Azathioprine - Dose Increased

[YJ120]

Hi All,

I've had my azathioprine dose increased and have been feeling unwell since and have started vomiting nearly every day...is this normal?

I'm on 4g of mesalazine every day and was started on 50mg of azathioprine at the beginning of Dec 2011, after regular blood tests my consultant up'd my dose to 100mg of azathioprine on 1st Feb 2012. The first week I was ok, but after that I started getting abdominal pains, I've felt generally unwell since and am vomiting more or less everyday.

Has anyone else experienced this? I never know what to do or if it's normal? Do I ring my GP or my consultant....nothing is ever clear .

Thanks in adavnace for replies ....Yvette xxx

 

[YJ120]

Please can anybody help??

I've got a phone consultation with my doctor late this afternoon

Thanks Yvette

 

[Crohn's 35]

Hi Yvette, it seems you are on mild meds and you sound more like mod to severe. People vomit when there is a partical obstruction. You could have some narrowing.

My suggestion is to get a colonscopy or a small bowel follow through which ever is quicker to get an appt for. Stick to fluids until you see your doctor, and please let us know what he says!

:hang:

 

[YJ120]

Hi and thanks for your reply.

I had a phone consultation with my Doctor on Friday afternoon, he told me to reduce my azathioprine to 50mg - he said this drus id very powerful? But I'm a bit confused now, because you said I'm on mild meds? I don't have a clue about all this medication? lol.

I've got a face to face appointment with him on monday to discuss further. Could there be an obstruction even if my bowels are still opening (significantly less than before though). I've felt awful and totally weak, and am wondering if that's becuase I'm being sick and my body isn't absorbing any nutrients?

All this is like a minefield to me :shifty-t: xx Thanks again xx

 

[Artificial]

Hello,

I have a narrowing and at the moment, if I have anything which isn't liquids it makes me sick and causes partial obstructions a lot but I still have bowel movements as well, they just tend to be little ones!

So it could be you are having a partial obstruction but then again when I started Azathioprine I did feel sick and crappy for a few weeks to!

I hope you get this sorted at the docs Monday x

 

[YJ120]

Thanks Rachel....

I will discuss all this with Doctor. I was ok when I was started on 50mg azathioprine, all this seems to have started a week after my dose was up'd to 100mg?

I can feel any movement in bowel - in the sense that when food etc has been processed, I get pains when it hits certain areas....could that be a narrowing and that's why I feel pain?

I wish I had somewhere/one I could have explain everything in detail to me, ever since I was diagnosed no onehas sat down and discussed crohns with me! I've just had to research it myself. I guess a lot of people are the same, it's a shame really.

Thanks Rachel, you sound similar to me and are are the same meds, which helps when looking for info xx

 

[Artificial]

Yeah I have had the same problem with the Consultants/Docs I see not ever explaining anything to me! Have you got an IBD nurse at your hospital that you can contact? I call my nurse all the time and she is a lot more helpful!

My pain tends to get worse when food reaches my terminal ileum, the area tends to get painful and often bulges a bit to.

Just incase you do have a narrowing it might be best to stick to soft foods and liquids.

If it is just the medication making you feel icky, do you take 100mg of azathioprine all in one go?
I read on the forum before that it can make you feel sick so it can be better to split the dose, I take 50mg with breakfast and 50mg with dinner x

 

[YJ120]

I don't know anything about an IBD nurse...lol. Not surprising! It really upsets me when I need help because I just get passed around between the hospital and doctors and still end up with no answers! I will, now that you've kindly informed me that these nurses exist, ask if there is one I coudl contact. Thank you.

Yea my crohns is in my terminal ileum and my large bowel and I get a bulged/blaoted feeling too. I will bring all this up at my doctors and not leave the room until I have answers! haha.

I was taking the full 100mg in the morning, Doc has advised me to just take 50mg for now. The thing is, all my blood tests have come back fine, so I don't know whether it is the tablets or maybe a narrowing. I will stick to soft foods until after I've seen him.

Thanks you've give me some good info there Really appreciate it x

 

[YJ120]

Hey...

Well I went to the doctors and he asked if there's any real benefit to the aza's and to be honest I don't feel there is, so he said I should come off them as they're such a potent drug and without significant improvement of the condition they are just not worth putting you're body through taking them. I'm not in with my consultant until 4th May....my Doctor has told me to give my body a rest until then.

He's requested blood tests and I should get the results today....worst of all though....I'm still being sick everyday!

When will all thsi stop

Yvette xx

 

[KayleighK]

Sorry to hear your having a time of it. Just to ask was it your GP you seen or your GI specialist? Aza is a powerful drug but can take a good while to get into your system. I was put on them in October last year (started at 50mg and upped to 150mg) I haven't felt any benefits while being on it but I was told it can take up to 3 months maybe even longer to get the full effect of this drug and to persevere by my GI . Just hope the doctor hasn't taken you off your meds too soon without giving it a proper chance to get into your system.

 

[YJ120]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply...it was a GP at my doctors surgery, not my crohns consultant at the hospital that told me to come off them. It's really hard because I see my Consultant but if there are any issues go to my doctor, but like you say my Consultant may not of advised the same as my GP. I've had this all along, I just get passed between hospital and GP...it really gets to me sometimes

Yvette x

 

[KayleighK]

I know the feeling! I've just moved specialist so I can get infliximab and just had to move doctors practice due to moving house so I feel like I'm back to square one where no one knows my case but because I'm getting infliximab I got to speak to an IBD nurse and was given her phone number and she said to call her any time. I've heard lots of people saying how helpful there nurse is so if I were you next time you see your GI deffo ask about getting to see an IBD nurse! Also maybe give your GI a phone and ask if the doctors advice was right because everyone has different opinions and from my experience my GP really doesn't know much about crohn's or the meds I'm on for it!
x

 

[YJ120]

Hi,

Thanks for you reply. I will speak to my Consultant at my next appointment about some new treatment and will mention infliximab.

Since stopping the azathiprine...the sickness reduced gradually and hopefully has now stopped

xx