Should I stop taking (Mercaptopurine) 6MP?

[Crohny]

I consider myself very fortunate now that I have discovered Gluten is the cause of all my pain/problems.
It's been 2 years now and I am almost positive I could get by without maintenance medication.
Is there any reason I should continue to take 6MP? What are the not obvious dangers of quitting a maintenance drug like this?
Does it lose it's efficacy when reintroduced, or is that only Humira & Remicade?

 

[David]

Hi Blake,

If you have been diagnosed with Crohn's disease or Ulcerative Colitis, and your only symptoms at present are due to gluten, I wouldn't definitely NOT stop taking 6-MP. It is an excellent medication and is likely why your IBD symptoms are under control. People with IBD often have gluten allergy or sensitivity so I'm not surprised that you're experiencing that. But if you cut out gluten and went off the 6-MP, your IBD symptoms may come back with a vengeance. It's not worth the risk in my opinion.

You do not lose response to thiopurines (6-MP/azathioprine) like you can to biologics because you don't build up antibodies to it. They may stop working for one reason or another, but many people stay on them for well over a decade and they're excellent maintenance medications.

 

[Jennifer]

If you didn't actually have IBD and it was Celiac then I wouldn't see the point in continuing 6MP but if not then its very likely that both diet and the 6MP are helping you. I took 6MP for 15 years and think its a wonderful medication personally. Always speak with your GI before stopping any medication. As mentioned the most obvious danger for quitting maintenance meds like this one is having symptoms return and dealing with extra scar tissue which will put you at risk of needing surgery in the future (even small amounts of chronic inflammation builds up scar tissue over time). I wish you luck but if you do decide to stop taking it please let your GI know.

 

[Crohny]

Excellent advice, thank you both!
Scar tissue would definitely be a major concern... I will check with my GI.