Well I tried the Azathioprine (Imuran in Canada) and after being only on 50mg a day for about three weeks I started getting really nauseated after taking my dose for about an hour or so after. I was sick to the point of not being able to move off the couch and I worried it was just a combo of all the pills that I was taking at once. So I decided to take the Azathioprine by itself only to realize it was the culprit. I phoned my doctor and they took me off it immediately and made me go for blood work the next day, which worried me as they side effects can be harmful to your liver and to your bone marrow (so my doc told me) I have yet to hear about my results but I’m sure it will be fine as I was not on the full dose. I just thought I would put my experience out there for anyone else who has had strange side effects from Azathioprine.
Thanks
Melanie
Canada
May 12, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Melanie,
very similar to my reaction to Azathioprine (6-MP) only it gave me fevers as well. I guess it works for some people but it wrecked me.
Paul
December 3, 2011 at 7:29 am
i have uc/crohns i was put on 50mg azathionprine i was told it would take 9 days to enter my syntom but within hour and a half of taking my first my dose i was violent sick flu syntom accured and had very bad headache and dizzie spells all in all felt like crap my body was totaly intolarent to this meddication so to anyone reading this beware of taking this meddication
May 14, 2010 at 12:36 pm
That’s strange that some meds do things to some people and not others. My docs response was that some of his patients get sick from it. Besides I’m pretty much in remission and slowly getting off the prednisone as well so I will be happy to just be on Asacol which give me no side effects!
May 21, 2010 at 1:55 am
I am on triple the amount you are on, I’m on 150 mg a day and I get quiet nauseated i have to get bloods taken every monday to check for neutropenia as that is a common side effect and risk.
July 13, 2010 at 10:50 am
Well I am going to try another 6-MP and see if it works but if it makes me sick my doc told me to stop taking it as well! *shrugs* It really gets frustrating as I am on the cusp of remission but just can’t seem to get over that last little bump! Wish me luck! lol
July 23, 2010 at 11:28 am
I was on Imuran for 2 weeks at a dose of 175mg. I had to get off after that becuase of extreme nausea and vomitting. Each night precisily 5 hours after I took the medicine I would be throwing up. I had to eventually go to the ER and they found that the Imuran had given me pancreaitis as well.
This drug did not work for me. The doctor has recently prescribed me Remicade. I am unsure if I will go along with it..
BECAUSE…
I am currently on the SCD diet, 3rd week and I am starting to feel so much better, formed BM approx 3 times a day versus the D I was experiencing 10+ times a day.
Wish me luck!
July 24, 2010 at 9:24 am
Jessica,
that is great that you are doing better with diet right now! Keep up the feeling better, that is awesome, and congrats!
November 27, 2010 at 10:43 am
I was on aziotheoprine 3 pills a day for several months 4 to be exact,started feeling better but getting very sore joints.I also started getting tender skin and what appeared to be a invisible rash.I have been off for a little over a week and starting to loose the joint pain,still experiencing rash like symptons at this time.I started my first dose of methotrexate and have been ok accept experiencing stomache pain after dinner time that i have never experienced before.Any comments or similar experiences anyone.I dont now if it is due to coming off imuran or the new metotrexate???
November 27, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Hey Kevin, when you say the invisible rash, are you talking about something that was really itchy, but nobody could see it type of thing? Or was your skin redish?
The reason I ask is because I also developed some rash like stuff after trying Humira for my UC, but it was definitely visible, quite red and the doctors ended up saying it was Psoriasis. But at the same time, I had all kinds of joint pains that started up. In speaking with a ton of others on this site and on the facebook page, it seems quite clear to me now that a whole bunch of people with UC get joint pains from time to time. But not nearly as many talk about rash like stuff. I hope you can shake off the stomach pain with your new medications. I guess what I am trying to say is it seems that some of the symptoms like joint pains at least might be more related to the disease itself. I still get them from time to time and I have been off all medications for about 14 months now. do you notice the joint stuff more when you are in a bad flare or is it indifferent to how the traditional UC symtoms are for you?
April 29, 2011 at 6:23 am
I was on azathioprine and methotrexate together. I was ill after half an hour of taking the azathioprine, stomach pain, vomitting, shaking, freezing etc. I was taken off it immediately and replaced it with prednizone.I now take methotrexate(retinal vasculitis), prednizone, eltroxin(thyroid),concor (heart),atacand (heart). I have never been ill till 3 years ago when diagnosed with retinal vasculitis and it has snowballed from there. Its frustrating, as there is no cure!!!!!!
June 9, 2011 at 5:55 am
With Rheumatoid Arthritis I was prescribed Azathioprine and after a month had excrutiating back pain which eventually was diagnosed as pancreatitis. Was admitted to hospital for 3 weeks where after lots of tests and scans it was discovered that the Azathioprine had damaged my pancreas and caused the stomache and bowels to become inflammed. Now, 3 years later I have to take creon before meals as I can’t digest food properly. Also I am diabetic. The nausea is controlled with cyclazine. My bowels are still affected and am having more scans and tests to find out how inflammed they are. It is unbelievable how one little tablet can cause so many problems. Unfortunately now I do can’t take any anti inflammitory drugs or any medication to help with the arthritis apart from pain killers and the odd steroid therapy.
I am awaiting 2 hip replacements and another knee replacement plus both thumb joints are being replaced too. Shoulders have been operated on twice, elbow and hand. The list is never ending. Only POSITIVE thing is that the surgeons CAN do something to ease the pain. I am a very strong person and get on with my life. Though, I do wish that I was never prescribed Azathioprine.
September 19, 2011 at 7:17 am
I find i am having bad nightmares which I think only started when I started taking Azothioprine .Has any one had a similar experience
November 6, 2011 at 7:58 am
I am on this medication for Non Alcoholic Cirrhosis caused by Autoimmune Hepatitis. I have been on it for several months and keep feeling worse and worse. I have started getting nauseated (I take the medication with food), bruising getting worse, my hair is falling out, am VERY tired, having diarrhea and my joints and muscles ache to the point that I cry. I work at a job where I stand a minimum of 7.5 hours a day, sometimes longer, and am miserable. I go to see the doctor this week. The joint/muscle aches are new and because I have liver damage, I can only take one pain med and it doesn’t touch the pain I have. The alternative to taking this med is dying of liver failure…not much choice here.
December 26, 2011 at 9:18 am
Louise,
My husband (59) also has cirrhosis (non alcoholic) caused by autoimune hep and is taking Azathioprine. He was on steroids for a year along with the AZA and now has a strange outbreak of bleeding blisters on his hands. He suffered a sudden attack of diverticulitis and was on cipro and another antibiotic when he suddenly got a bladder infection. Both issues abated but he sometimes sees blood in urine and thinks he is dying for sure. He also now has joint pain starting in his hands which is quite painful We are hopin he will eventually be able to come off thsie med. Wish things were different!
Feel free to reply
Pat
December 2, 2011 at 7:18 am
I have been on azathioprine for a little over a year now after having an ilectomy and cecectomy for Chrones disease. I went from 50 mg to 200mg bc the levels were not high enough in my blood tests. The only thing I noticed is that it makes me tired and I did have an “invisible” rash one day where I itched everywhere. I took an oatmeal bath, used cotizone cream and Benadryl and it didn’t go away for 3 days. I haven’t had any other problems, the prednisone I was on for 3 months after made me gain a lot of weight and my face broke out. I haven’t really had any problems but the pancreatitis is scaring me reading these posts. How common is it to develope this from the medicine??!!
January 18, 2012 at 4:20 pm
I’ve taken azathioprine for about 18 months now, i take 150mg a day. I was weaned from cyclosporin onto these and have had no side effects from them (unlike the cylosporin which the side effects were awful) i have however had a few nasty flare ups since being onit so its obviously not 100% effective for me but I haven’t had any problems with side effects at all.
January 18, 2012 at 5:16 pm
I was on 50mg Aziathioprine, it took massive effect I was also on Ciclosporin an Mesalzine, aziathrioprine in 3 weeks time the doctor put my dose up of aziathioprine to 150mg. Within a week I was having high temperature and feeling very ill. I suddenly passed out one morning and went in to hospital to find out my white blood cells where very low and they started treating me an took me off all medication. So the doctor told me I’m still a bit aneamic. Be careful with Aziathioprine, especially on a high dose
January 19, 2012 at 1:18 am
My rheumatologist is planning to start me on Imuran for Behcet’s, which is causing Ischemic Colitis (I have been having flares every time I go down to 40 mg. of Prednisone). I am nervous after having read about Imuran’s side effects- I already suffer greatly from joint pains and extreme fatigue. (Currently, my alternative is Remicade and I am not too psyched about that either, but I just want to be careful.)
My doctor was even initially hesitant to begin Imuran, since my TPMT levels were quite low (16). It seems like people that are going to have major reactions have them almost right away, while those for whom it works great aren’t noticing effects for some time. I am afraid I won’t know the difference between a life-threatening side effect and a major flare…
Did anyone notice a correlation between their TPMT levels and negative experiences with Azathioprine?