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does this Imuran dose sound too high?

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does this Imuran dose sound too high?  
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Posted 10/8/2007 5:37 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Gang. I am teetering on the edge of flaring, am using steroid enemas currently in the hopes of staying off pred (just got off it about 30 days ago). My GI and I both agreed that increasing the Imuran is an obvious starting place, as I am currently on 100mg. But.... we disagreed on how much to increase. I was advocating 125 but he doesn't think 25mg increment does much, so he bumped me up to 150mg. I am not a doctor, and I think my GI is an excellent doctor, so I don't want to question him... but.... I weigh about 135 - 140, so 150mg sounds really high to me. I know that the dose is only loosely weight related, and I know I am sort of obsessed with this question of dosing to your weight on Imuran, but does this sound really high to any of you who are on Imuran? I have noticed that most of you - according to your signatures - are on lower doses..... I am not scared of the bump in terms of hair loss/immunity issues etc, as I have read that for whatever crazy reason,side effects are not dose dependent on Imuran. Sounds very counterintuitive, but my fiance, who does a PhD at the med school at Duke, also has understood that to be the case with Imuran, and my GI says the same thing.... and I know we will monitor it with blood test (he is very into the blood test, thankfully).... anyway, I am rambling now so will stop. the point is, does 150mg sound crazy to anyone besides me????? thanks.
29/Female/NC
Pancolitis dx 3/07
*12 Asacol/day
*100mg Imuran/day (steroid dependent)
Various vitamins, probiotics, fish oil.
Engaged: June 1, 2007

Posted 10/8/2007 6:30 PM (GMT -6)

Hi,

I weigh about the same as you and I am on 250 mg.  I have been on imuran since June 1 and I am also on the brink of flaring.  I am wondering if the imuran is doing anything at all.  When did you start on it?  My GI is pretty agressive and I know that the dosage is from 100 to 250 for UC.

Porclein- Pancolitis diag. 1/05. current meds. pred.-20 mg.
imuran-250 mg. also vsl, fish oil, vitamins.

Posted 10/8/2007 6:35 PM (GMT -6)
I tried 150mg for a couple of months and then my bloodwork showed the dosage was too high. I am now on 100mg. I weigh b/w 105-109 (depending on the day of the week!).
Tabitha (Tab)

100mg Azathioprine, 2 Fibercon, Colazal-6 a day, Acidopholis Pearls, Prilosec OTC

http://www.healingwell.com/donate
Co-Moderator UC Forum

Posted 10/8/2007 7:03 PM (GMT -6)
I weigh 195 lbs, and I've been on 250mg daily for around 10 months. It helps a little but it's not getting me anywhere near remission.
Posted 10/8/2007 7:31 PM (GMT -6)
I am currently 118 lbs and have been on 150 mg of Imuran for approx 3 months. Weight is definitely a factor, but most importantly how you metabolize it. It wouldnt hurt to attempt the increase if it will benefit you. You will never know what will work unless you try. You can always come back down if your blood work shows it is too high for your system to metabolize.
Diagnosed with UC Feb 06
Currently taking
       -Imuran 150 mg
       -Remicade (Second infusion 9/27/07)
       -Biotin
       -Prenatal Vitamin
 

Posted 10/8/2007 9:29 PM (GMT -6)
thank you to everyone for replying. I started Imuran at 50mg in early july and am just now around 12 weeks on it. anyway, I REALLY appreciate hearing that many of you tried a dose similar to mine. that makes me feel much better.
29/Female/NC
Pancolitis dx 3/07
*12 Asacol/day
*150mg Imuran/day (steroid dependent)
Various vitamins, probiotics, fish oil.

Posted 10/8/2007 9:36 PM (GMT -6)
The doctor can order a Prometheus (that's the lab) test to figure out your optimal dose.  Ask about it if you are concerned. 
Posted 10/9/2007 9:37 AM (GMT -6)
Going from 75 mg to 100 mg made a big difference for me.
12 Asacol
100 mg Imuran
6 or 9 fish oil pills
4 Acidophilus pills

Posted 10/11/2007 8:09 AM (GMT -6)
I am in the 120's and I am on 150 mg too. I started at 75 mg, but Promethius tests always bump me up.

Dang that test is expensive!!!! I just got my portion of the bill..close to 175$. Uggh.
Currently in remission since September 2004!!!  I am on Imuran 150 mg and am LOVING life!

Posted 10/11/2007 8:23 AM (GMT -6)
I don't think weight has as much bearing as you think. I am over 200lbs and just bumped to 100mg. If you are worried have the prometheus test. I am about to have my 3rd prometheus and have had a cbc every other week for awhile now once a month.
Kelly, 29

Left sided UC diagnosed 1/98 age 19, Pan colitis diagnosed 1/07
Currently on 4x3 Asacol, Rowasa every other night, 15 mg pred. until immuran kicks in...
75mg Imuran starting 8/23/07---bumped to 100mg 10/8/07
Prontonix once daily for acid reflux, zofran twice daily for nausea

Posted 10/11/2007 1:15 PM (GMT -6)
Hey, when you say it made a big difference going up 25mg, what is your definition of a big difference.....i am on 200mg/day right now, and am borderline starting to get a flare, the 200mg/day worked great for me for a whole year (i didnt even know i had CD anymore) but my blood counts were always borderline normal-high for my WBC. I have been thinking of having it boosted from 200-->250, but if it made a big difference for u i might seriously consider it....my doctor never actually tried to see how much i could tolerate, he started me at 200mg/day, my liver/kidney scores didnt even move from pre-imuran to post-imuran, so i think i could handle a little more....
 
 
P.S. noticed your profile says u are an E.E. i am in my last year of E.E., cant wait to get that piece of paper.
UCinGV said...
Going from 75 mg to 100 mg made a big difference for me.

 

Posted 10/11/2007 1:30 PM (GMT -6)
I am on 150mg.  I was on 125mg for years but I have had constant flares. And even on 150mg I cannot get into remission.  I know its helping a little as without it I cannot get below 20mg of pred.  But with it I can manage to drop to around 7.5 - 10mg.
 
BUt, I tell you going from 125 to 150mg might not have helped all that much symptom wise but boy am I now tired!!  I am totally exhausted. Barely able to function now.  But at least the bleeding has now stopped.
Back on Pred - 8mg - Steroid Dependent :-(
Azathioprine 150mg
Actonel 35mg
Predfoam Enema
VSL #3 with Activia Yoghurt
EPA Fish Oils
Various Homeopathic meds
Asacol x 9
Remicade every 8 weeks  (Stopped working)
Aloe Vera Lily of the Desert Juice  Gave me the worst D !
Primadophilus Reuteri Probiotic
Prograf Tacrolimus 4mg
 

Posted 10/11/2007 2:16 PM (GMT -6)
I am 172 (78 kg)
now imuran 175
 25 male,mainly proctitis,maybe Crohn's //2x2 ASACOL (long term),2000 gm Asacol Suppositories,fish oil,vsl 3,  folic acid ,2006 January flare up, 2006 MAY FLARE UP AGAIN (10 DAYS),june 2006 Peptic ulcers ,December 2006 esophagitis ,17/12/2006 azathioprine 100,14/01/2007 Prednisone 20 for 2 weeks (mini flare)
 
 

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