Azathioprine/Remicade feeling sicker?

[Tummyhurts]

Hi everyone, I recently started azathioprine (50mg waiting on labs to increase dose) almost 2 weeks ago and had my first Remicade infusion last Friday. I'm feeling awful, horrible nausea and no desire to eat at all, diarrhea 10x/day and intermittent stomach pain, losing weight... None of these are unusual for a flare up for me but it feels like it's getting worse instead of better like I expected. My GI has mentioned that sometimes Aza can make you feel worse and he's thinking if anything maybe to stop the Aza (this started last week before the infusion). But I'm hesitant because I know this is a great medicine and can help the Remicade work better for longer. I'm reading mixed things on how soon Remicade works as well so maybe im expecting too much too soon? What are your thoughts on stopping the Aza?

 

[ronroush7]

If the gi thinks that maybe you should stoo it, then maybe you should consider it. I hope you can feel better soon.

 

[Lady Organic]

It is normal to feel nauseous in the first weeks with Aza. This shall resume in the near future. Remicade should kick in very shortly while aza takes more time to be effective. wishing you well.

 

[Nadia96]

Hi everyone, I recently started azathioprine (50mg waiting on labs to increase dose) almost 2 weeks ago and had my first Remicade infusion last Friday. I'm feeling awful, horrible nausea and no desire to eat at all, diarrhea 10x/day and intermittent stomach pain, losing weight... None of these are unusual for a flare up for me but it feels like it's getting worse instead of better like I expected. My GI has mentioned that sometimes Aza can make you feel worse and he's thinking if anything maybe to stop the Aza (this started last week before the infusion). But I'm hesitant because I know this is a great medicine and can help the Remicade work better for longer. I'm reading mixed things on how soon Remicade works as well so maybe im expecting too much too soon? What are your thoughts on stopping the Aza?

Have you got Crohns or Colitis?

When I started Remicade 4 years ago I was on 200mg of azathioprone. I was first diagnosed with crohns when I was 9 (21 now) and the doctors put me on 50mg azathioprone and 2400mg of mesalazine with prednisone. Back then I did feel nauseous and loss of appetite. But a year later I stated to get more flare ups and so they increased the azathioprone to 75mg and then increased further until I was at 200mg. And in those 8 years the side effects weren’t too bad but I did struggle. Feeling nauseous, actual vomiting and I was still having flare ups. I started Remicade as the tablets weren’t working and they decided on this. The Remicade destroyed my life that year. I was having continuous diarrhoea with blood, loss of weight, lack of energy, my hair became really thin and vomiting. This was until I had emergency surgery 6 months after starting Remicade. And this may have had happened to me because I started Remicade late as the doctors were wanting me to start a year earlier but I was hesitant to do so due to the side effects. For me the azathioprone didn’t really start the side effects until after about a month, it is quite likely to be the Remicade. But each person reacts differently to the medicine