Headaches on Imuran?

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sassym

Joined
Jun 21, 2013
Messages
35
Hi guys!
I'm curious if anyone else has noticed headaches while taking Imuran? I just started it yesterday and I'm taking 200mg a day. Yesterday I did t notice any side effects at all, but now today I have this slight headache. It's more annoying than painful, but it would be nice to not have it at all :)
 
I had a mild headache two mornings in a row on the third or forth day of taking Aza. But after that I didn't get anymore headaches. Some people can experience flu-like symptoms for the first week. But they should go away after that.
 
Hi Sassym. I was started on 25mg of Azathioprine ( Imuran ) and increased 25 every two weeks til my therapeutic dose of 150. When I got to 100, I started to get really bad headaches that were making me wake at 2 or 3 in the morning.
Friends here advised me to try splitting the dose - half in the morning and half in the evening, and that did the trick.
 
My daughter got massive headaches when first starting Imuran. Now only gets them near her period. Think the med may intensify near her cycle. Time will tell.
 
Been on aza for a while and it's only now I feel because of the the blinding headaches have gone from mild to migraine that I feel I would be better off on no meds at all , waking up and feeling like your heads gonna explode and the complete lack of energy and wanting to sleep all the time , I honestly feel since starting all my meds , of wich I have been on most I am suffering more now than ever
 
James, it might be worth asking your doctor about 6mp? That's a common next step for those who are not getting on with Aza. I know what you mean, sometimes it seems like a rock and a hard place with Crohn's and the meds :-(
 
My worst was the steroids , less appetite and more weight loss and the constant asking "am I anorexic" I'm far to lazy for that lol I'm just begging to think I was better off before all the meds to be honest
 
Scottish james, I know that if I were in your shoes I wouldn't feel this way, but never the less there is a small part of me that is envious of you and all of the others that loose weight with CD. I'm one of the atypical patients that bloats and gains. And the steroids make the gain 10xs worse. Instead of people asking if I'm anorexic, the offer to show me new diets, or accompany me to the gym. They all assume that I'm just lazy and using my illness as an excuse not to take care of myself. Looks like steroids suck for all if us .
 
I can understand that, but at least people understand that you're ill. I have actually had family members tell me that they think I'm lying and pretending sick because I "look fine".
 
James, you must be unique. I don't know of many people who don't get huge appetites and balloon on steroids! You'll have to get some IBD leaflets to leave on a few tables! Pre-steroids I had a couple of people ask me if I had cancer. It's a very misunderstood disease. Hopefully the 'Get Your Belly Out' campaign is helping to raise awareness.
If your struggling appetite wise, a dietary supplement/enteral nutrition might be an idea. Some of them are not very palatable, but after surgery I had Fortisips in hospital and I liked them.
 
My kid is now getting them regularly now that she has been on it for a little over a month. They are brutal. So far 2 tylenol make them go away but I'm not sure that will be the case for much longer.
 
I have started getting a headache/nausea/dizzyness over the last four days, im on 150 mg azathioprine and have been for about 18 months. Could this be a side effect? Im also taking levotyroxine for a underactive thyroid aswell.
 
I only took azathioprine for a month, but I had daily headaches and even developed ocular migraines, that have since went away for good.
 
I was also starting to get headaches and generally feeling tired and down. I was on 100mg of aza and stopped taking them completely 3 days ago. Definitely less headachy now although still tired.
I also got an iron infusion 4 days ago so that could also be helping. I'm restarting the aza at 50 mg in 4 days time, I'll keep a watch on the headaches.
 
2 years next month. I take paracetamol which helps but not good I know to take it often. Mentioned it to gi this week but he put it down to may be not having good night sleep.
 
After being off Aza for a week, my headaches are completely gone :)
Because my HB is still low I've restarted the Aza this morning on 25mg instead of 50. Depending on next weeks blood results and my general wellbeing I'll increase to 50mg in a week.

Edited to add: Apparently headaches are not a listed side-effect for Aza, that may be why dr's are attributing it to fatigue or something else.
 

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