HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Imuran to Anti-TNF. I HATE IMURAN!!

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/23/2014 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone!

First and foremost I hope that all of you are feeling well, this is such a tricky disease isn’t it?

As for me, I have a question about switching from Imuran to an Anti- TNF. I have been on Imuran for a little over a year, with success of remission with one flare. With that said, since I have been on Imuran I have experienced some awful side effects, such as asthma returning from when I was a kid, weakness, dizziness, sever anxiety, rosacea…. literally I just feel like a different person, anyone else experience that? So, not because of the side effects but because of the last flare I experienced my doctor wants to start me on Anti-TNF monthly shots. I want to do this because I really hate Imuran and terrified by it. However, is the Anti- TNF really that better? Less side effects? Will it help my symptoms better? I have to mention that I’m allergic to the first class of drugs, masalamean so that’s out the door.

I appreciate your thoughts and help.

Much love to you all.
Posted 2/23/2014 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
Everyone's different so it's difficult to have comparisons. Are they talking about Humira?
Posted 2/23/2014 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think they are talking about Humira. I see my doctor tomorrow. But last visit she mentioned the monthly shots. I just seriously want to get off Imuran, but nervous INF will be worse. Though I heard it has way less side effects then Imuran
Posted 2/24/2014 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
how much Imuran are you on? I did read once that ~10% population experiences toxicity using Imuran. I have been on Imuran for 17 years, as high as 150 mg but now on only 50 mg, which is really a bit low as typical dose is 2mg/kg body weight. Maybe you need to be on a lower dose. I hope you are getting your bloodwork done (including liver tests) while you are on this. I have no experience with anti-TNF, sorry. Good luck!
Posted 2/24/2014 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
I am on Remi and Imuran. If you are experiencing issues w/ Imuran, talk w/ your GI about coming off of it. However, if it was keeping you in remission, I would think twice about coming off of it. Work with your GI and listen to what he says.

Best of luck with this awful, awful disease.
Posted 2/25/2014 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
There are several anti-TNFalpha drugs available, so you should find out which one is being recommended.

They're kind of scary--they're actual proteins (not your typical chemical drug) that work by binding to TNFalpha, which is a pro-inflammatory protein your body produces during the immune response. When TNFalpha is bound, it's basically taken out of circulation; it can't function and cause inflammation.

A lot of people here have experienced success with Remicade or Humira, two of the most well-known and widely used anti-TNFalpha medications for UC. Side effects are pretty serious but very rare. Some folks here HAVE experienced side effects; they're not impossible. But they're not like prednisone, which has severe side effects that are incredibly common.

Best of luck. I've been on Remicade for a year and it's been pretty great. It makes me REALLY tired (like, can't get out of bed tired) for a few days after my doses, but it's so much better than being sick.
Posted 2/25/2014 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
So, I just saw my GI doctor, and we think the next step is to get me off of Imuran , though it has been keeping me in remission for the most part, the side effects are not fun. Rashes, asthma etc... However we are running more tests to see if Imuran is the culprit to these issues. I have an endoscopy on Wednesday, because I have been experiencing terrible chest pain and an ultrasound of my abdomen, to rule out gallbladder issues. I was hypokalemic that put me in the hospital so it was a terrible scare. I just hope this all isn't related to Imuran. I pray the TNF is better in regards to side effects.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply