Remicade Vs. Imuran

[Shryock86]

So this coming Monday I will be going to see my GI about putting me on Imuran. I have already completed all the tests to determine if I can go on it, and since they all came back good, I should be on it as of this Monday.

I was doing some reading though, and was reading that Remicade has helped a lot of people to get into remission. Now I know everyone is different, but in my particular situation I am on a very tight timetable before I lose my health benefits. I only have 2 more months before I have nothing.

I will talk to me Doctor about this of course, but I was wondering what you guys think could be the better course of treatment ? Also have any of you been on Remicade or Imuran ?

 

[muppet]

6MP/Imuran takes a while to ramp up and work but can be very effective. If you're symptomatic when you start it, you may need steroids to calm things down while it has a chance to work. It's also fairly inexpensive. MUCH cheaper than Remicade if you had to buy it without insurance.

Remicade isn't a drug you take for two months, get better, and then stop. If it works, you stay on it, because going off of it will greatly increase your risk of an allergic reaction if you ever need it again. That said, I have heard of people stopping Remicade when it was working for them but I'm not sure under what circumstances or whether they were able to go back on later.

Both have side effects to be concerned about and the best source of that information is your doc. He should be more than willing to discuss it with you.

Why are you losing your insurance? Can you do anything about it?

 

[Shryock86]

I am on a State program due to my condition (Chrohns) and there is a new "Law" that is ending the program I am on and unfortunately there will be no other programs that I qualify for. So yeah, it would be awesome if somehow I was able to get into remission soon. Also, thank you for your reply on the medication.

 

[Mark in Seattle]

Maybe you could load up on some entocort through your doc before your insurance runs out. Don't know whether you've ever tried it, but it's expensive medication. Might be nice to have some provided by your insurance before it runs out in case it proves helpful for you. Might even load up on some Asacol as well; another expensive drug. I have used them both; they can be somewhat helpful, depending on the person.

I would not consider remicade for a 2 month time period personally due to the antibody formation that muppet mentioned. Every gi I've talked to, and every literature report I read says that once you start the biologic, you don't stop until it either quits working or gives unacceptable side effects.

Maybe you could find some clinical trial that would enable a longer term treatment with remicade.

Anyhow, good luck with whatever course you pursue. Having Crohn's without insurance is a frightening thought. Having no insurance period is a frightening thought. Best of luck with getting some form of insurance or assistance.

 

[Lydia]

I have had both drugs work really well for me. Both have put me in remission. My body recently rejected the remicade so I am trying imuran again and hoping for similar results. Its not fun being on prednisone waiting for imuran to kick in though.