6-MP (also called 6-mercaptopurine or its brand name Purinethol) is a relatively common immunosupressive medication. Like most ulcerative colitis medications, you need to have a prescription and guidance from your treating physician to use this medication.
People using 6-MP may have a harder time with fighting off infection.
There are many documented side effects (as is the case with many medications) and some of these may include: vomiting, loss of appetite, skin rashes, dark urine. There is also a chance that 6MP may be toxic to bone marrow. More details about the medication and its possible side effects can be found on wikipedia’s 6MP page – here.
If you have used/use 6-MP to treat your UC, please submit a review on your experience and rating of the medication below.
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I was on 6MP for a few weeks and it made me extremely sick-violent vomiting after taking. It turns out I have a gene that does allow my body to properly process this drug and therefor makes it toxic. Please be sure to get tested for this (TPMT) prior to taking!
It worked well for daughter for 6 years (along with Lialda). Moved to Entyio to reduce chance of getting cancer due to the length of time she was on 6-MP raising her chance of getting cancer.
I was on 6MP for a number of years, I'm thinking at least 7 years, or two colonoscopies. I did okay and it kept down the inflammation except for the flare up here and there. The problem is my GI found out that long term use can create a risk of "malignant lymphoma." Other than that, it was just the balsalazide until my last flares which had much more inflammation leading to a Prednisone taper and now Remicade infusion.
I started 6MP (50mgs/day)when the asacol stopped being effective in stopping flares and sustaining a health gut. Used it for more than 10 years at 25-50mgs/ day. It takes sometime for the 6MP to kick in but it did help me. Until recently I took the asacol as well at 400/3x/day, and if I did have a flare I used prednisone at 20-30mgs/day for a couple weeks taper. So several actors here, not just 6MP
6 MP worked for 6 or 8 months. Then it became ineffective and eventually graduated to remicade. Still have to take 6 MP as a requisite for taking Remicade and it concerns me.
I am on mp6, it has kept me in remission for 18 months but my gastro tells I must come off it now because of my age I am 78 and had uc for 19 years. My monthly blood tests were showing results just above border line, I will be sorry to come off it. He says I can try either Methotrexate or Humira as a alternative.
Mercaptopurine didn't work, and side effects of fatique and weakness.
The 6-MP worked well for me for about 4 years. No side effects, blood tests always good except for one time the doc tried to increase and my white blood cell count went way up. That was after taking it for almost the 4 years. Had to go off as it was not working any more.
I had severe UC in my entire colon and 6-MP did absolutely nothing so we moved on.
Had to stop immediately because of the sensation of a pincushion turned inside out squeezed with a vise in my midsection. Pancreatitis.
I started site shortly after being diagnosed in October of 2008 with severe pancolitis (when my whole colon was inflamed).
For me, it was a very rough start with severe symptoms. Getting bounced from medication to medication was not easy or too helpful. But, I did meet another UC’er, changes several parts of my diet, and of course the rest is history.
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