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6MP dosing question

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/2/2008 9:49 PM (GMT -6)
I have been taking 50mg of 6MP for six weeks now, and haven't seen much effect yet. However, my WBC decreased encouragingly from 8.8x10e3/uL to 5.9e3/uL in the first month, and the my 6-TGN level indicates I am in the correct therapeutic range. 

I know they say 6MP takes about 3 months to kick-in. My question is, should I continue to see my WBC decrease during that time and then stabilize, or should it already be at the level where it going to go? I've read the goal is to get the count down to as low as 4.0x10e3/uL, but I don't when I should expect it to level off for a given dose.

Thanks!!!

Posted 2/2/2008 11:03 PM (GMT -6)
6-MP, like prednisone is very person to person when it comes to the level of effect per mg. For instance, the doc had to put my 6-MP up to 100mg per day to beat my immune system down to some useful level...

For me, I saw my WBC (white blood cell count) drop slowly over the space of 6 months before it stabilized off. For others, this happens very quickly.

No useful UC related effect kicked in till the 6 month mark for me, but others on this forum I have spoken to in other threads have had results as quickly as 3 weeks after starting on it (or Immuran - another immune suppression drug in the mercaptopurine family).
Posted 2/4/2008 6:03 AM (GMT -6)
My WBC flunctuated wildly until it stablized eventually at the 6 month mark. I had to sometimes keep going in for weekly blood tests, then every month, then it would get all wacky again so I had to go back to weekly. Now that I've been on it for over a year, my WBC is stable and I go in for testing every 3 months.
Posted 2/4/2008 7:04 AM (GMT -6)
Thanks guys! That's interesting that your WBC fluctuated so much, Sherry. Could you tell it was doing that from how you good/bad felt or from your symptoms?
Posted 2/4/2008 7:17 AM (GMT -6)
No I couldn't tell that my WBC was wacky. In fact, I was feeling pretty good with only minimal symptoms because at that time my body was still getting accustomed to the med and I was trying to get at my therapeutic level. But now that I'm at the right level, things have been going pretty good *knock on wood!*
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