Imuran

Question: Should pregnant woman on Imuran take extra folic acid? I have been taking Imuran (aziathioprine) for over a year. I've read it can increase some birth defects like hare lip.Folic acid decreases these type of defects. Can someone tell me if it is safe and/or recommended for woman to take extra?

Answer: This is a question for your doctor because many times the answers you'll get on here are basically answered by people who tried it and it worked or didn't. When it comes to the health of your baby, a professional will give you better answers because we only know how our own body reacted rather than how your body will react. Everyone is different.

Question: Can someone explain the action of Imuran on the disease called Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia? My mother is taking Imuran for BOOP and I know it has to do with suppression of cell mediated immunity. what exactly is this?

Answer: Although the exact mechanism of how Imuran works is not known, it is felt that by inhibiting the immune system, this drug suppresses the "overactive" immune reaction that is responsible for such disorders as your mother's. Medicinenet has a really informative article on the drug here: http://www.medicinenet.com/azathioprine/article.htm Here is also a great article on BOOP and the role of Imuran: http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec05/ch055/ch055b.html

Question: Can someone give me information on the drug imuran? I have been prescribe a drug call imuran for the Interstitial Lung Disease that I have, can someone give me some personal experiences that have gone through with this drug or if it help or if it caused complications. Also, if there is any other immunosuppressant drugs that are better. Imuran is suppose to be a drug that is used to suppress the immune system.

Answer: Below are links that give information on imuran .. (hope this helps). http://health.yahoo.com/rheumatoidarthritis-medications/azathioprine/healthwise--d00024a1.html http://www.rxlist.com/imuran-drug.htm http://arthritis.emedtv.com/imuran/imuran.html

Question: what kind of antibiotic can be taken with imuran? i have been diagnosed with lupus. my rheumatoligist put me on imuran, has recentley increased dose to 100mg. now i have a cough that is starting to give me a sore throat. before i started taking imuran i had an ear infection he told me i couldnt start the imuran until i was off antibiotic for ear. why? now that ive been on it for about 6 weeks can i take antibiotic at least something over the counter?

Answer: I don't believe the problem is between the Imuran and the antibiotic; the problem is between Imuran and the infection that compells you to take the antibiotic. Imuran is an immune-suppressant. Your doctor would not want to give you Imuran until your chest infection had totally cleared and you therefore did not need to take the antibiotics anymore. If you have an infection of any sort and are still taking the Imuran you should contact your doctor immediately - he will probably prescibe an antibiotic and advise you to stop taking Imuran for that time. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon, Lupus sucks but once you learn how to manage it it can get better! Imuran isn't a bad drug in the short term, but it has a history of cancerous side-effects so I hope you don't have to be on it long term. Best Wishes

Question: What is the next step after Imuran? What is the next step (ie: medication) to use if Imuran proves to not be working in autoimmune disorders? Crohns, behcets, arthritis are the diagnosis if that helps.

Answer: it might be worth trying Remicade as it is often useful in CD and Bechets it would be best to discuss this with your doctor

Question: Is there a medicine that is the same as Imuran? my mother has chrones and takes imuran and it has taken a toll on her health. I was woundering if there was a medication that was the same as Imuran or treated the same things that Imuran does?

Answer: Imuran is an immunosuppressive. There are many other immunosuppressive drugs, but they would all have a lot side effects, and I am not sure whether they would be effective for chrones disease or not. She should see her doctor and explain her side effects and see if he can either prescribe her a different med, or something to help with the side effects.

Question: How much alcohol am I able to consume while taking 200 mg of imuran a day? i have been on this medication for a very long time. I am almost 21 and would like to know a safe amount of alcohol I could drink with friends and what not. I'm not looking to get "Trashed", just a couple beers or maybe 3... who knows where my 21st birthday will lead me.. just hopefully not in the hospital due to the medication. Thanks

Answer: azathioprine affects the liver, so reacts badly with alcohol. you should stay away from booze entirely. or make sure your insurance is paid up.

Question: Does anyone know the side effects of stopping Prednisone all at once? I was on 30mg a day and 25mg of imuran.? I have autoimmune hepetitis and was prescibed 30 mg of Prednisone and 25 mg of Imuran. The medicine caused ulcers and bleeding in my stomach and swelling of my stomach and so they told me to completely stop taking the medicines, and now I have what looks to be a rash and I am very itchy and extremely tired. I feel weak all the time and I do not want to do anything. So I was wondering if these were side effects of stopping the medicines all together instead of tapering the dosages down like everything says your suppose to do. Thank you for taking the time to try and help.

Answer: Fortunately NO. I too have developed a rash. I first took Pred. for MS, after discontinuing I developed a rash any time I got too stressed out. This, after 2 years has never resolved. The upshot, at least I know when I need to chill-out. Overall, pred is evil, get to the gym, talk a walk, spend extra time looking for stuff at the grocery...anything just get off that crap. It is not a narcottic so tapering is not an issue. Good Luck!!!!

Question: Is there anyone taking the drug Imuran? I'm currently taking imuran for an autoimmune disorder and I was wondering what your experience with it was. Does is give you nasty side effects like prednisone? Are there any long term side effects? Anything I need to know about it?

Answer: I have been taking it for about 3or 4 months.I have been gradually increased to 150mg.The first three or four weeks I experienced some nausea, diarrhea,fatigue and loss of appetite.I have also been losing hair.So far everything subsided after a few weeks except the hair loss.That should stop after I've been on my 150mg for a while(or so I'm told). WebMd is a good website to check out medications and their side effects. Hope all this helps

Question: Has anyone ever taken imuran before? Is it more or less dangerous than Prednisone? is it dangerous?

Answer: depending on what it is for and the dosages needed, it could be safer. Like the previous poster, all drugs have intrinsic side effects... imuran suppresses the immune system by suppressing Tcells... this means that you could have increased infections or cancer in the long run. Prednisone is best used for short term therapy since corticosteroids have incredible systemic side effects. I would say that (again depending on what it is for) it is best to use either in conjunction with other drugs or one another because it minimizes the side effects of any specific drug mechanism.

Question: Has anyone any experience sunbathing while taking Imuran ? I have been taking Imuran since September 2008 this year I am planning on going to Spain for a few days but I have heard not to sunbath while taking imuran.. Is this true or does it mean just to use a really high factor cream ??

Answer: no way i would say factor 30 suncream is high enough for spain anyway x

Question: Sideffects and warning on the medicine Imuran? I was recently diagnosed with Crohns disease, And im wondering if there's anyone out there that has took or know anyone that have took Imuran and can give me some advise on what i should expect or look out for ? thank you

Answer: http://www.drugs.com/cons/imuran.html

Question: Has anyone experienced side effects on Imuran? i am having nausea all the time, getting sick and tired a lot while i am on this medication. should i go back to my doctor?? i also suffer from colitis

Answer: Azathioprine is also used to treat ulcerative colitis (a condition in which sores develop in the intestine causing pain and diarrhea). Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition. Azathioprine can cause a decrease in the number of blood cells in your bone marrow. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: unusual bleeding or bruising; excessive tiredness; pale skin; headache; confusion; dizziness; fast heartbeat; difficulty sleeping; weakness; shortness of breath; and sore throat, fever, chills, and other signs of infection. Your doctor will order tests before, during, and after your treatment to see if your blood cells are affected by this drug. Azathioprine may increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer, especially skin cancer and lymphoma. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had cancer and if you are taking or have ever taken alkylating agents such as chlorambucil (Leukeran), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), or melphalan (Alkeran) for cancer. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in your skin or any lumps or masses anywhere in your body. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory and ulcerative disease arising in the colonic mucosa, characterized most often by bloody diarrhea. Extraintestinal symptoms, particularly arthritis, may occur. Long-term risk of colon cancer is high. Diagnosis is by colonoscopy. Treatment is with 5-aminosalicylic acid, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, anticytokines, antibiotics, and occasionally surgery. Please see the web pages for more details on Azathioprine (generic name) Imuran (brand name) and Ulcerative colitis.

Question: contact number for the makers of imuran? I have called in the past, but i can no longer find there number through google, imuran or the makers of 6mp

Answer: gsk.com are the makers of imuran, this is their contact page with a couple of phone numbers: http://www.gsk.com/contactus.htm

Question: Anyone taking the drug Imuran? Or any pharmicists that know about it? i'm taking it for my ulcerative colitis, and i'm losing a lot of hair from it :'( im only 15. will the hairloss stop? i'm extremely upset about it.

Answer: nope.. and to stop hairloss use hairfood

Question: Yesterday my doc prescribed me Imuran,but I`m not sure if it`s good for me? I`ve Alopecia Universalis, autoimmune pancreatic and Celiac disease. I take Sulfasalazine N,Controloc and Ibutine.Any experience? What you thing? Thanks in advance!

Answer: I don't have the same thing but i was once given omoperitide and there was a 1 in 10000 change that it would actually make me worse. It did and i just stopped taking it without doctors consent and i recovered faster. Basically doctors work presecriptions by figures and averages. They give you the standard prescription because its standard procedure. But everyones differen't. Basically try it for a while to give it a chance to work; if it doesn't stop taking it and ask for an alternative.

Question: Anyone else taking Imuran for Crohns disease? Just curious as to how your doing and how long you have taken it?

Answer: Hi! I am not taking it for Crohn's but for ulcerative colitis. That along with asacol and for the past year or so Remicaid infusions. The Remicaid is the best thing that has ever happened to me! I have had colitis since I was 10 years old ( I am now 35.). I have been on the Imuran for over 2 years. Best wishes

Question: i ave just started imuran tabs? can anyone tell me anything about them,and do they ave sideeffects.

Answer: Imuran Therapy is an immune system-suppressing drug. That means it can theroretically halt the attack of the immune system on your nerves. I take Imuran for MS (mutiple sceloris). Imuran slows the progression of MS in people who are not responding well to other treatments. Side effects may include: Increased stomach irritation, changes in hair color and texture along w/hair loss, increasing the chance of infection. Nausea and vomiting, Loss of appetite, blood in the urine or stool, unusual bruising, fatigue & development of mouth sores. Increased risk of infection. Because Imuran is an immunosuppresive medication, it can lower the number of white blood cells. Since, I've been taking Imuran I haven't had any problems, but the fatigue, which I've been experiencing w/MS. I hope this informatin helps you. GOOD LUCK!

Question: Is anybody with Crohns disease receiving remicade and imuran together? Is it helping and any side effects?

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Question: Anyone else taking Imuran for Crohns diseaes? Just curious as to how your doing and how long you have taken it?

Answer: I don't know about Imuran, but I know someone who had Crohns disease really bad, and now he is pretty much cured. It was an accident. The doctor started giving him pain pills for an unrelated condition, and the Crohns went away. It may be due to the constipating effect of the pain medication.