Well i have been back for my 3 monthly check up with the rhuemy today and he has decided that I am having way too many flare ups and that I can't stay on steroids as i am too young ( I am 40 so i think i might take that as a complement to cheer myself up) and so has put me on azathioprine.
He has told me can have bad side effects but unless i am being violently sick to carry on with it. I am to have weekly blood tests, he has warned me it will mess up my INR, and to be honest I am not a happy bunny. I really didn't want to venture down this road, my rheumy has been putting the inevitable off for about 9 months, but apparently enough is enough.
I just wondered how everyone else has faired on azathioprine
Hi there, I have been put on Azathioprine about 6 months ago, cos I was also n having bad flares, started on 50mg for three monthsand because of no bad side effects, this has been increased to 100mg daily. Feeling ok, still on Plaquenil as well though, got to go back to Rheumy clinic in July, having monthly blood tests until then. Think it is helping a bit, no quite so much in the joint and muscle pain department, just have to wait and see.
Hi Sue, I was just looking at your dose, I have been started on 50 mg too, then I have to increase by 25mg per week until i reach 125mg with weekly blood tests!
I was hoping for a much slower dosage increase like yours,
Thanks for your reply