Switching from Aza to 6-MP

[vickie_x]

So I started azathioprine 2 weeks ago at 50mg (with a view to slowly taper up to 100mg) but I never made it past one dose of 75mg before the joint pain became so bad I couldn't move. We spoke to my GI team who advised me to stop it immediately and that they'd issue me a prescription to start 6-MP next Friday.

I'm just interested to know what the difference actually is between the two and if I didn't do so well on one, will I be okay on the other?

x

 

[Terriernut]

Vickie, I understand they a very, very similar drugs. My GI says that some people have less side effects on 6MP than they do on Aza. I dont know if thats true!

 

[beth]

Azathioprine is the pro-drug for Mercaptopurine (6mp). Aza is metabolised into another substance as well which some people have trouble with. If that is the case here you may be better off on 6mp. Or not. Unfortunately it's a matter of trying it and see what happens.