Break from Imuran

[swosty]

Hi,

Husband was on ASA and Imuran 50 medication .Want to know if the docs suggest a medicine break from Imuran for few months every year? Does that help to avoid toxicity ?

Now that he on break from Imuran looks like he is flaring up,and doctor suggesting to get back on it. Are such medicine breaks necessary?

Thanks

 

[my little penguin]

I am not aware of such a practice
Assume all the risks of taking the meds would still be there (including lymphoma risk )
Plus risks of flaring over and over is not good for the cells
Can you get a second opinion ??
Tagging @Scipio

 

[Scipio]

Hmm...I've heard of patients stopping azathioprine due to side effects of course, or due to fear of lymphoma. But I haven't heard of regularly scheduled Imuran "holidays" after which the drug is resumed.

I do know that for even very long term azathioprine users the increased risk of lymphoma will decrease after the drug is discontinued, eventually dropping back down to "normal" - as though they had never had the drug. But that decrease in risk is over a period of years, not a month or two. Maybe this is some local GI's pet theory.

How old is your husband? The risk of lymphoma goes up after age 50 and way up after age 60. But prior to that it's a pretty safe drug for most patients. Based on how things are actually turning out I'd say his risk of a Crohn's relapse is currently greater than his risk of azathioprine side effects.

 

[swosty]

Hmm...I've heard of patients stopping azathioprine due to side effects of course, or due to fear of lymphoma. But I haven't heard of regularly scheduled Imuran "holidays" after which the drug is resumed.

I do know that for even very long term azathioprine users the increased risk of lymphoma will decrease after the drug is discontinued, eventually dropping back down to "normal" - as though they had never had the drug. But that decrease in risk is over a period of years, not a month or two. Maybe this is some local GI's pet theory.

How old is your husband? The risk of lymphoma goes up after age 50 and way up after age 60. But prior to that it's a pretty safe drug for most patients. Based on how things are actually turning out I'd say his risk of a Crohn's relapse is currently greater than his risk of azathioprine side effects.

Thank you for the response ! Husband is 44 yrs old will take a second opinion on this from a different doctor . Thanks again!