Azathioprine and Mesalazine

[DaftCat]

The saga continues...

I started taking azathioprine a week ago despite speaking to a pharmacist that my mesalazine was mentioned in the aza leaflet. He told me not to worry. It was fine.

Today I was picking up my repeat prescriptions and saw that my more regular pharmacist was in and So I decided to ask his opinion. After checking, he said that I shouldn’t be on both as the mesalazine blocks an enzyme that the azathioprine requires to work. Honestly, I could scream. Can no one get this right??? Ive been advised to stop the mesalazine and see a doctor on Monday. Ive been on it for years for UC.

Is it me? It just feels that no one I’ve come in contact with thus far knows what the hell they are doing!!!

[PMRpro]

I and my husband, separately, had similar experiences. We are both on cardiac medication - and have been switched to the new sort of anticoagulant, different medications in both cases,. The cardiac drugs we are on lead to the levels of the anticoagulant each of us is on in the blood being higher. No-one, including the pharmacists involved said anything. This time last year it was found that the blood level of my husband's a/c was 10 times what was safe. He didn't bleed to death - but that was more luck than anything else but it totally wiped out Christmas and he is only just really recovering, sort of. I did some reading and spoke to the head of the lab at the hospital who my husband sees. We tested it - high levels if I take them at the same time, taking the a/c first and the cardiac drug 2 hours later is fine.

And when the doctors in the hospital were told all they could say was "Ah, so ..."

Trust no-one, not even many pharmacists.

[DaftCat in reply to PMRpro]

I’m sorry to hear what happened to you and your husband. I thought we were meant to avoid stress? 😳

Ive seen two different consultants as I wasn’t happy with the first, I asked to see someone else and now this. It’s a good job I’m having counselling as I’m getting angrier by the minute 😢

[Oshgosh in reply to PMRpro]

Thing is a lot of HEALTH care professionals don’t like to say they don’t know

[DaftCat in reply to Oshgosh]

This is too important though. It’s about our lives and managing disease. If they don’t know they should find out. The computer system didn’t flag it which is worrying but doing some research showed why the two are contra indicated. The bottom line is that whilst on the mesalazine the azathioprine is not fully working 😢

Sorry I’m just so cross about this.

[Minimum]

From what I have just read in yous 'Daft Cat' I'm going to get in touch with my Lupus Consultant for the same reason. Good luck with your Dr. I hope they know more than mine does!!. I wish you a Merry Christmas. xx

[DaftCat in reply to Minimum]

I’ve just seen my Gp. He said he had heard of both being used but it was unusual. He’s taken me off the azathioprine and I’m back on steroids until I see my rheumy although I have left a message with his secretary.

[Minimum in reply to DaftCat]

I haven't been able to get hold of my Rheumy lot yet but I'm alway's hopeful.

[DaftCat in reply to Minimum]

Mine haven’t called back either but I’m happy that my GP listened to me. I took the leaflet from both medications and each are mentioned on their respective leaflets as contra indicated.