Azathioprine

[Carrie171087]

Hello again everyone,
So I've been taking azathioprine 2 1/2 months. I know it can take around this time to fully see affects of the drug. I have over the last 2-3 weeks been getting increasingly stiff and sore knees and hip mainly my right knee and left side of hip. I have also noticed how sensitive my skin is. I have fair skin which I no is an increased risk it's self but I've been really burning. Today for example i was out in sun for around 2 hours it was like 15 degrees, I felt cool but tonight I'm like a lobster and my legs are on fire even though they were covered under my jeans?..

has anyone else experienced any side affects from azathioprine.

much love
xxx

 

[theOcean]

Those sound like manifestations of IBD, not Azathioprine. The sun sensitivity is definitely from Azathioprine though.

Tell your doctor about the arthritic symptoms, since that means that you probably need a short course of prednisone.

 

[DJW]

Hi Carrie. I experienced side effects that gradually subsided after 3 months. The stiff joints sound more crohns related. My first week or two I felt like I had a bad flu.

Hope you start feeling better soon.

 

[Carrie171087]

Thanks for replies. Both such a great help.

x

 

[Carrie171087]

Although just to add I've suffered with symptoms of Crohn's since 2007 but never had knee pain/stiffness I am going to let my grastro nurse know I think it's the azathioprine.

 

[theOcean]

Nerve pain is something to look out for while on Azathioprine, not knee pain/stiffness. I only ever experienced that during one flare but it was definitely caused by my Crohn's, not my medication.

 

[Carrie171087]

Really, I had no idea thanks for that.

 

[theblitherer]

Hi Carrie,
I was interested to hear about your knee stiffness etc. I started on Azathioprine about six weeks ago, and am taking around 100 mg daily, but also am having Infliximab infusions (I have had two so far).

Six days after the first infusion of Infliximab, I suffered from a debilitating back pain which came on very suddenly and only began to let up about 10 days later. Five days after the second dose of Inflliximab (two weeks later) the same part of my lower back quite suddenly went into spasm. I was unable to move for some time until I worked out how to crawl to the phone to call an ambulance. My back was very bad, again for at least 10 days. I expect to go into hospital on Friday for my third infusion of Infliximab. They will probably increase the dose. I am very worried about my back. I don't know whether it is from the Azathioprine or the Infliximab or neither, but seems a massive coincidence.

One of the reasons I agreed to this treatment was because as well as the usual Crohns symptoms I was also suffering from excruciating pains in various joints which would come on quite suddenly, then eventually pass, until flaring up again but in some other joint i.e. wrist, foot, shoulder, neck, hip.

I have also been feeling very bleary eyed and a little as if in a fog which I am pretty sure is from the Azathioprine. And not sleeping - I will ask my GI nurse about all this but wondered if anyone had experienced the same? And given Carrie's experience, perhaps pain/inflammation is to be expected. But if it is a side effect, can I hope that it is only temporary?