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Stopped azathioprine cold turkey last nite

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Posted 7/29/2011 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
After 5 years on 150mg aza my GI said it's time to can it. It's not really been that effective after the first 18 months anyway. (it's caused me skin issues as well) I've just gotten off a tapering session of pred and now (barely) 'controlling' my symptoms with cortifoam every other night. This alone however is obviously not enough, so we are contemplating Remicade. I have to get a chest x-ray and then get a TB skin test off my GP to clear the way for Remicade.

They say azathioprine can take 2 months or so to exit your system, I'm wondering just what to expect when I'm aza-free. Has anyone on here done this and relapsed into a serious or major flare? I'm kinda worried about that.

Any feed-back will be appreciated.
Posted 7/29/2011 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Mackster, I haven't stopped for a long period of time but I was off for a month or two due to dropping WBC. I didn't have any major flare ups in that time. I am in a similar situation to what you describe, 6mp doesn't seem to work well for me like it does for so many others. I was barely able to taper off pred using it for maintenence and I am still on Asacol and using rectal meds. I am at the point where I am not completely convinced that 6mp is helping me but I am too nervous to stop taking it so I've continued to take it. Were you in the theraputic range? Are you taking 5ASAs? I was supposed to start Remicade a few weeks ago but my UC stopped acting up. Not sure what happened but I don't see a reason to start a new medication when I am feeling stable. I am worried things will go back to being out of control but I will have to be patient and hope for the best. I Hope you do well without Imuran.
Posted 7/29/2011 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
Mackster

Have you tried mesalamine enemas? I don't see your sig. and can't remember. Proven effective unless you are sensitive to mesalamine.
Posted 7/29/2011 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Not much help but agree with the skin issues, on aza I started getting face acne. But came off and it went away. Now on 6-mp and coping fairly well.
Posted 7/29/2011 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the feedback. I suppose like just about everything about UC, it will do whatever the **** it wants to. It seems to be subtly different for everybody, so sadly there's no 'one size fits all'.
The 5asa's are out of the question for me as I react very badly to them unfortunately.
It looks like it may be remicade for me in a few months. I don't know what to make of all the horror stories though, I can only hope they are extreme exceptions to the rule. I'd better start reading up on the remi side effects.
-----Or should I?
I tried to enter my sig. but it don't show for some reason, maybe somebody can shine some light on it?
Posted 7/29/2011 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
I read thru some book and signed a paper that put me in the trials for remicade and another drug called cylcosporin or something. GI is giving me one more bash to try knock this on the head with high dose 6-mp and mesalazine... in a hope it will stop flaring up.
Posted 7/29/2011 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
The signature doesn't update instantly. Did you put the info in your profile?
Posted 7/29/2011 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
notsosicklygirl, I've copied and pasted it with this post. I doubt it'll stay there though in future posts. Is there a special trick to enter the info in my profile?

68m
Meds:
150mg azathioprine-stopped jul28-11
Cortifoam every other night.
.05mg Lorazapan occasionaly to help sleep

Supplements:
half tsp turmeric powder in tbsp olive oil am
2800mg vit D daily
800mg calcium daily
Slip. elm and milk thistle
Tried vsl3-no help
Posted 7/29/2011 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
There shouldn't be any trick. I updated mine the other day and the changes didn't show up right away but a few hours later, they were there. If it doesn't appear soon, I will alert the admin and see what is going on.
Posted 7/29/2011 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, I believe a sig helps to negate a lot of needless questions, thus saving a lot of text.
Posted 7/30/2011 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
Are you allergic to sulfas? If my aza ever stops working I might ask about trying them. It's an option. I think maybe a lot of GIs don't use it as a first option because it's older. But it seems like it works for some.
Posted 7/30/2011 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
Elephantpipe, I believe it's the ASA like what's in aspirin that gives me trouble, like stomach bleeding etc. I don't know if I'm allergic to sulfas but if they contain ASA they will be no good.
Posted 7/31/2011 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
Mackster, have you been clicking the box under your reply that says " Include signature"? If you check it once, it should stay checked in the future.
Posted 7/31/2011 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Mackster,

Sorry you at this point, and I understand your reluctance.

Have you given any thought to trying LDN?

Posted 7/31/2011 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Nssg, doh! thanks for steering me to the 'include sig' box!

Insofla, I will run this past my GI before we go rushing into Remi, it sounds promising and probably worth a shot.
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