I have the feeling my GI doctor wants to keep me on Imuran indefinitely. Is this safe? I've read all sorts of bad things about Imuran and the idea of being on it long term (I've been taking it for years already) doesn't appeal to me. I'm not even sure if it does any good. Did it slow my Crohn's? Will it keep me in remission longer? I don't know!
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Imuran
- Thread starter Wiles
- Start date
Kev
Senior Member
- Location
- Halifax, NS, Canada
Hey Wiles, you've been on Imuran (Azathioprine) for years without any sign of improvement or stabilization? My question is.. What does your doctor say when you ask WHY he/she is continuing to prescribe it without any indications it is working? Like, I felt all the same fears you did when my GI put me on it. Odd thing is, AFTER I became toxic and had to come off it, my remaining choices (except for LDN, which I thought was a long shot) looked way worse than Imuran. So bad, that I'm glad the LDN is working, and praying that it continues to work for me. Else, I'm back to square one.
I've been on Imuran since I was 19 or so. So I've been on it around 5 years. In those 5 years I've had several flares, those flares were always suppressed with prednisone. It got to the point where pred wasn't keeping it at bay anymore so I needed surgery nearly a year ago. During all that, I wonder, what was the imuran doing for me?
I don't really know the status of my Crohn's right now, I occasionally get bad D and pain for several days, but usually I just have D a few times a day and the pain is pretty mild. I've been having a hard time deciding if it's IBS or Crohn's that is bothering me since my operation.
Does anyone know more about the link between azathioprine and cancer?
I've read it builds up in your DNA and can cause mutation (cancer).
On what dose/time period does this become a problem?
Also, does azathioprine have any withdrawal symptoms?
I'm moving in a few months, so I probably will not see my specialist again. My desire to stop taking imuran is still there, but I don't know if it's the right thing to do. I've been pretty sick (flaring? I don't know anymore) for the past week. I'm afraid that if I don't take it that things will get worse faster. I'm going to University for the first time this fall. I've failed miserably on my other attempts at going back to school, but I was hoping this time would be different because of my operation last year. But I've been sick on and off for the past several months. Every time it happens it seems to be a little worse. I'm nowhere near as sick as I was pre-op, but I'm worried that things are worsening again. I'd loathe to think I went through the operation for nothing.
I've read it builds up in your DNA and can cause mutation (cancer).
On what dose/time period does this become a problem?
Also, does azathioprine have any withdrawal symptoms?
I'm moving in a few months, so I probably will not see my specialist again. My desire to stop taking imuran is still there, but I don't know if it's the right thing to do. I've been pretty sick (flaring? I don't know anymore) for the past week. I'm afraid that if I don't take it that things will get worse faster. I'm going to University for the first time this fall. I've failed miserably on my other attempts at going back to school, but I was hoping this time would be different because of my operation last year. But I've been sick on and off for the past several months. Every time it happens it seems to be a little worse. I'm nowhere near as sick as I was pre-op, but I'm worried that things are worsening again. I'd loathe to think I went through the operation for nothing.
I'm starting to feel a bit better now. I'll be glad when the dizziness goes away.
I have an appointment to see my family doctor on tuesday. I don't know if I'll get to see my GI before I move. It works differently here than where I was seen before. When I was in Nova Scotia I could call my GI's office and I'd either get an appointment or one of the nurses that worked with him would get back to me. Here in New Brunswick my family doctor would have to set up an appointment, and that would probably be a few months down the road.
I'm not too stressed about moving. I'm looking forward to living in Montreal. I am a bit worried about school though, I know the stress of going to school and being unwell has been a problem for me in the past. I am determined to work through it though!
I have an appointment to see my family doctor on tuesday. I don't know if I'll get to see my GI before I move. It works differently here than where I was seen before. When I was in Nova Scotia I could call my GI's office and I'd either get an appointment or one of the nurses that worked with him would get back to me. Here in New Brunswick my family doctor would have to set up an appointment, and that would probably be a few months down the road.
I'm not too stressed about moving. I'm looking forward to living in Montreal. I am a bit worried about school though, I know the stress of going to school and being unwell has been a problem for me in the past. I am determined to work through it though!