Azathioprine Advice?

Hello! I am a new poster on this board though I have been a reader of all of your posts for a few months.

I have had UC since 1998 and am currently 34 years old. In general, I feel as though I have been very lucky. After getting my initial flare under control, I was essentially in remission until after the birth of my first child in 2006. Since that time, I typically have had 1 flare a year. A course of prednisone tended to do the trick.

However, it seems that my luck has run out. I have been dealing with back-to-back flares over the last year. I have been on WAY too many courses of prednisone (5 taper courses each starting at 40mg). I was very nervous about trying Azathioprine, but would very much like to be done with prednisone. So, I started Azathioprine yesterday. I am currently on 15 mg of prednisone and 4 Apriso twice a day. Right now, things with my UC seem to be under control (as in no blood, etc). I have some lower back pain (which is usually the first sign that I am about to flare) but other than things are ok. I decided to start the Azathioprine now, before needing to go back on a higher dose of prednisone.

So...give me your best Azathioprine advice. The side effects are scary, but I do understand they are rare. Right now I am only taking 50mg/day and will increase to 50mg/2x/day in a couple of weeks. The only thing I have noticed both yesterday and today is a feeling somewhat like heartburn. I am not certain that this is the Azathioprine.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Did you take Apriso even when you were in remission?

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Asacol 400mgs 2 pillsX3; VSL#3 112.5mgs 1 pillX3; Vitamin D3 5000 ius 1 pillX2; Thorne SF722 5pillsX3; garlicin 1 pill X 2; B6 1/day; Bentyl & Swanson DAO with meals

Discontinued: Robinul; Natural - peppermint oil, Inflaguard (Boswellia), Pepto Bismol, Omega 3 fish oil, Imodium, Beano, Zymactive, Renew Life Probiotic 80 billion, Florastor, Slippery Elm, DGL, Monolaurin

I was on 6mp which is similar to Aza for 6 years. It never worked right for me but it did keep me out of severe flares (I would still flare though which why I'm on Remicade now). But in the beginning, I had fatigue, headaches, mild nausea and mild hair loss. Once my body got used to it, the side effects went away.

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SHERRY
Moderator-Allergies/Asthma, Alzheimer's, IBS, Co-moderator-UC
Diagnosed Left sided UC '92 - meds: Colazal, Remicade (6mp discontinued due to neuropathy)*Unable to tolerate ALL mesalamines*, IBS, Diverticuliar Disease, Fibro, Sacroiilitis, Raynauds, OA, PA, Rosacea, Psoriasis, Dry Eye and allergies controlled by Zyrtec and Singular

I've been on pred for ~6 weeks now, can't get below 15mg without my joint pain returning, although my stomach/stool is fine (could be Lialda) so I think I'm starting on Imuran Tuesday. I was going to start a month ago but things didn't quite work out.

First time I tried tapering I got down to 20mg before pain came back, this time I spent a week at 20mg pred with no pain but 48 hours after going down to 15mg my right wrist started hurting. I'm just a bit worried that I'm going to go on Imuran without truly needing to do it. I do know I need to get off the pred as soon as I can.

Anyone go on Imuran and get results faster than the 3 months they say?

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Diagnosed UC Nov12 lower end
Lialda 4.8g/daily
60mg Hydrocortisone enema 1 week
60mg pred 3 days 40mg 1 week tapering 5mg every 4 days
Symptom free within 48 hours, hoping for remission after pred taper

I started Imuran a month ago and I think it's working. I have been tapering the pred (down to 15 mg today~) I think the pred is so much scarier than the Imuran. The aza is probably your best bet. Good luck

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48 Year old Female from Chicago. Diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis in 2010. On cortenemas @night, ultimate flora critical care probiotics (50 billion) and 4000 IU Vitamin D. Currently off mesalamines. Went on 40mg Prednisone on 11/12/12. Up to 60 mg 11/26-29, 50mg 11/30-12/2, 40mg 12/3-?? Taper starting by 5mg after 40mg. Started IMURAN on 12/4/12

Pink1- what made you stop azathioprine if it was working for you?

For those who has/had azathioprine working at a certain dosage (ex. 100mg), could you tell the drug worked even ever slightly at a lower dosage (ex. 75mg)? I went from 75mg to 100mg in December. I was at 75mg for many many months, and even now I can't tell if the drug is helping or not. No noticeable side effects though, which is a good thing, I guess.

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Ulcerative Proctitis, diagnosed 03/2011
Lialda, 4 pills a day
Imuran 100mg/day (started 12/10/2012), stopped 75mg a day (one year)
Pred 40mg (started 12/10/2012, 16-day course)
(seeing improvements because of pred: less blood, more formed stool)

Tried Proctofoam, nightly for 2 weeks, didn't seem to work
Tried SCD for 4 months... didn't see improvement
Used to take Probiotics (acidophilus)