Starting azathioprine

[Crohn's_Doll]

Hi all, it's been awhile.. Just a quick update.

I've been tapering off the prednisone now at 5 mg/day with symptoms coming back, bloating, some pain in the LRQ, heartburn ( this is new ) low grade fevers, general blah feeling etc.. Small bowel series showed mucosal thickening, dr finally got ahold of my CT scan done in 2008 and it showed active crohn's. I'm starting Azathioprine tomorrow, says I should take 3 tablets daily (50 mg). Do any of you know if they are to be taken all at once or throughout the day? Once I'm on this for a month and they have monitored my blood work, I'll be starting humira. I'm sure I'll have loads of questions along the way.

Shaz: did you start this med yet?

Hope you guys are well.. Hang in there everybody!

 

[shazamataz]

Hi there,

Nope I haven't started it. I really didnt want to and since my bowels are feeling pretty good and my inflammation markers are normal on the pred taper (at 10 now) doc agreed I could give it a go using my more natural methods.
I expect it is probably inevitable in the future but I have heard some people can get a flare under control with pred and then maintain things for some time. Maybe it's a silly decision, time will tell. I do feel really unwell generally which I have heard is a side effect of reducing pred - aches, terrible fatigue, depression and anxiety, but again, bowels seem to be doing their job nicely with few issues - just the occasional twinge.
I'd actually be interested in hearing of anyone else who has managed with no meds for a period of time.
Oooh, the heartburn thing? I think that is what I have been having too. Feels all strange in chest area? This has only started since I began iron supplements so i thought it may be because of them.
Anyway, hope the aza goes well. I will likely be joining you in the future once I can get my head around it!

 

[imisspopcorn]

Hi Crohn's Doll....When I took Azathioprine, I started out at 50mg once daily and the doctor increased the dose after 4 weeks. I never started out at such a large dose. Maybe you should double check with your doctor...? Good luck, I hope this is the right combination for you.

 

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

Hello.
I started off at 100mg a day. But I couldnt take it, not blood wise tht was fine. But I had a low enzyme or something. So now im on 50mg a day and tht is fine.
imisspopcorn - im not 100% sure but I think they decide the dosage by weight.
xxx

 

[beth]

Hmm, as others have said starting at 150mg (3 x 50mg) a day is pretty steep! I started at 50mg and after 3 weeks was about to bump it up to 100mg when I started to feel really horrible, nauseous, and an evil LRQ pain. Weekly blood tests were fine. Doc's told me I was off that one all the same.

So, err, you should check with your docs, CD, that you really are expected to jump in rather than ramp up the dose.

 

[imisspopcorn]

I was eventually on 150mg..but he just increased the dose gradually.

 

[vintage-girl]

hi I was started on 50 for 2 weeks then up to 125 and yeh it goes by weight

 

[Crohn's_Doll]

Thanks for the replies... Apparently I'm supposed to take the 3 tablets daily at the same time. Seems like a lot to me by what you guys have started at. LOL maybe I'm too fat!! I did gain weight with the pred. I'm 5' 7" and 147 lbs.

 

[katiesue1506]

Nah, I take 150mg a day at the same time. I've noticed some people taper up... but I never did, both times I've been on it, its been 150mg daily. I'm 5'5" and 150

 

[Tan]

Hi Crohns Doll,

I started on aza just over 4 weeks ago was on 50mg for the first week then 100mg from then on. I take mine all at the same time. I have been experiencing nausea and generally not well for the last 4 days but I think thats cause I just came off pred last week and my GI has now put me back on it! But I did find everytime I tapered on the pred I felt like I was going backwards for a few days, didn't have issues with D but got nausea back & just really run down and tired. Oh and I also have aches and pains.

Good luck on the aza I hope it works for you, I just went for another blood test today so hopefully that comes back ok and the drug isn't having an adverse effect on my body.

 

[Cookie]

Hi Crohn's Doll,

I also gradually increased my dose from 50mg up to 150mg. My doc said it's like turning on a hot water faucet...if you turn it on too hot at first, it can burn you, so you gradually increase it. That said, when I got up to 150mg, I started experiencing very bad nausea and dizziness. That dose proved to be too much for me, but I am only 120 pounds. I did take mine all at once, however, it has been discussed on here on other threads and there are many people who space theirs throughout the day, so i would definitely talk to your dco about it. Good luck!

 

[designerbabe6]

i am on the same dose as you and i take them all at the same time in the morning

 

[surinderkaushal]

Hi crohn's friends. I was on predlisone 20 mg. there was a relief in my abd pain.Fortnightly doze was gradually decreased and at 10 mg doze of predlisone, azoran started at 50 mg. now azoran after fortnight increased to 75 and predlisone decreased to 5 mg. But I am not comfortable with my abd pain. I also having backache, headache, body pains. I do have with any of these medicines short breath. Now also i am totally constipated.

 

[surinderkaushal]

hi. I am advised to gradually increase the doze of azoran