Going on Humira AND Imuran?! wtf?

[McStew]

I just had another lovely colonoscopy (sigh) today because of my most recent flare. My consultant tells me that the lower part of my large intestine is highly inflamed. He suggested I go on Imuran and Humira for a long while. I was on Imuran for about 16 months, then went off of it because I got another flare and the same consultant told me that it's probably not working if I've gotten a flare (this was 6 mos ago). Plus, it messed with my white blood cell count.

I'm confused...has anyone ever been on both of these meds at the same time? He hasn't said anything about steriods....not sure if this is a blessing or not, as (like all of us) not a major fan of the side effects.

I'm meeting him on Weds, so I'll be able to talk with him in more detail, but wanted to ask around, as the combo of the two sounds weird to me.

Thank you!

 

[chrisnsteph1022]

I'm on Cimzia (another biologic) and Imuran. It's not an uncommon combo, adding Imuran to a biologic. Unfortunately, it's not working for me.

 

[beth]

Indeed, not uncommon, only slightly unusual. Most people do well on Humira either fortnightly or weekly alone. Adding in Imuran/azathioprine slows down your immune system from producing the inflammatory cells.

 

[Grumbletum]

I was on Aza before I started on the Infliximab and they've kept me on it. The IBD nurse said it would help stop my body rejecting the Infiximab, but I'm not sure if it's the same with Humira. The Aza will probably be my maintenance med if I come off the Remi.
But if you've had problems with Aza before, I would've thought they might try 6mp or something else.

 

[Crohn's 35]

But if you've had problems with Aza before, I would've thought they might try 6mp or something else.

I was thinking the same thing.:shifty:

 

[PsychoJane]

From what my doc told me, it is going to be common thing to use biologic + immunosuppressor (6MP-AZA-MTX). That's the first idea they had, then they did focuss on giving only the biologic alone to realize that there is a high enough rate of people who develops antibodies to those treatment quite quickly, therefore it's probably gonna be common to see these used together. It's not impossible that it will only be that way for a time until they realize something else...

 

[McStew]

Thanks everyone, I'm glad to hear that these meds together aren't completely random. I'm not sure why he hasn't prescribed 6mp...

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