Azathioprine and nausea

Crohn's Disease Forum

Help Support Crohn's Disease Forum:

Joined
Aug 21, 2014
Messages
270
Location
UK
Ten days ago my dose of azathioprine was increased from 25mg daily to 50mg daily. I take it in the morning, along with prednisolone and some other meds, after I've had something to eat.
I've never been a breakfast eater so having to eat something that early in the day has been a bit of a problem, I just about manage a piece of toast.
About three or four days ago I started started to feel nauseous mid morning and put it down to, well, I'm not sure what really, but didn't connect it to the aza. The nausea passes off round about 4pm.
Reading up today, I see nausea is a common side effect of aza so I'm guessing that's what I'm experiencing. I don't want to take it in the evening as some people do as I already suffer with indigestion during the night, controlled by lansaprazole and ranitidine.
Can anyone suggest anything to get round this please, I'm a bit at a loss and find this nausea very unpleasant. Thanks.
Bunty x
 
Hi!

A lot of people take Aza with their evening meal so that if there is any nausea they sleep through it.

I take 125mg Aza like this and have luckily never had a problem with nausea. It also says on my packets to take it with at least 200mls water.

If you don't want to take it at night, what about at lunchtime?

I also suffer from acid reflux due to a hiatus hernia, and I take omeprazole in the mornings which works well.
 
Hi,I was on aza and pred around 2 yrs ago, fine for 5/6 mths then started to be sick aster a few hours gradually being sick sooner n sooner after taking it. .told my docs when it was about 10 mins after I'd taken it. Turns out I'd become severely intolerant as my liver levels had gone sky high and had to be taken of it. So I'd say get your docs to check your liver function levels I'm case this may be happening to you,I may be on the wrong track here but.it may be a reason why your being sick.
Best wishes



your
 
I took azathioprine at night to help with the nausea and severe tiredness. I was still nauseated during the day and ate a ton of saltines. It worked for awhile, but I did have to stop taking it due to pancreatitis. You might try saltines (soda crackers) or some type of toast. Drinking ice water helped me too.
 
Thank you all very much for your replies.
Nitty, I take the lansaprazole in the morning, and the ranitidine at bedtime. Doing it this way has really knocked the indigestion on the head, it no longer wakes me up in the early hours, thankfully. I'm hoping the drop the ranitidine once I'm off the prednisolone. I'm going to give your suggestion of taking the aza after lunch a go, in the hope that having more food in my stomach will prevent the nausea.
Mandy, I've been having weekly blood tests since I started on aza, which is reassuring, I had one last week but they're now dropping to once a fortnight. It seems I'm missing a marker in an enzym..most people have two of these markers, a few people only have one (me) and even fewer have none (they can't take aza ever)..which means I probably won't tolerate aza as well as most people so they've been closely monitoring me.
2thfairy, thank you for the suggestion of crackers and iced water, I have found iced water the only drink I can tolerate at the moment, have gone right off tea. How does pancreatitis manifest itself?
Thank you all once again, very helpful 😊
Bunty x
 
Hi bunty, ok I'm glad they are keeping a close eye on you, hope you find away to help with the sickness..as for the pancreatitis you can have dull pain near the top of the stomach, that develops suddenly and gets worse and travels along the back or below the left shoulder, eating and drinking can make it feel worse very quickly, especially fatty foods. Also diarrhoea, indigestion, high temp, jaundice and or tenderness/swelling of the abdomen are symptoms. Hope this helps
 
Thank you Mandy 😊
We've just been out for a late breakfast..a rather large bacon butty and a latte..and I took my meds after I'd eaten. So far so good, that was about 90 minutes ago. Tomorrow I'm going to take them after lunch, then on Friday after my evening meal. If I get any indigestion in the night I'll revert back to after lunch.
I've just been reading your back posts Mandy, gosh, you've been through it somewhat haven't you? 😕 It amazes me how people stay so positive, and how grateful I am for people like yourself, and others here,offering their help and knowledge.
I too am from oop north, nearer the coast than you, but currently down in Berkshire in my static.
Thanks again,
Bunty x
 
Bacon butty and latté may not be the best thing for nausea. ;-)

I'm soon to be starting Aza so I'm reading all this with interest and a little concern.
 
Well it did the trick, I've not had any nausea today at all, so I recommend both 😁
Maybe you won't get any nausea at all DEmberton, I hope not anyway...whilst it's not the worst thing in the world, it certainly has an impact on your general wellbeing.
Bunty x
 
Hi bunty, your welcome hun, glad you enjoyed your breakfast, yummy !! No way a Northern lass :). Ye iv been through quite a bit, but thankfully not as much as some... I just feel glad that I'm still here so I keep smiling and having fun.its good to be out of pain for the last 16/17 mths I'm making the most of it lol .you take care and I hope you get the sickness under control.best wishes x
 
Yesterday I had nausea again, but today not a sign of it.
A friend reminded me of the anti nausea properties of ginger so I bought some lemongrass and ginger tea and had a cup this afternoon. It was really nice, refreshing and not too lemony or gingery. I don't know if that helped stave off the nausea but it was a lovely drink anyway.
Bunty x
 
Hi well you may of hit on something there bunty, but if not at least you've found a lovely new drink :) hope it does work, it's got too be better than meds eh?, best wishes, Mandy x
 
I have wither taken it in one dose at breakfast or split doses (75 mg each) at lunch and supper and have never had an issue with nausea. The ginger or ginger ale may help.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top