i have just had a few of my meds chang... - British Liver Trust
i have just had a few of my meds changed for my autoimmune hepatiis, was wondering what other people took etc
I'm only on 150g of Azathioprine & have been in remission for 18 months. I was first diagnosed 2 years at the end of the month.
I've been advised just before Christmas I am to stay on these drugs for 5 years with 2 monthly blood test & a visit to my consultant every 6 months.
I have been on a variety of meds for AIH over the past 13 years. Currently I am on 15mg Prednisoline and 2mg tacrolimus. I also take risedronate, alpha calcidol, vitamin K and carvedilol. In the past I have had mycophenolate and azathioprine as immuno-suppressants but have had reactions to these. Treatment for AIH does seem to vary quite a bit depending on how an individual responds to meds. I have tried to drop my prednisolone but usually this results in a flare. I visit a consultant every 6 weeks and have fairly regualr ultrasound scans, bone density scans and endoscopy's. Hope this helps!
Jenni
I was diagnosed with AIH nearly 3 years ago, I was set off on Prednisolone with a reducing dose & Calcium supliment and Azathioprine was introduced before the Prednisolone was ended (Thank god) which was then re-diagnosed as AIH/PBC after about 6months. I have been taking a 50mg azathioprine daily for the past year & ahalf now, bloods are done every 3 months now and are almost normal and my next appointment with my Consultant is in October. i have has 2 Liver Bio' s done, but still trace of the AIH in the last one neary 1 year ago. i would like to come of the Azathioprine, with a view of not having a Comprimised Immune System due to the Azathioprine. but we will just have to wait and see.
Started with prednisolone, then weaned off that and switched to azathioprine 50mg.
Also take calcium 1300mg x2 daily and VitD3 1500iu daily. A multivitamin with Vit K but no iron and acidophilus to keep my gut happy.
There's a good support forum for AIH patients at autoimmunehepatitis.co.uk/. The admin team and other members are really helpful and informative.
I have AIH/PBC overlap syndrome. I take 100mg of Azathioprine (AIH) & 1000mg of Urso (PBC). I get bloods taken every 8 weeks and see consultant every 6 months. I have previously taken Prednisolone (July 2011) and Budenofalk (Dec 2011) (both steroids), Budenofalk in conjunction with the Azathioprine. My WBC is low but managed. First lot of steroids in July 2011 for 8wks, then weaned off as biopsy only showed PBC. Next lot Dec 2011 for 8mths when LFT's rocketed . Told by consultant that after 2yrs (if I was in remission) he would try and wean me off Aza which would be Dec 2013. Apparently 30% of AIH sufferers stay in remission without Aza. Just need to see how I get on.
FYI - you can only go on Budenofalk if you DO NOT have cirrhosis!
(I found the side effects a lot less evil than being on Prednisolone).
Hope this helps. Take care. X
