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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/16/2013 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
I think I am going to stop taking my Imuran until my GI appointment on Friday. After being told at yesterday's visit to the ER that the only issue they saw was flaring and to go back on prednisone, I figure why take the Imuran if it isn't keeping me in remission. I took it Friday, but threw up 2hours later and immediately after swallowing it on Saturday, I threw whole pills up. I didn't take any yesterday because I was not a functioning individual. I must admit, my lower back has not hurt at all today.

I have not had any blood since last night, but I also have not eaten any food. Yesterday was liquid and fluids at ER. Today I drank soup. Wonder how long I would have to go without food for my colon to heal? Am I making a mistake stopping the Imuran? I am back on 40 mg of prednisone.
Posted 4/16/2013 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
When I first took 40mg of pred, I saw improvement over night. It was amazing. I was barely able to get to work because of constant trips to the bathroom one day and back to feeling capable and independent the next. I am not sure if you would see any impact from not taking the imuran for a few days. I doubt it would make a difference in your condition. Imuran stays in your blood for quite a while. You could request the test to see whether you're in the therapeutic range, and if so, are you high in the zone or at the bottom? does your bloodwork indicate inflammation? if you're at a good level with Imuran and your blood counts are normal, maybe it's not working so well for you. how long have you been on it?
Posted 4/16/2013 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
Imuran takes a while to kick in, and won't stop working very quickly either. If you're having trouble taking the Imuran, I'd ask your GI about anti-nausea meds. I'm on 6MP, and I was having nausea after I started using it; my doctor said that any OTC anti-nausea med would be fine to take, but also recommended I take it with food.

Well, I didn't start taking it with food, but I did drink a lot more water when I took it, which helped. After my flare calmed down considerably, the nausea almost disappeared.
Posted 4/16/2013 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
How long have you been on imuran? It can take months to kick in (as in 3 - 6).

My GI recommended taking the pill at night so I wasn't awake for the nausea. However, I just woke up in the middle of the night and threw up so that didn't work. I stopped taking it because of bad bloodwork.

Try some anti-nausa meds.
Posted 4/16/2013 9:26 AM (GMT 0)
I started with 75 mgs of Imuran in March 2012 with an increase to 150mg in June 2012, so it has been awhile. Like I have tried to explain lately to my hubby, parents and ER doc, I am not nauseous. Only when I go to the bathroom and start to pass a bm, I begin to dry heave and sometimes vomit. It could be morning or night, hours or minutes from my taking Imuran. I was like this with my very first flare too.
Posted 4/16/2013 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with stopping the Imuran. I'm amazed at all the people who continue taking it when it is obviously not working after giving it a few months. It is just too dangerous of a med to take when it doesn't even give someone much benefit.
Posted 4/16/2013 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I think you've given it enough time.

The bathroom situation is just not fun. You can't really predict the bathroom times and it's not like you want to stay doped up constantly.
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