Azathioprine

[Doofkopp]

My doctor put me on azathioprine for severe colitis...

I am scared of side effects

[FRreedman]

I have been taking 150 mg of Azathioprine for about 15 years, and have suffered no side effects. You should have regular blood tests and avoid sun bathing, also, if you notice any unusual changes in your body of actions, tell your GP or GI team straight away and thereby limit any problems.

[afs7000]

I have taken for a around 18 months originally at 125mg dose, on routine monitoring was reduced due to liver readings - I now take a reduced dose with Allopurinol.

I did suffer some joint pain initially. Routine monitoring is important so make sure you don't miss your ~2 weeks blood tests initially which will then move to around 3 months.

[HopefulAl]

I was put on azathioprine for Crohns and was on it for about 10 years. I found out about the potential side effects, especially the one that says you have increased chance of bowel cancer. Yep, Feb 2018 was diagnosed with bowel cancer, taken off azathioprine immediately and bowel resection April 2018. Currently off all medication for Crohns but having colonoscopy today as my last cancer CT scan showed abnormality around terminal ileum, hoping just Crohns playing up and possibly new drug.

[Morganalefaye]

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 1971. I’ve been on Azathioprine for eight years now. I was told at the beginning that I was fine with Azathioprine, as I didn’t ‘produce the enzyme’. No idea what THAT meant? I’ve had numerous skin problems, itching, rosacea, warts, fungal nails, and lately urine infections and thrush.

On the plus side, since my second resection, the Crohn’s Disease has been pretty well controlled.

[Hidden]

I was on Azathioprine in 2007 following being diagnosed with crohn’s and having my colon removed. Unfortunately this drug gave me pancreatitis (very painful) was immediately taken off and put on infliximab.