azathioprine together with MTX, Sulfasalazine etc

[reef]

has anyone here been prescribed azathioprine (imuran) plus some other DMARD such as Methatrexate, Sulfasalazine etc? i would appreciate it if you get in touch. Thanks.

[Beaches2]

Hi reef

I think a lot of people are on more than one Dmard. My rheumy said that I would be started on 1, mtx , and then if needed more would be added in, up to 3 I think . I am now on mtx and leflunomide and got a feeling another will need to be added next week when I see rheumy. x

[pawsed]

been on mtx for about 12 months, tried the sulfy whatever (as well) but too many side effects for me, now have hydroxy..(?).. added to my regime. Ok so far I think they keep 'playing' with the combinations until they have your disease under control

[Hidden]

Hi Reef,

As Beaches2 said in their post, people with RA can be on more than one DMARD at a time - known as combination therapy. I have put a link here for you to our article on combination therapy. Hope that helps.

nras.org.uk/combination-the...

Regards

Sally

[reef in reply to Hidden]

thanks but what am interested in is the exact mix of azathioprine and another DMARD(s).

[Hidden]

Hi Reef,

I am sorry but think this will probably need answering by your rheumatology team. Certainly we know that methotrexate (MTX) is often used as an "anchor" drug and other DMARDs can then be added to it. The most common ones that can be combined with MTX are : sulfasalasine, hydroxychloroquine and leflunamide. However, I cannot find much information for you regarding azathioprine and other DMARDs. I did find this article relating to a trial of combination therapy with azathiprine and MTX but it is from 1992!

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/art.1780350802/abstract

Sorry I cannot help further but we are not medically trained on helpline and therefore I think that you will probably need to speak with your rheumatologist /nurse about this.

Regards

Sally

[reef in reply to Hidden]

thanks Sally. i met the consultant last week in order to establish the type of arthritis that i might have. instead, i was told that i have sero-negative inflammation and she suggested trying sulfasalasine. later on that evening she rang me to say that it's not appropriate now to add a DMARD to the azathioprine that am taking as it's not a safe mixture. (i take azathioprine because i have an auto-immune skin

disorder called pemphigus foliaceous). she's going to discuss with the dermatologist regarding the safety of azathioprine mixed with another DMARD. this is why i asked the question here but it appears that no one in this forum had this specific mix of medication.

[Hidden]

Hi Reef.

Ah, that all makes a bit more sense now as to why you were asking. I think obviously it is something that your consultant and dermatologist need to decide on together and glad that's what appears to be happening.

In the meantime I have also put a link here about seronegative and seropositive that you may find useful.

nras.org.uk/seropositive-se...

Regards

Sally

[reef in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Sally.