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Imuran and sore throat/cough?

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Posted 5/21/2012 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Has anybody ever gotten a sore throat/cough after starting Imuran? I've been on it about a week and over the weekend got a sore throat and a little cough. I still have it today although the sore throat is a little better.

I told my doctor about it and he wants me to stop the Imuran and see if it goes away. If it does, he wants me to start the Imuran up again and see if it returns.  So frustrating!  I feel like I have to go backwards now and wait even longer for the Imuran to work (assuming I can end up even taking it).  I was hoping it would end up being a drug that would help me.

I'm just so dang dizzy and tired today with no appetite. I am on Prednisone too though so I always wonder if that is lowering the immune system and causing this or what. Does it seem normal to just stop the Imuran to see what happens?

Posted 5/21/2012 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
A week really isn't that long enough of a time for it to lower your immune system yet. That is why it can take a few months before it starts working. My thinking is that you may of been carrying a virus before it struck. And being on pred can lower your immune system already. Whenever I get sick, I have to go to the doctors or my GI has a cow. But I've never had to stop either the 6mp or the Remicade due to an illness.
Posted 5/21/2012 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
I did a quick search on the forums and it does seem like some people have had a reaction after a week or two on it, but it still seems odd.  I definitely am getting weaker as the day goes on though and have shortness of breath. Something definitely seems wrong. I suppose since it isn't even helping me yet, it can't hurt to stop it for a few days and see if anything changes.  I didn't get much sleep last night so I'm sure that isn't helping the situation either.  The burning pain by my heart (which could be heartburn) doesn't really give me a great feeling though.
Posted 5/22/2012 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
That does not seem like an average adverse reaction to Imuran - it sounds more like a cold. You carry a cold virus for several days before you get symptoms so you most likely were already infected before starting Imuran. The pred does also lower your immune system and can give you heartburn. I agree that there is no harm in stopping the Imuran for a few days and starting again but I would make sure you are over your symptoms completely before you start the Imuran again otherwise you will not know if it is a cold or the medication.

Did you start at 125mg? I started at 50 for 2 weeks and then worked up over time to 150. My doctor does that slow increase to make sure you can handle it.
Posted 5/22/2012 5:26 AM (GMT 0)
I'm on 6mp but yes that exact thing happened to me. Major sore throat and a little cough. I also go pink eye!! I have never had pink eye in my life and I rarely get sore throats. It lasted about a week and I even went and got tested for strep which was negative. I was very worried it had to do with the 6mp. I didn't even mention it to my GI, just my primary (integrative doc). She prescribed Nasonex to dry up my post nasal drip, a ton of buffered vitamin C and I think ecanachia. I didn't do the last one but I did the first 2. I also gargled with salt water. After over a week I feel much better now. I continued the 6mp. I wondered too if it was the Prednisone or the combo. Like you I am not sleeping either which makes me more prone too. My doc is big on buffered vitamin c to combat or prevent viruses. I hope you feel better soon and hopefully you are able to take the Imuran. I was shocked when I read your post thinking I had that exact thing!!! Good news is the pink eye and sore throat are gone. Take care!
Posted 5/22/2012 12:20 PM (GMT 0)
If you're looking to blame something, blame the Prednisone. It lowers your immune function way more than Imuran/6mp.
Posted 5/22/2012 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like you might be having an allergic reaction to it especially if it's causing shortness of breath. Definitely stop it and call your GI.
Posted 5/22/2012 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
It could be allergic reaction but having a dry cough sort of makes me have issues with breathing too. Did it feel like a reaction you've never had or the result of the sore throat/cough?

I hope it all works out for you
Posted 5/22/2012 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
I just spent four days in the hospital for a reaction to Imuran. As I was tapering off Pred and had been on Imuran for a couple months, I started getting shortness of breath (only symptom). Was diagnosed originally with pneumonia though that just never felt right. I had chest x-ray and ct-scan of chest and both showed signs of pneumonia. I finally went to the ER when I was sitting on the couch and breating heavily.

However my symptoms did not start till I was on 10 mg of Prednisone so hopefully you just have a pesky cold (which I am fighting now).

Good luck and keep an eye on the shortness of breath (breathing is a good thing)....

Posted 5/22/2012 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
Well doc said to stop the Imuran, stay on the 20mg of Prednisone, and call him Friday afternoon to see how I'm doing. I suspect then he'll decide if I go back on the Imuran (depending on how I'm feeling) and maybe up the Prednisone if I'm not feeling better. I have been seeing a little bit of blood in my stool now, although it comes and goes so hard to tell what is going on. I've got the pesky stabbing pain in my lower left groin/abdomen again too although my BMs are still 'normal' (not thin) like they were last time I had the pain.  Not sure if that pain is from some inflamation at the corner in the colon or what - I know the enemas can't really reach up that far.  I certainly sucks though.

I still have the sore throat and cough and its worse in the morning, I suspect it may be from the up and down weather lately.  Also I stopped allergy shots a few months ago (there is some suspicion those may have also put me into this flare) so I can tell they are slowly wearing off.  As far as the heart palpitations and shortness of breath - I know I had that when I was on Prednisone before (and not on Imuran yet) so I'm wondering if its just from being on the steroid for so long now.  It never really went away till I was off the steroid completely.

Guess I'll see what happens Friday.  At this point I don't even care what drug I am - I just want to get out of this flare!

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