Terrible nausea/vomiting on Azathioprine

[glcgail]

I was started on 50mg of Aza four weeks ago and increased to 125mg three weeks ago. About a week after that I started feeling nauseous about 4 hours after taking it. I always take it with food but it doesn't seem to help.

I know nausea is a side effect of Aza but this seems to be getting worse for me to the point that I'm now vomiting with it. I feel constantly nauseous and now dread taking my meds.

I've tried taking them at night but wasn't even able to sleep through the nausea which woke me up after which I promptly vomited (- sorry if that's too much detail!!).

Today I'm trying splitting my dose. I felt really sick after the first half this morning and have just taken the second half with my dinner tonight.

Does anyone have any other advice for dealing with the nausea?

 

[Bld]

I had exactly the same to the point I was sick for 4 straight hours after taking just one tablet after a week on 150mg. My consultant advised me to have a two week break and then start on 50mg again (I was ok for the first week on 50mg) and stay on 50mg long term as it is better than nothing. If the sickness starts again he is going to try 6-MP. It is a horrible feeling, I know!!

 

[Manzyb]

I had the same problem. I would vomit so badly to the point of dehydration, on imuran. I would get horrible night sweats and then the nausea would start, and I would throw up so much.

Have you talked to the doc about anything to treat the nausea? Maybe that could help?

I couldn't take 6MP either. I did the vomiting thing and then I ended up with pancreatitis from it :/

I hope you get some answers! I would definitely call the doctor.

 

[2thFairy]

I had nausea that got worse and not better over time (even with anti-nausea meds), and vomiting starting at 5 weeks. I had pain and nausea after eating 2 bites of food. At 6 weeks, I was waking from a dead sleep just to vomit. Blood tests were done and determined I had developed pancreatitis. And this was just on 50 mg!

PLEASE contact your doctor just to make sure everything is okay. Pancreatitis can be very dangerous if not caught early.

 

[glcgail]

Thanks for the replies all. I'm seeing my consultant on Friday so will definitely talk to him about it then. In the meantime, I'm now splitting my dose three ways as twice was still making me nauseous and that seems to have helped.

Now my problem seems to be headaches (which could be caused by the heat of the last couple of days) and extreme tiredness. I do a day at work and by the end of it I'm absolutely exhausted.

Will see what the consultant says on Friday.