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Nausea and vomiting on Azathioprine

Posted , 11 users are following.

Miss_uc2015
Miss_uc2015

i was diagnosed with UC in April this year and currently taking prednisone and Azathioprine. My specialist is reducing my prednisone dose while slowly upping my Aza dose. I've been on Aza for 4 weeks now and things started off well but the last week I have started really bad nausea and vomiting which starts around 2 hours after I take the tablet and lasts for around 2-3 hours. I use to take the tablets in the morning after breakfast but due to the vomiting I changed to after dinner so it doesn't effect my work life. I always take after food but it doesn't seem to make a difference.  Day 9 and I'm struggling and feel like I'm at breaking point. Has anyone else had a similar experience? My specialist has just suggested seeing if the side effects subside but I'm over it.  

1 like, 19 replies

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  • janet06428
    janet06428 Miss_uc2015

    Posted

    Hi.i had the same symptoms as you are having.also dizziness.i started splitting my dose of steroids and aza into two doses.one in the morning and one with my evening meal.also taking omeprozole twice daily helped with that horrible sicky feeling.hope this helps it's not pleasant is it? If the actual sickness carries on I would see the doc again as your meds might not be working.take care I hope you feel better soon x
  • stephaney28634
    stephaney28634 Miss_uc2015

    Posted

    Hi, I am on Azathioprine 50mg. I was on 4 tablets for my crohns of vulva flare up it made me feel sick, so went down to 3 tablets again.
  • Skydriver
    Skydriver Miss_uc2015

    Posted

    Try taking the tablets just before going to bed. Hopefully you will sleep through the nausea feelings. I got mild headaches for about a month after hitting the full dose, so took them at bedtime and no more headaches! I know it's a long shot and you could be awake all night being sick, but maybe worth a try? Good luck either way.
  • tony4455
    tony4455 Miss_uc2015

    Posted

    Hi MissT89. Yes this happened to me as well. I was taking both after breakfast and feeling very nauseous about 3 hours afterwards. My consultant told me to continue with the Pred after breakfast but to take the Aza during my evening meal. This did the trick. He also prescribed Metoclopramide. Good luck
  • keifer13826
    keifer13826 Miss_uc2015

    Posted

    Hi yes my son also suffers nausea.  He has been a bit dizzy and headache but not very often.  He suffers very badly of his stomach blowing up extremely like bloating, this he suffers from more than anything and that pain that goes with it. He takes pred 35mg and azath 100mg both together with breakfast he has omeprazole on an empty tummy first and then the others half hour later.  His Doc has just given him some antinausea pill to take if he needs to.  Not a very nice side affect I feel for all of you.
  • terri13923
    terri13923 Miss_uc2015

    Posted

    I have been taking methylprednisolone since july 2015, (started with 32 mg now on 12 mg). I have been taking Azathioprne 100 mg for 5 weeks. (Dx: Igg4 inflammatory process). Just like you I was doing ok with Aza then when week 4 came around I started with a rash, extreme nausea & vominiting 2 hours after taking tghe Aza. I take it with food and with zofran but it doesn't help.Today I've had a fever of 100.0. My doctor says if I was going to get an allergic reaction it would have been right after I began the Aza. I'm so sorry you are not feeling weel but when I read that your side effects occurred 4 weeks into treatment, it made me feel better. I read on another site by a nurse, that most side effects occur 2 -4 weeks after beginning Aza. I also get very sharp pain in my uppert abdomen that radiates to my back, with chest pain. Does anyone else experience this?
    • Miss_uc2015
      Miss_uc2015 terri13923

      Posted

      Hi Terri

      yes I was also told a reaction would have started almost straight away but that wasn't my case. The day I stop taking it I stopped vomiting. 

      I don't get the sharp pains however I've been told by several doctors this is a common symptom of disease rather the medication. Either way I hope it eases for you. 

    • stephaney28634
      stephaney28634 Miss_uc2015

      Posted

      Hi, the doctor I saw gp practice told me up to the higher dose again along with anti nauseous tablets. See him again next week.
    • terri13923
      terri13923 Miss_uc2015

      Posted

      Dr. stopped AZA. Rash stopped after the 4th day of stopping the AZA. No more nausea. I feel so much better. Still have a lot of fatigue and anxiety but I think this is from the Methylprednisolone. Does anyone know how long it takes for the fatigue to go away once you totally stop the methylprednisole? Thanks
    • jamie42145
      jamie42145 terri13923

      Posted

      I get the same symptoms. Been on Aza 50mg for 12weeks along with what was my 4th period of prednisalone for crohns. The combination of the two worked great. But when my steroids ended my Aza dose was upped to 100mg. I've been on Aza on its own for a week and I'm really suffering. I've tried different times of day but no use. A few hours after taking them I get dizzy, nauseous and start vomiting but also accompanied by crippling abdominal pain high up that goes through to back ache. Back at the doctors next week where I think I'll have to ask for some gastro resistant tablets because I can't go on with this every day.

  • Jokuar
    Jokuar Miss_uc2015

    Posted

    Yes I had exactly the same reaction to Azathioprine after about 10 days. I tried taking just before bedtime but it didn't work  either. At the request of IBD nurse I stopped the Aza for 3 days then tried again.

    I had same symptoms again plus an awful flu-like lethargy.

    I stopped and specialist put me on 6-Mercaptopurine instead. I've been taking this for 6 weeks and all OK at the moment.

    Good luck

    Pete

    • Miss_uc2015
      Miss_uc2015 Jokuar

      Posted

      Hi pete sorry to hear your going through the same thing. I'm also on mercaptopurine and have been for about 9 weeks. I started off fine but have now started to have what seems to be a reaction I'm on day 3 of vomiting and having cold/hot flushes, I went to the GP today and it also appears my blood pressure has gone up. Hoping you have better luck then me. 
    • Miss_uc2015
      Miss_uc2015 Jokuar

      Posted

      Have you had any side effects from the Mercaptopurine?
    • Jokuar
      Jokuar Miss_uc2015

      Posted

      Hi T89

      Sorry I didn't realise your original post was 3 months ago.

      I don't have any nausea on 6MP but still get occasional headaches tiredness and bloating. These may just be part of the CD symptoms it's hard to know really.

      I shall watch out for any changes around week 8/9 and keep my fingers crossed.

      After reading some of the forums it appears we are both on a well recognised progression (from one medication to the next) though I'd rather not think about that too much whilst CD is in remission.

      Wishing you good luck and health too

  • janeth54
    janeth54 Miss_uc2015

    Posted

    I was started on 50mg of azathioprine for a flare of lymphacitic colitis, im already on humira for my Crohns. My symptoms began within a week, they are severe hearburn, indigestion, and what i can only describe as motion sickness. Horrible nausea, dizziness and vomiting, which is very acidic. Sometimes its just bile and food only makes it worse. Its been going on since the beginning of October. Ive started taking it at night and it seems to be a little better, but over all im still having symptoms. I stopped it for a few days once but i couldnt tell if it made a difference. Anyone have similar reaction. Sorry if this wasnt helpful to you MissT89
    • Jokuar
      Jokuar janeth54

      Posted

      I think something else needs to be prescribed if you are vomiting frequently as that will affect your general health and ability to fight off other symptoms/illnesses.

      I had similar reaction to Aza after about 9 days and did try a brief break and retried (as IBD nurse recommended) and nausea etc came back again. So I was advised to stop the Aza.

      As detailed above I've been on 6-MP ever since and so far so good.

      Hope that helps

      Pete

    • janeth54
      janeth54 Jokuar

      Posted

      Thanks Pete W. Im going to speak with my doctor next week. Actually I have and I need to get some lab work done before he makes any decsions. I appreciate your advice and send blessing of continued good health to you and anyone else who hasnt felt well. Happy Holidays.

      Janet

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