Simponi AND Azathioprine?

[Charlotte.]

My current gastroenterologist suggested adding on Azathioprine to the Simponi. I was always told that there are no studies for Simponi with Aza, only with MTX, which I had a bad reaction to. Anyone on Simponi AND Aza?

 

[ronroush7]

Stelara and aza here.

 

[Charlotte.]

Thank you, Ron! Do you have any side effects since you added the aza? Or have you been on aza before you started Stelara?

 

[ronroush7]

Before the Stelara but I think the aza is thinning my hair out some.

 

[Charlotte.]

Oh, so sorry to hear that. That's what I am worried about as well and also the aspect that my former doctors told me not to add any other drug than MTX (which I don't seem to tolerate well, so I won't ever take that again) to Simponi because there are no studies about the side effects when added to Simponi, as it is one of the "newer" (2009) drugs.
My hair started thinning out again, which always happens when I don't seem to absorb anything properly.
The gastroenterologist rejected vsl#3 (which I would like to try to add on to finally get into remission) because, according to him, there is no evidence.

 

[FrozenGirl]

While there may be no studies I think it's worth a shot. Just make sure you getting blood work regularly to watch for any problems. At one point my GO said of I were going to go to any other biologi he would keep me on Imuran. ( I have since had to stop Imuran but not due to interactions with a biologic).

 

[shamrock15]

Looks like the simponi is similar to remicade. In that case, yes I am on both. The aza was needed to take care of a few remaining symptoms. Been working well for about 7 years.

 

[Charlotte.]

Thank you so much for your experience! Right, Simponi is similar to Remicade, but in comparison to Remicade there have not been studies published yet about Aza on top. I will probably do some research when I have time, maybe I can find something similar.
I'm on Simponi for nearly 3 months (but not yet 3 months) and my rheumy always told me that I should wait at least 3 months to see any improvement (well, earlier would be nice, but it could take 3 months to see something). I see a change in my finger joints, but that's all so far, so why not wait a couple of weeks before adding on something that might have many side effects (don't have any at the moment from the Simponi).
I've heard something about 6 months until Simponi has built up enough efficiency (that was for someone with rheumatoid arthritis)...

 

[ronroush7]

Looks like the simponi is similar to remicade. In that case, yes I am on both. The aza was needed to take care of a few remaining symptoms. Been working well for about 7 years.

Until two or three years ago ,I was on Remicade. I had a rare side effect which cused a lesion in my scalp.

 

[my little penguin]

Tagging maya142
Her Dd is on simponi and Imuran
For JAS and crohns

 

[Maya142]

My daughter was on Simponi with Imuran. The reason was that her FC came back high and M has been on MTX many times and has horrible side effects with it. So we had to try Imuran. She did well on it, mild nausea the first few weeks but no other side effects after that. Her FC did decrease on the Imuran quite a bit.

We eventually switched her Arava because it's more effective for her joints.

The Simponi does seem to help her joints. She's been on it since March but it was really July or August before we saw a real difference. Her hips, knee and back still bother her, but most of her other joints are much better. M is on a pretty high dose and that made a difference - 200mg/month.