everything.
I take mine at night. One of the most common things it can make people feel at first is slightly tired. My doc specifically says to take it before sleep. I have taken it in the morning with no problem. People's bodies adjust to it and they do well.
125 mg is not a hefty dose at all. It's based on weight. For an average female 100 to 175 is very typical and for a male 150 to 250 mg is not uncommon. I started at 200 mg and then with the permission of my GI doc lowered it to 150 mg. It made no difference. The 200 dose got my UC under control and the 150 has kept me there. I have talked with him about lowering it even further. He basically said it's trial and error. We can lower it and if my UC comes back then up the dose. However it's considered a life long drug because UC is a chronic condition. There are isolated stories of people who have gone on it only to later get off of it but that is considered rare. I will try but to be honest I am enjoying the freedom of not thinking about my colitis at all.
I socially drink even though I take Imuran. In fact this last weekend was a drinking fest. I am still recovering. My blood tests including my liver function tests have never budges, always good. So yes, one can enjoy their life while on it. Everyone is different but that's my story.
Again I am not promoting this drug, it's a very personal choice. I wish I had been put on it sooner, I have no regrets. I have never been so busy than this last year. I used to avoid a lot due to my UC in the past but since Imuran put the smack down on my UC I have been allover the place eating anything and basically enjoying myself.
MyUC