Imuran & Fever

[Nicole33]

Hey guys,

So today I got really bad chills (after being outside) and now I have a really high fever... I'm on Imuran, and I just upped my dose today (from 1 tablet, 50 mg, to 3 tablets) and I'm wondering if this could be a side effect.
Or, is it more likely coincidence? A lot of people are sick right now around me. If I did catch a bug, will it be harder for my body to fight it off because my immune system is suppressed? Should I be worried?
Thanks for any input you guys have,
~Nicole

 

[Zalanicht]

It could be a coincidence or it could be a side effect. I'm guessing you just have a bug and it's not a side effect but do not trust me on that.
I am on Aza as well and my doctor told me that if I were to get a high unusual fever I should go to the doctor immediately or even check into the hospital to make sure nothing drastic happens.

It's weird both my roommates got really sick with a bug for a week and all I got was a little soar throat and I'm on 200 mg Aza so I dunno.

 

[crazycanuck]

Yeah Im on aza also and was told to be careful of fevers or things like the flu. Very well could be coincidence but as Zalanicht said mightbbe in your best interest to call your doc or head by a clinic.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Imuran:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; itching; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain or tightness; dark urine; dizziness; fever, chills, or sore throat; increased or painful urination; muscle pain or aches; pale or fatty stools; severe or persistent nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; shortness of breath; stomach pain; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual growths or lumps; unusual weakness or fatigue; yellowing of the eyes or skin.

As you can see fever is in the category of seek medical attention immediately. That is directly copied from here: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/imuran-side-effects.html

 

[Nicole33]

fever... still

Ok, so it was Monday that I upped my dose of Imuran and had the chills and fever that night... Tuesday I had a headache but didn't feel too bad, until that night I got a fever again. Yesterday I slept all day, and didn't take the Imuran (both my GI specialist and family doctor weren't in the office, so a pharmacist I know suggested not taking it.) At this point I thought it still could be a bug, since a lot of people are sick, but I felt MUCH better not taking it. Then he called back and suggested I try two (instead of three pills) so I took them before bed. Sure enough I didn't sleep at all, and around 5:30 this morning I got really bad chills again, and a fever which is starting to subside but I've still got a headache. (Plus I have a lot of muscle pain, especially with the chills, and fever blisters in my mouth - but no other signs of a bug. Weirdly enough my stomach has been calm this whole time, mind you i haven't eaten much, but still its my first week in awhile without any stomach pain, go figure!)
This is becoming a long story, but I have a specialist appt tomorrow morning, and what I want to ask (the secretary didn't really know, unfortunately) is can I not take the Imuran today? Then I'll know for sure if its the problem, and I would really rather not... I just know for other drugs its not safe to just stop, so I was wondering if anyone knows if it is safe to not take it today?
Thanks

 

[spingirl]

I don't know the answer to your question but I would love to know what the outcome of this was...since I am new to this medication and very curious. Thanks.

 

[LOSTnut]

I am on 100 mg of Aza, taking it in the evening. Many nights I wake up, bathed in sweat which is very uncomfortable. I used to write if off as menepausal heatwaves but now I am not so sure anymore. You think it would help taking the dosage earlier in the day?

 

[spingirl]

I take my first dose of Asacol, my 100 mg Aza and my 10 mg prednesone along with lisiniprol (for bp) and my vitamin D all in the morning with a big breakfast. Then at night I take my second dose of Asacol and my prilosec and my second lisinoprol...but i only do that because of the fear of being sick...but I would try doing it at night. I get night sweats too but I am also still taking the pred. I am getting nervous...I am down to 10 mg pred for 2 days now and have had more bm's today. Nothing like before but...I am just so nervous when the pred is done this Aza is not going to be enough...you are on the same 2 drugs I am on...how long before you noticed the Aza working? I mean... I notice it working from before...I went from 15 bms to 3 bms and now I'm creeping up to 5...oh I hate this...I also have a weird taste in my mouth today...

 

[LOSTnut]

I take 1200 mg of Asacol in the morning, 1200 mg at noon and then the 100 mg Aza in the evening -- with other stuff that I still have to take from the surgery. I am tapering off the pred and right now I am at 10 mg which I also take in the morning to (hopefully) add to the needed appetite and prevent sleeplessness. So, far it worked because I can sleep during the night. The only difference I noticed on the aza was nausea, stomach pain (which send me into a frenzy because of the failed resection and the pain being similar) and those pesky night sweats that feel like you break a fever on a bad cold.
Otherwise I cannot really tell if the combo of aza and asacol really does anything ... but I only started back up on those meds pretty much 2 weeks ago and while the side effects can kick in sooner the benefits seem to take longer.
Last CBC I had (last Friday) I was told that my white blood cell count is slightly elevated--whatever that means ... :shifty-t:

 

[spingirl]

Hmmm... I know they watch the white cells to see if you can tolerate the Aza...I just went for my 2 week CBC on Monday...we are on the same meds (I take 1600 Asacol though) and the 10 Pred and the 100 Aza. I think we should def be in contact since we are on the same dosages and everything. I am 49 in a month and I think its the pred but I think its my age too and it just makes my hormones that much more active. I am an emotional roller coaster. I could live wiht the 10mg pred if I had to though. At this dose I am good with bms and although I don't like the pred...its not like at 20 or higher...with the side effects. Too bad its so bad for you. Errr...figures. Well, I am not sure if the white blood cells should be high or low but I hsould get my results in a day or so...they did a C-diff test too that kind of made me nervous. I don't feel any symptoms of anything else...do you know if they did one to you too? I wonder if its standard or if the Aza makes you more prone to the C-diff. Oh...the more I learn the more I realize how much I don't know! We can chat PM too - I don't want to hi-jack post. I just keep forgetting to check my messages on this thing... I finally have some energy and I am just all over the place running errands and cooking and just trying to squeeze as much life in these few weeks as I can in case this course of meds do not work...I know I have to think positive...but...

 

[spingirl]

Oh - by he way - Lost Nut - I am on Asacol HD. I think its different.

 

[LOSTnut]

Hey Spingirl,
I hear you on the energy. Today I felt so good I made some homemade Spaghetti Sc with meatballs -- just so I can have some pasta, which is thickening.
You are right with the Asacol though. I am taking Asacol EC and on the bottle it says that it is "not bioequivalent to Asacaol HD".

No C-Diff test. They did a CBC, D3, B12 and I am now on a weekly dose of 50,000 units of D2, which I guess with sunlight forms D3.

Since I am back on the Aza and Asacol though I noticed that in my ostomy output there are those tell-tale telling "spiderwebs" floating around. In the beginning I was told that this is a sign of Crohn's.

 

[spingirl]

I don't have an ostomy yet...) so I dont' know what you mean about Spiderwebs. I am about to wean off the prednesone soon...I am on 10mg now and going to every other day...I am so nervous the Aza alone with the Asacol HD isn't going to be enough...I still have about 4-5 bms a day. I am good with that. THey are formed and although I have to go when I have to go - its not so urgent I have to run to the bathroom...usually. I feel more energy and love it...goin 15+ times a day is exhausting!!! I am in a better mood...but packing on the weight big time. My kids are on school vacation this week and we went to a hotel last night...I brought a bathing suit that was big on me last year...I could not get it on. I am a cow. I hope some of it comes off quickly when I get off the pred. I am afraid to work out on it...I don't want to bulk up! I may start on the treadmill tomorrow. You are very thin? I was when I was first diagnosed in 1985 - down to 90lbs...but I can't understand why I didn't lose a lot of weight when I was going to the bathroom so much...I eat a lot of food...I love to eat and I just have to really set my mind to getting thinner...I think this huge belly can't be helping things...I think some of the energy is the D I'm taking. Did you try taking the Aza in the AM? I am wondering why I don't take the pills at different times. I mean...wouldn't it make sense to spread it out? I feel like it takes a couple of hours to start working...I go a lot more in the morning and after breakfast - which is when i take it.