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imuran and 5asa

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/15/2012 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All

I have to start Imuran and was surprised when the Doctor said I'm to keep taking my Mesalazine as well as take prednisone.
I thought I got to drop the 5asa when I started the Imuran. Is this usual?
I'm a bit bummed at all the pills I'm popping:(

paula
Posted 3/15/2012 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
imuran suppresses the immune system, 5asa (Asacol) works topically in the colon.
As far as I know, most people on imuran are also on Asacol.
Posted 3/15/2012 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, thanks! I feel like I'm 80 having to take 16 pills all at once!! Could be worse I guess...could be in the hospital hooked to an IV:)
Posted 3/15/2012 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
Imuran also takes a long time to start working, like months! I can't take Asacol so hoping imuran will work on its own. I am on pred. Right now waiting for the imuran to kick in.
Posted 3/15/2012 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, it definitely isn't fun waiting to see if something is going to work. Good luck to us both!!
Posted 3/15/2012 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Apriso and Imuran until the Imuran started to work. After about 8 weeks I was able to stop the Apriso. I have been on Imuran only for over a year now. Maybe you will be able to stop the other meds if the Imuran works for you.
Posted 3/15/2012 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck to you sobroken!

Glad to hear thatfield. I have been on imuran now for 5 weeks I think? I am at about 10mg of pred. and my symptoms are starting to return. Not sure what I should do at this point.

On a side note, our kids are about the same ages. My oldest will be 5 this summer, and my other just turned 2. It is has been quite the process of dealing with this disease while running around with those two.
Posted 3/15/2012 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
Paula, I wanted to stop Asacol when I started 6mp but everytime I try to decrease the dose beyond 7 asacol/day, I notice symptoms regardless of whether I am on 6mp. I was bummed that this was the case, I always figured I would be able to get off of some of the medication some day. it seems like I am always adding and never removing. I am also using rectal meds but no prednisone right now. When I was on prednisone, I was also on 6mp and Asacol. There was a brief period where I was on prednisone alone but only from about 40mg until 25mg, after that I needed to add the other drugs back into the routine.
Posted 3/15/2012 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
notsosicklygirl, wow! That is a lot of pills. I am at the maximum dose of 4 pills of Mezavant (and only once a day) it's a new drug.
I should only have to take 6 pills when I'm done the pred if everything goes well but he puts me on the minimum dose of the 5asa. {I'm trying to think positive:) }

Thatfield good for you! Hopefully you can be my roll model :)
Posted 3/15/2012 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
I should add that I don't take Asacol when in remission now that I'm on Imuran.
Asacol becomes less important when Imuran is working well.
Posted 3/16/2012 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Gottago,

It took me about 3 months for the Imuran to fully kick in. I started seeing some improvement between 6-8 weeks. I would probably try upping your pred for another week or so then trying to taper down again. I hope the Imuran works for you!

Yes, my daughter is 5 1/2 and my son is 19 months. Our kids are very close in age. I agree it is harder with kids and that is why I finally went on Imuran after Luke was born, I just decided I had to try a stronger medicine to get this under control so I could focus on being a healthy mom.

Best of luck to you and to sobroken!
Posted 3/16/2012 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
I take the 400mg pills. I believe there are 800mg and 1200mg as well. I also use 1g suppositories quite frequently. I hope I can taper off of some of these medications eventually.
Posted 3/16/2012 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
I am also on Imuran (tapering on at 50mgs), Prednisone (40mgs), Asacol HD (4800mgs), and mesalamine enemas. This is very standard while trying to get things into remission. Once symptoms die down, we will start the Prednisone taper and get rid of that one first. Then it is up to you and your doc on whether you want to stay on the Asacol. I believe it is pretty common to drop the Asacol once enough months pass without symptoms to convince everyone that you are solidly in remission, just using Imuran alone as your maintenance drug. However, as some others have commented - everyone responds differently to different drug combos, and you may end up needing both to keep things under control. You'll just have to listen to your body. Good luck!
Posted 3/16/2012 9:14 PM (GMT 0)

thatfield said...
Gottago,

It took me about 3 months for the Imuran to fully kick in. I started seeing some improvement between 6-8 weeks. I would probably try upping your pred for another week or so then trying to taper down again. I hope the Imuran works for you!

Yes, my daughter is 5 1/2 and my son is 19 months. Our kids are very close in age. I agree it is harder with kids and that is why I finally went on Imuran after Luke was born, I just decided I had to try a stronger medicine to get this under control so I could focus on being a healthy mom.

Best of luck to you and to sobroken!

I was thinking the same for the prednisone and for the same reasons, decided on the imuran. I hate being in the bathroom all the time with them and never feel like we can do much because of my UC. As much as I don't like prednisone,it has worked really well for me while on it. Hoping imuran does the same!
Posted 3/17/2012 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys!

I always get a kick out of the screen names ppl have but I must say Gottago! made me laugh:)
Posted 3/17/2012 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
I am happy I am able to take 2800 or 3200mg of Asacol a day. I was taking more prior to 6mp and I am hopeful to be able to taper down a bit more at some point. I feel like it's better to take the combo than to have UC symptoms. Maybe if I changed my diet, I'd be able to take less Asacol but I haven't noticed much positive change from diet and supplements in the past. I figure, if taking these medications allows me to eat and drink whatever I want, I am doing pretty well. If I could remove one drug from my regimine, I would want to get rid of 6mp more than Asacol. Unforutantely, it seems I need both to stay in remission. For now, I am okay with that. My advice is to take each day one at a time. If you need to continue Asacol for a while, that's okay. If you can stop it in a few months, GREAT. If not, that's okay too. Don't pressure yourself.
Posted 3/17/2012 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
notsosicklygirl: I'm not opposed to taking so many as much as taken aback. I have been lucky in my life not to have to take many things.
A tylonal here and there, an antibiotic. Now it feels like I'm keeping the drug store in business:) I also eat what I want when feeling well and had begun a training program to be able to run a 10k this summer (that's not looking so good. Maybe 5) So I am lucky that way.
Posted 3/17/2012 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
These message boards inspired me to write a blog about how I'm doing as a teacher on Imuran and prednisone while trying to maintain my fitness and athletecism. If you're interested in hearing about my journey, follow my story at ronnielee-fightingforit.blogspot.com.
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