Increased dose causing me to throw up - will it stop?

[Soybean]

I started on Imuran 50mg daily a month ago. It caused me to feel nauseous for a couple of hours after taking it but nothing too bad.The hospital Dr increased my dose to 100mg (I take 2 x 50mg tablets) last Wednesday. The 1st two days I felt more nauseous than normal, but yesterday and today I've actually thrown up several times. I take the tablets together before breakfast. After aboot 2 - 3hrs I start throwing up and that then lasts aboot 3 - 4 more hours. It's stopping me from doing anything cos each time I start to move I get really nauseous and need to throw up.

My questions are:- Will I eventually stop being sick? Is there anything I can do to reduce the chance of throwing up?

Thanks so much for any and all of your answers

Soybean xx

 

[Rebecca85]

Try splitting the dose (one tablet with breakfast and one with dinner), and take the pills immediately after food rather than before. The more filling the meal, the less chance of nausea and vomiting too.

 

[Miggles]

I actually had some nausea and vomiting with the 50mg! Yes, it will go away - but I agree about splitting your dose and taking it with food (maybe one at breakfast, one at dinner). If you're getting nausea at bed time, you can take a gravol before bed like I ended up doing. I'm a little nervous a out upping my dose to 100 mg, which should happen in a couple months - I think I might ask if I can go to 75 mg first to avoid side effects if I can.

 

[Soybean]

Thanks guys I will try both those things 2moro.

Miggles, what's a gravol?

It's finally passed now so I've had some food yey! I missed out on a gorgeous cake earlier - I'm gutted lol my partner Sam said to his dad that I must be ill cos I didn't have any cake! Cheeky git! Lol

I hope you are both having a good wknd.

Soybean xx

 

[Soybean]

P.S Miggles, my Dr originally said take 75mg then changed her mind after conferring with the consultant. I reckon going up to 75mg 1st would be a better idea for you so as to minimise the risk of adverse effects. And they make 25mg tablets so its not like you'd have to fuss aboot with a tablet cutter either

Soybean xx

 

[Miggles]

I didn't know they made 25 mg tablets actually! Good to know! And sorry to hear you missed out on the cake! I'm glad you're feeling better though.

Gravol - I'm not sure what they market it as in the UK (?) but it's a common anti nauseant. They use it for motion sickness and boy does it make me sleepy! I think it's called either Dimenhydrinate or Dramamine. Maybe don't take it during the day if you find it.

 

[bwightman]

Hi Siobhan,

One of the things my doctor suggested to help with the nausea is to take the pills at night before you go to bed. I had issues with headaches from the Imuran, but never noticed any nausea...perhaps because I was sleeping through it? I hope you find something that works for you!

Beth

 

[Soybean]

Hey guys, just a quick update. I tried taking the Aza with food 50mg in the morning and 50mg at teatime. I still threw up, infact it was so bad I even woke up during the night to be sick.

I rang my specialist nurse to ask her what I should do on Tuesday. She said the GI dr would probably switch me to 6-MP but he was away till Thursday so she would get back in touch then.

Over the last 3 days I've also been having very dark urine kinda reddy/browny/rusty, and increased itching especially on my hands, feet and head (I've had itching all the way through taking aza but not as bad as the last few days).

I was concerned aboot the dark urine so I rang the specialist nurse again today and left a message. She rang back and said the dr suggested that I stop the aza and start the 6-MP sometime next week (to give my body time to recover from the nausea). She hadn't heard my other message but when I told her what it was aboot she said definitely stop the aza! So if anyone reading this thread has these symptoms (espesh the urine) contact your dr A.S.A.P don't leave it as long as I did.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Soybean xx

 

[Astra]

Hiya Soybean

I was allergic to Aza, itching bleeding hives all over my legs, constant nausea.
So I stopped and tried the Mercap, same thing happened.
I don't think I got dark reddy wee tho.
Can't remember, had a sleep since then!
Good luck
xxx

 

[beth]

Azathioprine made me nauseas so consultant said try 6mp - mercaptopurine. It made me throw up. Spectacularly. Aza is metabolised by the liver into 6mp and some other thing which isn't useful. Sometimes people are allergic to the 'other' metabolite, but many just don't tolerate the 6mp. I ended up having the out of hours doc come out and give me an injection of anti-emetics to stop the vomiting.
Just warning you like

 

[Soybean]

Aww beth mate, thats horrible for you I hope that doesn't happen to me (I giggled at the 'just warning you like' bit though! )

Soybean xx

 

[LUVPICTURES]

I've been on Imuran for 8 years and still get sick. It has helped me out a lot, but it has been just something that I've had to deal with in order for me to have some normality.

 

[e13 boy]

Hi,

I had dreadful bouts of vomiting on Aza & 6mp.I never had the urine problems.
The side affects i suffered were so severe i couldn't carry on.
Hope you feel better ASAP

 

[spingirl]

I was a little queasy at the beginning when I went from 100mg to 150mg but not so much now. Sometimes if I don't eat...but the achy feeling is worse...I'm like a 90 year old woman after sitting for a while. I don't do well with throwing up...its awful and I hope you don't have to deal with it much longer!

 

[Soybean]

Thanks guys, I've not thrown up since yesterday - yey! Still have the dark urine, yellow eyes, itching and pain under my right rib but no pukey pukey so I can and actually want to eat woohoo can you tell I'm happy aboot that?! I'm no longer feeling disorientated either so hopefully things will be back to 'normal' soon.

Soybean xx

 

[spingirl]

Great news!

 

[IAmTheWalrus]

Thanks guys, I've not thrown up since yesterday - yey! Still have the dark urine, yellow eyes, itching and pain under my right rib but no pukey pukey so I can and actually want to eat woohoo can you tell I'm happy aboot that?! I'm no longer feeling disorientated either so hopefully things will be back to 'normal' soon.

Soybean xx

Did you talk to your doc? Yellow eyes and dark urine could be a sign of liver problems, and we all know Imuran can do weird things to your liver. It's the yellow eyes that rang a bell with me, a friend of mine went on a weekend booze bender and when I saw him he said he felt horrible and his eyes were a yellowish colour.

Seems whatever or how much he drank messed up his liver, but he's fine now. Just dont take any chances. :thumleft:

 

[Soybean]

Hey IAmTheWalrus, thanks for your reply. Yeah I spoke to my ibd specialist nurse and she told me to stop the aza. Haven't taken one since last Thursday. The only adverse effect that I still have is the itching but that's getting less and less each day.

Soybean xx