Low Hemoglobin due to Imuran/methotrexate

[wozzicat]

Hi Everyone,

I do not have crohn's but my husband does. He has been told by two different people he is the worst case they have ever seen.

When he takes the immuno suppresive drugs, it basically eats his hemoglobin and any red blood cells he has left. The dr.s can't figure out why. Needless to say, his choice of drugs are really limited. The only thing that works is a high dose of prednisone which obviously isn't any good for him.

Did this happen to anyone else? Do you know why? He is on coumadin so we wonder if that has something to do with it.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jen:ybatty:

 

[Kev]

Hi Jen. sorry to hear of this development in your hubby's illness. wish I could help. I haven't heard of this, and I've never heard of that drug 'coumadin' before either.

What immuno suppressors is he currently taking? Is it just steroid therapy (pred?)

If yes, before he goes on remicade or humira, you may want to research LDN. I am into my 5th week on it, (4 weeks and 2 days) yet it has given me 'marked' improvement... I figure, if what he is currently trying isn't working, and doc's don't know why, then you may want to give LDN a try. It's experimental in the fact that there has only been one trial to date in treating IBD (very successful)
AND there is another $500,000.00 trial just getting underway, BUT.. it's still a long way from being 'accepted' within the general medical community. The only reason I mention it is that it offers 'another' option... one doctors may dismiss unless the patient brings it to their attention. I won't try to sway you (or he) one way or the other. My condition was pretty severe when I finally started on it... but nowhere near as bad as your husbands. His 'critical' state of health may not permit him to get thru the 1st weeks it apparently takes for LDN to do its thing. If he is already on remicade, and it fails to work.. if you reach a point where doc's take him off remicade, and say that humira or surgery are the only options left... then perhaps take a moment to consider the LDN option first, OK

Just a thought from someone who would like to help, and took a chance which seems to be really paying off for me. thought you'd like to at least be told of it as a 'possible' option. it has about an 89% success rate, it has been tested, it is a drug thats' been around for a long time. The side effects are very 'tame', and it is an FDA approved drug (just was never approved for treating IBD). Any doctor can prescribe it ethically and legally for IBD, the practice is referred to as 'off label' prescription (since the drug was initially proferred for the treatment of alcohol or opiate dependancy). that's pretty much the case for going with LDN

 

[D Bergy]

Why does your husband take Coumadin? Is he taking it just to thin the blood or does he have an artificial heart valve. The reason I am asking is that an artificial heart valve can cause destruction of the red blood cells. And many heart valve patients take blood thinners.

The Coumadin could be causing a bleed through the intestinal tract that is going unnoticed. You would think it would be noticeable though. Sounds like he may be losing blood somewhere.

LDN is a good option. Kev and me and one other member are on it right now. Do a search on the forum and you will find a lot of information on it.

Dan Bergman

 

[wozzicat]

coumadin

Hi There,

He is prone to blood clots. He will be on coumadin for the rest of his life.

 

[lamor32twigs]

I am currently on imuran and don't really have problems with low hemoglobin from it, but occasionally run low white cells because of it. I wonder if it is the combo of his meds that cause him to have more problems with it.

Maybe you can ask the docs if they would consider letting him use epogen with it to see if it would give him the boost he needs but still allow him to use the medications. Epogen is a shot that stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.
Just a thought.