Experience of Azathioprine?

[Beautifulmovement]

Hi guys,

It's been a while since I've posted on here. My rheumy team want me to try Azathioprine for my RA. I wondered if anyone could share their experience of this medication with me? Much love.x

[Philip]

Wow it sounds like something from the Gods, lol, I’ve never heard of it sorry but I bet some of these lovely people on here will be able to help you find the answers that you seek.

Philip

[Beautifulmovement in reply to Philip]

I wish it was something from the Gods to cure RA!

[Philip in reply to Beautifulmovement]

Me too, hopefully they might find something soon. I have Dementia and the worry I have is how will they know about the pains I have, pretty scary I think lol. We can all dream lol just as long as you get to the point when the dr says you are cured, lol and stay asleep and no more pain lol.

You know if we can sill laugh we are doing well.

Philip

[Simba1992]

My eye doctor prescribed A-drops for my scratched eye. Looked it up and decided against it. Mayo clinic news.

news-medical.net/news/20170...

[Beautifulmovement in reply to Simba1992]

Thanks Simba1992. It does come with a warning about the increased possibility of cancer, which obviously freaked me out!

[Gigi71]

I was prescribed Azathoprine over 30 years ago, only stopping a year ago due to Basel cell carcinoma's, I would say the drug suited me, I have erosive sero negative RA, but was dx with lupus to begin with. With hindsight it also gave me occasional diarrhoea. Have been on Humira for 9 years and Mtx for a year. I do have OP but this has been attributed to long term steroid use. We are all different in how we react to the drugs, so wish you all the best in how you go forward. X

[Beautifulmovement in reply to Gigi71]

Hi Gigi, I have erosive sero positive RA. I'm currently on Hydroxy but have had a couple of big flare ups this year and I can feel the Hydroxy having less effect. I also want to start a family soon so Azathioprine was recommended. Just the word 'cancer' on the side effects leaflet has freaked me out. Thanks for replying to me.x

[Gigi71 in reply to Beautifulmovement]

It's a balancing act really, having RA for over 30 years I decided to go for medications so long as they didn't make me feel worse, i had already had my sons by then, so wasn't in the same situation as you. I needed to work full time when my marriage broke down and the family house was finely sold. I had to take on a mortgage. Humira was my wonder drug and I believe it worked better with Azathioprine than mtx. I didn't want to give up Humira so chose to give up Azathioprine. I can't take any opiate drugs they just make me feel ill, yet many people on here are fine with them. We just don't know how the drugs will effect us personally. I was always under the impression that Azathioprine had been used for cancer treatment in higher doses. It wasn't until I started to get small skin cancer I was told it could be the cause. I did use to be a sun lover so who knows. I do wish you all the best, often when you become pregnant you go into remission anyway. Good luck in how you proceed. X

[Beautifulmovement in reply to Gigi71]

Who doesn't love the sun?!

How did you know you had basal cell carcinoma? And what's the treatment for it? Sorry for all the questions.

My dad has also been on Humira and it worked for a long while but now he's on the intravenous treatment once/twice a year. It helped him too.

You sound like a true warrior Gigi.x

[Gigi71 in reply to Beautifulmovement]

Hi Beaufulmovement. I had a couple of scaby lumps one on my eyebrow and one on my forearm. Biopsies were taken and the one on my eyebrow was confirmed a Basel cell and the on my are was a squamous cell. They were both removed and no further treatment. Later I had a Basel cell confirmed on my sternum, and removed. I get Keretosis on my legs and arms they have been treated with liquid nitrogen and at the moment a cream. The hospital keep me under observation. Hey ho I am now 72, have had to take charge of my life and on the whole it's been a good life, with two adorable sons and 5 grandchildren. I have a great support from them and my sister. I have Hasimoto's too, 39 years and OP for 14 years I am an optimistic person anyway. Life hasn't been easy, but it's what you make it. I have had major joint ops and now am finding my back is a problem and is slowing me down. I am due to have my second cataract op on Wednesday, but have developed a chest bug, so looks like I will have to cancel. So annoying. I was offered Rituxamab last year but was happy with Humira. I hope your father is keeping as well as possible. There isn't any RA in my family. Please feel free to ask me anything you may think might help you. Take care. Georgie X

[Someonesmother]

I have had it but had to stop not long in as it sent my liver in to meltdown and as I already have a dodgy liver, it was stopped. I didn't get any side effects apart from that though while I was on it. Good luck I hope it works for you.

[Beautifulmovement in reply to Someonesmother]

Hey Someonesmother, they did mention that about it affecting the liver. My dad has RA and a dodgy liver so it's tough when you have that going against you. Thanks for your reply.x

[Someonesmother in reply to Beautifulmovement]

Yes they did and I was monitored closely. Didn't take long to send my liver levels skyrocketing. I hope your dad is being closely monitored too. I have a number of other issues as do most of us so I think of it all as a balancing act and try to keep everything on an even keel because if one illness goes out of whack, they all do.

[Beautifulmovement in reply to Someonesmother]

Oh yes my dad is being very closely monitored. He is worse case scenario with his RA, and I guess that's why I have such bad anxiety around my own RA. Really hard to know what to choose when you're asked to make a decision about your medication!x

[Someonesmother in reply to Beautifulmovement]

Well give it a go. I have taken the attitude I will try anything, but if it goes haywire I won;t go back there. Some people have no issues with it, I did because I have a dodgy liver, but that isn't to say you will. Some people take methotrexate for years with no issues, I turned in to a potential axe murderer. I have never felt so homicidal in all my life eeekkkkkk The Drs had never heard that effect but that's me, strange reactions. Good luck and give it a go.

[Ccupcakes]

Yes I was on Azathioprine for a while. I have Crohns and Colitis, as well as other autoimmune stuff, initially I was put on high dose prednisalone reducing gradually as the Azath. was gradually increased. The idea was the this would stop my body from attacking itself and allow the gut to heal. It had a really positive impact on my life and my gut, and any side effects were very positive, so I personally had a good experience with it. I was taken off Azathioprine last year when some other stuff developed and it was replaced with DMARDs.

Good luck with it, I hope it is as helpful to you as it was to me.

Cc xx

[Beautifulmovement in reply to Ccupcakes]

Thanks Ccupcakes (love the name). I'm really glad to hear I had a positive effect on your gut and life! I may be moving on to it in December as my current meds Hydroxy, are becoming less effective. Just always worry about the side effects you know? But it's encouraging to hear you had a good experience.x

[Entero]

I was also on Azathioprine for Crohn's disease for several years. I came off it for a while as I felt so well, but relapsed big time when I did so. It's been used safely for decades and although I felt more fatigued when I was on it, otherwise I was fine. I moved to Methotrexate when I developed arthritis. Good luck x

[Beautifulmovement in reply to Entero]

Hi Entero, thanks for your reply. I'm glad to hear Azathioprine helped you but sorry about the relapse. It's encouraging to hear these replies as I do get scared about side effects.x

[oldtimer]

I'm on azathioprine now having had various problems with other DMARDs in the long years of treatment and not having a high enough DAS score to qualify for biologics.

It hasn't completely stopped flares but it does seem to be reducing their frequency and how long they take to go. It has far fewer bad side effects for me than most of the other drugs I have been on, although I do feel sick all day and often have loose bowels unless I'm taking codeine for pain.

[Beautifulmovement in reply to oldtimer]

Hi Oldtimer, thanks for replying to my post. How long have you been taking Azathioprine now? I hope it continues working for you and you start to feel less pain. I have a lot of anxiety over the side effects of medication so I tend to freak out! It's really encouraging to hear your experience so thank you.x

[oldtimer]

Can't remember but it must be at least four years. Best of luck with it!

[Hidden]

Hi! I'm taking azathipine for Crohn's disease. I have no side effects but I need to get my blood taken every couple of months as it can cause harm to your liver.

[Beautifulmovement in reply to Hidden]

Thank for your reply Sammy. They said I would need to be monitored, but that's the norm isn't it. I'm hearing encouraging things about Azathioprine which is good!x

[Hidden]

Hi! I take this tablet 150mgs for Crohn's disease, I have no side effects but I need my blood pressure taken every couple of months. There is a slight possibility that they can cause damage to your liver but ive been ok.