HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Prednisolone and Imuran?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/28/2007 11:54 AM (GMT -8)
Hi there, First I love these forums they've helped me so much! I'm quite the lurker but now I have a problem...
I'm a little bit worried about the amount of medication I'm on, Specifically Imuran and Prednisolone at the same time! Is being on those two common?
Do you think I'm on too much medication?

Thanks in advance.....I'm sure I'm just being a worry-bug!
-Jo
Posted 10/28/2007 2:38 PM (GMT -8)

Hello Mypoeticsin..... First, welcome to the site.  Im fairly new myself and have found it very helpful.

I just wanted to let you know that I am also on Pred. and just got my prescription for Imuran filled the other day and will be starting it soon.  I will be taking 40mg Pred. and 150mg Imuran.  From what I can see, it is fairly common to be on both but usually when you start Imuran, I do believe that you start tappering off the Pred.  My GI told me that once I start Imuran that I am to tapper off 5mg a week from the Pred.

Anyways, hope that helps.

Keep smiling.

Posted 10/28/2007 3:25 PM (GMT -8)
In our case my husband became steroid dependant. After almost a year of being on this and that and landing in the hospital it was evident that the Imuran (Azathioprine) needed to be given a try. He was put on a low dose of 75 mg along with 40 mg of prednisone. (To jump start the imuran I think she said)

After 4 1/2 months on the Imuran and starting a tapering he showed signs of improvement. It was decided when he got to the 15 mg to stay on it while we were away for 2 weeks as we were out of the country. We are now back and resuming the tapering by 2 1/2 mg every 10 days. So far so good. His Imuran dose was increased to 150mg as the 75 was a low dose even though he was responding. It is felt the 150 dose (he could be as high as 200 if need be) will give even better results.

The Dr is monitoring it closely and requires blood tests every month to monitor and then he will write a prescription for another month and so on for one year. After that maybe a prescription every 6 months from the sound of things.

Not sure if and when he is in a full remission if the imuran is decreased at all and if the 12 asacol per day is decreased as well. From some of what I have read here it seems that could be the case. We are not at that point yet but will inquire down the road.

As you can see from the signature line here he is on a lot of meds. We just did two weeks of his meds....good thing they make some of those pill containers with large enough compartments!!!!

Fortunately the only side effect at the moment is his face breaking out. Previously that was from the prednisone but I think the imuran is also impacting that. Too bad I thought once he got off the prednisone that would clear up. He never had acne - always great skin and complexion since I met him in 1968. At 61 he's looking like a pimply teenager...lol.
Posted 10/29/2007 5:27 AM (GMT -8)
I'm on 100 mg of Azathioprine (Imuran) and 60 one day 40 the next day etc. of Prednisone. Yes, I worry too, I am just starting to feel better I think from the pred or the hydrocortisone and it is such a relief, but I have about 4 more mos of the prednisone (for my kidney) and possibly starting remicade next month.

I have a notebook now to keep track of everything.
Posted 10/29/2007 6:52 AM (GMT -8)
I am steroid dependent and must stay on pred until the imuran kicks in. When i taper the pred i flare. Hopefully iwill be able to get off of the pred with help of imuran. From what i have heard it is pretty common to use pred until imuran kicks in (it can takes some months to see results from imuran0
Posted 10/29/2007 7:42 AM (GMT -8)
The reason for both meds is that the Imuran takes a while to work. If you are flaring, the Imuran will not help immediately. It can take a few months. The prednisone is continued or started so that you can get relief from the flare. Then, after a period of time, the MD will begin to taper the prednisone to see if the Imuran is keeping you in remission without the prednisone. I was on prednisone, Imuran, and Remicade for 3 months before finally getting to a point where I am almost done with the prednisone (5mg and counting!). Without the prednisone while waiting for the imuran and remicade to kick in I would have been miserable.

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply