Azathioprine worries

[PERDITA]

I am due to see consultant next week and he is insisting that I try Azathioprine for a while, I am really worried because if it lowers your immune system to nothing how do you fight off infections. I cant afford to stay at home all day and not work - what does everyone else on this do is there other things to take that counteract it and boost the immune system.
Am rather worried. Any suggestions would be brilliant.

 

[Welsh-bird]

Hi Perdita,
I too was worried when my gastro suggested Aza, with the same concern as you regarding a lowered immune system. What we have to remember is that the doses we take for IBD are nowhere near the dose required to leave us severly compromised to anything and everything! I've been on 6MP now for almost 8 months (allergic to Aza) and have been really lucky and only had 1 cold. Everyone responds differently, side effects vary from patient to patient. If this drug makes you feel unwell then you can always come off it and try another. Your GI will also monitor you closely for the first few months, and any problems that are detected should then be delt with before they escalate.
Good luck, and I hope this drug works for you should you decide to take it.

 

[Rebecca85]

I work in a school- one of the germiest places there is! I went through a phase just before Christmas where I had 3 bad colds one after the other. Apart from that, I have not noticed any increase in infections. I had the flu *** to be on the safe side, though. I have been on aza since the end of August.

 

[AZMOM]

Perdita - My daughter is 7 and will have been on 6MP (Azathioprine's cousin) for two years in June. She has done great. No hair loss, no trouble with infections, no nausea, etc. She has missed less school than her "healthy" brother. Some people respond beuatifully to these meds and you could be one of them. We have kids in our support group who have in remission for YEARS with no problems related to meds. I hope we'll be one of thos success stories too.

I wish you luck with whatever route you decide to take.....

 

[hainman]

hi.i was on aza for over a year and ever suffered at all even with a 3year old at toddlers everyday and she was ill now and then with colds and stuff and i never picked up anything so i wouldnt worry to much,you'll be fine unless your allergic to it,

 

[rygon]

Any side effects whilst a person is on a certain drug will be recorded, it may be one person with that symptom or several but they all need recording. The likelyhood may not be that great remember.

Ive been on it for 2 years now and never had a problem. No hair loss, no increase in colds/flu (personally I think its been a decrease, maybe as im feeling much healthier now)

They will start you on a small dose and build it up over a few months, with regular blood tests and check-ups so theres not a lot to be worried about really

 

[Rebecca85]

I experienced a greater than normal amount of shedding for a short period of time. It did not affect what my hair looked like- I was just finding when I brushed my hair there was a lot in the brush, and on my pillow in the morning. This gradually lessened as I got used to the drug.

 

[hindyg]

I have been on 6mp and then imuran for around 4 years now. I get maybe 1 cold a year. Haven't had a problem with hair loss. It doesn't lower your immune system that much. You do need to get blood tests regularly to make sure your blood levels are good and that you are on the right dosage.

 

[PERDITA]

Thanks everyone, that makes me feel a lot less worried!