does this Imuran dose sound too high?

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.

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29/Female/NC
Pancolitis dx 3/07
*12 Asacol/day
*100mg Imuran/day (steroid dependent)
Various vitamins, probiotics, fish oil.
Engaged: June 1, 2007

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.

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!).

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Tabitha (Tab)

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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29/Female/NC
Pancolitis dx 3/07
*12 Asacol/day
*150mg Imuran/day (steroid dependent)
Various vitamins, probiotics, fish oil.

The doctor can order a Prometheus (that's the lab) test to figure out your optimal dose.  Ask about it if you are concerned. 

Going from 75 mg to 100 mg made a big difference for me.

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12 Asacol
100 mg Imuran
6 or 9 fish oil pills
4 Acidophilus pills

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.

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Currently in remission since September 2004!!!  I am on Imuran 150 mg and am LOVING life!

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.

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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

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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.

I am 172 (78 kg)
now imuran 175

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 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)