HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

IMURAN...PLEASE HELP!!

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/8/2007 5:05 PM (GMT -6)
Once again, hello to all of you's!! the reason i am posting this as i finally had the nerve to start the imuran which was on tuesday. so here is the scoop....i haven't been feeling well at all since i started it. i am on 100mg/day and was told to take it in the am. every day has been different symptoms such as dizziness (only lasted one day and for a couple of hours) mid stomach discomfort-sore, hurts, but no pain, loss of appetite, diahrea and tired!! i called the doctors office on friday because i was concerned about these symptoms i have been having and how crapty i have been feeling since i started these on tuesday. friday am i cried, just wanting to give up on everything!! i didn't want to eat anymore, take anymore pills and just wanted to give up! i am sure it was all out of frustration but i am just so...frustrated, and sick of being sick all ready! i am sure alot of you's can relate to that comment too! my question is....for any of you's who have been on it and/or are still on it, did these symptoms of feeling horrible and just wanting to shut out the world because of feeling so bad go away? tuesday will only be one week that i have been on the imuran but i need some kind of hope to not give up on this too soon as i am ready to stop taking them without waiting for the call from my doctor (prob on monday) i am sorry if i have whined about this but i am having a tough time on this feeling so....terrible and just wanting to sleep the rest of my life away. i am hoping that someone out there can tell me something positive so i dont give up!!
Posted 9/8/2007 5:24 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Laura lee,
First here is a Big Hug for you. I have been on Imuran for over 2 years and I am doing fine with
drug. I am sorry you are not feeling well. If you still not feeling well I would get into see youur doctor
asap.

TBW
Posted 9/8/2007 5:35 PM (GMT -6)
Laura Lee,

I am sorry you are feeling so bad.  I know where you are coming from.  I have been there myself from time to time.  I am taking 150mg of Imuran everyday for about a year now.  I take it in the morning with my breakfast and I feel fine with it.  It did however take a little time for it to work.  I was told that it takes about 3 months to feel the full effect.  If you are still so sick on monday I would definitely call the doctor.  Keep us posted.

Debbie

Posted 9/8/2007 5:49 PM (GMT -6)
Did they give you a reason why you should take it in the morning?  Some people who have trouble with side effects take it before bed, so they can sleep through the worst of it.

I was less than impressed with Imuran at first, too.  I've been on it for about 10 weeks now, and I'm finally starting to feel better.  It just takes a while to work it's way into your system.  My original GI took me of Pred too soon, and the Imuran wasn't up to speed yet, so I was feeling pretty rough for a while.  My new GI got me back on Pred and doubled my Imuran- I had only been on 50mg/day- and now that the Imuran is starting to work we're going to taper off the Pred again.  Maybe you need a little extra help while you wait for the Imuran to kick in.

Hope things get better for you soon.

Posted 9/8/2007 5:51 PM (GMT -6)
When I was on imuran the GI split my dose half in the am half in the pm. Eventually I took it all at night and he said he never heard of it taken that way. I started it in 1993 and took it until 2006. I dont recall if I had any adverse raections since it was so long ago that I had started taking it. At the time it was the only med that got me off of pred.
Posted 9/8/2007 6:07 PM (GMT -6)
Definitely take it at night!!!!! I have never had any of what you listed, but then again, I wouldn't have known because I was SO sick when I started it. I would switch to taking it at night, and see what happens...
Posted 9/8/2007 6:44 PM (GMT -6)
im on imuran and ped atm .i find it hard to tell if im hafing ne side effects. i def think u shld try them at nite. good luck!
Posted 9/8/2007 7:26 PM (GMT -6)
Thank you all so much for the fast reply. it's always so..nice to have the support when we need it. i forgot to mention, i am still on my other meds (pentasa/dicetel) and was told that i have to stay on them to see if my body will accept or reject the imuran. since i just started the imuran on tuesday, i go for my first blood work this tuesday and every tuesday after. gosh...this is just so...frustrating and i am trying so hard to stay positive but it is very tough right now. i guess my main concern is, because i have had upper stomach problems before taking the imuran and now my stomach is hurting even more right now, i am scared that the imuran is making it worse for some reason because this discomfort and hurting is not a fun thing to deal with at this point. i have been sleeping with the heating pad and taking tylenol just to feel some kind of relief but of course, its only temporary. please dont think that i am feeling sorry for myself because i have never wanted that since i was diagnosed, all i ever wanted from friends/family was support and i THANK all of you's so....very much for every time i do post my concerns, you's are always there for me. i will contact the doctor on monday to find out what he suggests me doing and i will keep you updated on my situation!! thanks for all your support!!

Posted 9/8/2007 8:04 PM (GMT -6)
Are you taking it with food?
Posted 9/8/2007 10:06 PM (GMT -6)
Some people are unable to tolerate Imuran...I am one who couldn't. It made me horribly ill, fainting, throwing-up, it was awful. I could handle it while I was also on prednisone, but when I went off of that, I had an immediate reaction. My GI told me to keep trying it anyway: take it before I go to bed. Yeah, right...I woke up 2 hours later throwing up all over again. He nastily admitted that I was right. They really don't like to admit that they are ever wrong. I say to listen to what your body is telling you.
Posted 9/8/2007 10:50 PM (GMT -6)
I have to take it at night with food. When I took it in the morning I could not function though a whole day, without a nap.
Posted 9/9/2007 3:58 AM (GMT -6)
Maybe you should try taking the Imuran and night after you have eaten. It may be better
for you.
TBW
Posted 9/9/2007 12:54 PM (GMT -6)
I have been taking Imuran for about a year and a half. I was without it for three weeks in July and got really sick so I know along with the Asacol it works for me. I take both the Asacol and the Imuran at night right before bed and have no problems whatsoever so I would agree with switching it to nighttime and maybe eating a light snack with it if it still makes you queasy. Unless these strategies don't work at all I would really advise giving it some time to work. It took about six weeks for me to feel better after only being off of it for three weeks so it really does take a little while to work. The list of meds we have available to us are rather small so I would advise really giving it a shot or you will soon find yourself resorting to the stronger meds more quickly than necessary. I sincerely hope you start feeling better soon and please don't hesitate to talk frankly with your doctor about how you are feeling. Also, coming here for support is always helpful as well. Good luck and keep us updated.
Posted 9/10/2007 7:23 AM (GMT -6)
Hi I take mine at supper time but I am also on Rem. and 10mgs pred. I also take Periot for my stomach it deduces acid. So am hoping that you feel better soon and get things worked out with your GI sometimes they will adjust doseage or something before they give up on something that might help. I feel so lucky to be able to put some of that responsibility in his hands .As far as you having crying periods I hope they get resolved I know when I started all these meds I felt really spaced out and a little tearful but I got threw that time and now feel better. lol gail
Posted 9/10/2007 10:07 AM (GMT -6)
Thanks again for all of your support!! i have put a call into the doctor to tell him how i am feeling and i will see what he has to say. i am not a quitter and do not want to give up but at the same time, i cannot go on with this hurting and discomfort in my mid stomach any longer because it is affecting my eating and i can't afford to lose another lb!! so..i am listening to all of your advise and i pray that i will start feeling much better real soon as all of you have. thanks again, and yes..i will keep you's updated when i know more and when i am feeling some what better. "thanks"

Posted 9/10/2007 7:31 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Laura lee Have you tried ensure or boost to help when your not eating much you are right about your weight and not letting yourself get worn down.It is also good to help when taking meds to have something in the stomach. Best Wishes. lol gail
Posted 9/10/2007 11:57 PM (GMT -6)
i take immuran at night, right before bed.  it used to make me really nasueaus so my doc said to take at night.  make sure you take with some sort of food, that helps.  its weird though cause it takes 3 to 6 months to get into your system, sounds like your symptoms could be related to something else?

Posted 9/11/2007 6:00 PM (GMT -6)
yes, i have tried boost and eeeuuuwww! i cant seem to get it to go down because it reminds me of barium. yuck! i can eat the chocolate puddings no problem but the boost hmmm? maybe i will have to try and make some shakes? you say that my symptoms that i am getting may not be from the imuran? i feel achey right now (back/neck muscles) still not really an appetite and my mid stomach STILL hurts. can you believe i put a call into the doctor on friday and then again on monday morning and STILL NO CALL BACK! i am just so...frustrated right now, my family is in from the US and i am becoming a bear with them too as i am just not feeling good at all! i dont know what to do anymore and feel myself giving up more and more everyday. i am not feeling sorry for myself in the least bit, just really ticked off and fed up! guess it's just ANOTHER bad day!! but...thanks for all your replies once again as i do really appreciate all of them!

Posted 9/11/2007 6:13 PM (GMT -6)
I would walk into your gis office tomorrow, and calmly explain that you have not gotten a return phone call, and that you are not leaving until you get some answers. :)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply