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Newly diagnosed - azathioprine help

Posted , 8 users are following.

carrie303
carrie303

I was diagnosed with UC in December following severe food poisoning from chicken in summer last year.

I've had several different cameras - most recently colonoscopy the weekend before easter. Come easter weekend I was away for the weekend and had a flare up. Having no idea what to do (any suggestions if this happens would be grateful).

I went to hospital and my nurse said she wants to change my medication from pentasa to azathioprine. I've read leaflets and it looks like last resort before surgery and quite an aggressive drug. Reading about it suggest side effects have made people very ill.

Does anyone have experience of azathioprine?

As all this is new to me any advise would be grateful.

Thanks Carrie

0 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • tony33900
    tony33900 carrie303

    Posted

    Just a quick note about weight gain on steroids. It's not something you should be worried about, the weight gain is just water weight that will go once you are off the steroids. You aren't gaining fat.

     

    • carrie303
      carrie303 tony33900

      Posted

      Thanks tony. Someone did tell me that but both times my weight has increased substantially and has taken months to come off though real hard work doing weight watchers and a lot of time in the gym. 
    • kate21881
      kate21881 carrie303

      Posted

      Hi Carrie, I've been on aza for about 9 months and am on 200mg I also take steroid enemas every night. I've not had any problems so far.
  • mzmcgee1231
    mzmcgee1231 carrie303

    Posted

    U right its an aggressive drug....please get a second opinion... if it dont sit right with u then its probably not right....it really has bad side affects... my first doctor did the same thing...got a second opinion an come to find out that the first doctor said i had cronhs disease.... the second doctor told me that it was UC an that i was on the wrong medicine.... so my advice get a second opinion... good luck
  • sillip2007
    sillip2007 carrie303

    Posted

    Hi Carrie303

    Like most of the replies on here I also agree that AZA tends to presribed when other drugs are not working.  I am on 150mg of AZA and have been since Jan 2014.  I still have flare ups and am then placed on steroids, which like James mentioned, are great as you do feel like you get part of your life back.

    Aza is definitely not a replacement for steroids.  I started on enemas and steroids when I flared up and then but have now become drug dependant.  (I did not have any side effects from the Aza, just the steroids which gave me bad heartburn).  I have had infliximab which is given when you are exhausting most drug options and no longer repsonding to them. This happens to a few people but most patients seem to be okay on Aza and symptoms start to be alleviated.

    I hope Aza works for you.  You do have regular blood tests so you are kept an eye on, so I would not worry too much.

    Good luck

     

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