Azathioprine

[mfronmark]

Hi,

I'm on Azathioprine and Pentasa right now. I started with Azathioprine in March and so far I'm not doing any better. I have however been able to eat certain stuff that I couldn't before. Trying hard not to anyway. Just to be sure.

My "attacks" come more frequently than before now. Last one was June 1st and then I had one this last thu/fri.

Are there other people here who have tried Azathioprine and gotten better? Anyone who's gotten worse? No difference?

Thanks!
-Martin

 

[AbstractDonut]

I too am taking aza, and to be honest I just started 2 weeks ago. I know I do feel better when after I take it for a few hours. Like my guts are emptying somewhat instead of the constant bloat I seem to have.

Later today I'm hoping my doc moves me up to 150mg, and I see some major improvement.

 

[katiesue1506]

I took Aza.... I don't think it helped at all. It just made me lose my hair and more tired.

 

[choko]

I was wondering if you know any other name's for aza ???????.

 

[choko]

Thank's mike now i know were else i have heard it , my sister is on it as she has SLE.

 

[Creepy Lurker]

It kept me in remission for 2 years, so I can't complain. It does take a few months to get going though.

 

[BWS1982]

I think it makes me tired, and made my Crohns point and laugh at me....I'm being slowly weened off it. Started it at 100mg for 6 weeks, went to 125mg for 6.5 months, then since the last 5 weeks, been down to 75mg.

Many risks, and doesn't seem to do anything beneficial for me.

 

[Keara07]

I was IMURAN for about 1-2 weeks and although my blood work was ok, my disease was too far along so they took me off and I ended up with an emerg resection. I wasn't too keen on it, with all the reading I did, and I was told it takes 3-6 months to kick in anyway.

 

[Fleur-Fleur-Fleur]

Yo

ii have been on it for over a year && im fineee

The Doctors told me ii could come of it, but ii would rather be safe than sorry.x

Maybe its not for you . . ii mean everyones body is different

-x-

 

[Op.28/18]

I tried it. Unfortunately, however, I can't say it helped me. I only experienced side effects, and some ended up being permanent. It's a pretty serious drug, and can even cause leukemia, lymphoma, and skin cancer. I know it's not just a theoretical risk. When I was on Imuran, I had a tumor develop on my face, which they had to remove, leaving a pretty large scar on my face.

So for me, at my age, after learning about its risks, I decided it wasn't worth it for me, especially since it wasn't helping my disease in the least. I'm not sure suppressing the immune so severely is a good way of treating this disease. When I was on 80mg pred, Imuran, and the rest, that is, when my immune system was suppressed the most, that's when my disease was the worst.

Also, just a piece of advice, since you're already on it, the Mayo Clinic says not to touch/rub your eyes at all when using Imuran. Imuran increases your risk of getting infections. I didn't know that, got an eye infection, and it made my eyes forever blood shot and bright red, and now I can't wear contacts.

 

[BWS1982]

The more I read about the negativities of the meds for Crohns and the side effects, and the I factor in how not a single one seemed to help me except IV doses of a couple while hospitalized, the more I'm thinking modern medicine treats Crohns like someone who'd sever their hand to rid themselves of a hangnail.

 

[karl]

i've been on it for about 3 and a half months. i was doing pretty awesome on it, i started it with a taper of prednisone so that i could force myself into remission and ease off the pred while the aza kicked in after a couple of months.

however just in the past week, my glands in my neck and armpits have swelled up. i need to see the doc asap

 

[Agent X20]

I've been on it for over a year and I definitely feel better. I think you have to take it for a few months before it starts to work. I'm not entirely happy about taking it, but I'm prepared to go with it.

 

[RHOV]

I was on azathioprine for about 6 months, but I flared twice during that time, so i stopped taking it because it obviously wasn't working. My bloodwork was all fine, and the only side effect I experienced was my hair falling out like crazy. I didn't take a very high dose though. First 50 mg, then 75.

 

[Maggie-Muffin]

Hello,I was on it for about 2 yrs.I had no side effects from it,it just didn't work