update on horrendous flushes

[cakerbaker]

Hi everyone. I recently asked on here about horrendous full body flushing when increasing my dose of azathioprine and got some helpful feedback. Basically I was started on 25mg and only upped to 50mg but felt like I was on fire. I had to have 3-4 showers a day and it was horrendous!. I tried my rheumatology nurse who was useless and quite rude actually, I then got to talk to my consultant who said he hadn’t heard of this before. He advised that I needed to up my dose and that if it got worse it was the meds.....

Well I am on holiday and so will up my dose when I am back BUT the flushes have all but stopped. AMAZING! What’s changed? I got another prescription and these ones are a different brand and white, the problem ones were orange. That is the only difference I can find. So if anyone develops something similar,it might be worth looking at changes as subtle as this.

Thank you all for your support. I am struggling a bit but knowing I can ask anything here is so helpful x

[PMRpro]

The question could well be - what is in the orange bit????

[cakerbaker in reply to PMRpro]

I know and that's what I aim to discover. 👍

[LalSD]

Great to hear the side effect has been sorted. Who are the both suppliers? Orange and white ones? I also have a similar reaction to two other supply of medicines, and one supplier makes all the difference. Have a lovely day…

[cakerbaker in reply to LalSD]

Thank you for you reply and I am sorry that you have the same problem. I am definitely keeping that supplier on my no go to list. Have a lovely day too ☺️

[Life_of_Riley]

I take azathioprine and found that I had 2-3 weeks of very unpleasant side effects with every dose increase. Now I've reached my "final" dose all has settled and side effects are tolerable. However I have recently been given a different brand and I now have unpleasant side affects again. I hope you're able to find a brand that works for you and can then specify to you doctor/pharmacy what brand you need.

[cakerbaker in reply to Life_of_Riley]

Hey. Thank you for your reply. I am sorry to hear about the side effects that you experienced with every dose that must have been awful. That's why I have chosen to delay mine until I return from holiday. Nice to know it settles though. Interesting the local rheum nurse has never heard of it though.

I hope you are now as well as possible. Have a good week ☀️

[CecilyParsley]

Amazing. I am so pleased that you are feeling better and able to enjoy your holiday. Different brands of drugs can make a huge difference. You should let your GP/ pharmacy know that you have an allergy to that particular brand so that you don’t get prescribed it again. Enjoy the rest of your holiday xx

[cakerbaker]

Thank you