Azathioprine, and nausea

[cambs13]

Hi have had ten pulses of cyclophosphamide and have now started on azathioprine building up to 150mgs daily. Alls good except really bad feeling of nausea and a distinct lack of appetite. Trying to battle through it, but do you. Can anyone give me any positives that this feeling will pass and it will settle down. Ta Pam

[PatriciaAnn]

Hi Pam

I've been taking Aza for about four years now. It didn't make me feel sick but "feeling and being sick (nausea and vomiting)" that's one of the common side effects according to my patient leaflet, loss of appetite is another.

How do you take the Aza? I take mine in two goes every day. After breakfast and again after dinner. You may need a stomach protectant to take alongside the Aza - that's just me thinking aloud.

If you are just starting on Aza then I'd have a word with the specialist nurse if you haven't got an appointment. It may be that the dose is too high for starters or it just might be that Aza isn't for you. Hope that helps.

PatriciaAnn

[Nadine99]

My husband has just finished 6 infusions of Cyclo and has just started on Azathrioprine. He hasn't had these side effects but he has started on 50mg per day for 2 wks, rising by 50mg every 2 wks until he reaches 200mg per day, so.......maybe as Patricia says, the dose might be too high to start. Check with your specialist.

[cambs13 in reply to Nadine99]

Hi thanks for the reply, did start low at 50mgs then up to 100mgs and the feeling of nausea started about 3 to 4 days later but liveable, now up to 150mgs and take it in the morning after food. About 3 to 4 hours later start feeling really queasy and it stays, have started to take Ondasetron which I don't want to get into if I can help it. Seeing the Drs again 20 September, wondering if this is transient. Ta Pam

[AndrewT]

Dear Cambs13,

I have just had a thought, make the most of it I don't have many!! I take 'Omeprazole', as an anti sickness/stomach settler- I have done for years. I was started on it when I was first diagnosed, sixteen years ago.

May be of some help.

AndrewT

[cambs13 in reply to AndrewT]

Ta Andrew, already on Omeprazole maybe upping that dose rather than Ondansetron. Ta

[quinnster in reply to cambs13]

i started on the 150 mg dose every morning last year,and was really ill,my nurse told me to take the dose before I went to bed,and sleep through the sick feeling,and I have had no problems since

[cambs13 in reply to quinnster]

Wow. What a good idea. Will try that. Thanks. Pam

[quinnster in reply to cambs13]

hope it works for you,good luck

[Chris-Bromsgrove]

Hi Cambs

I took Aza for about 6 weeks after I finished my cyclophosphamide infusions. I also had loss of appetite and headaches. To be quite honest I felt in better health when I was on the cyclophosphamide. As the side effects had not settled down after 6 weeks my consultant put me on Mycophenolate. I have been OK since. From what I understand generally speaking Aza does a better job at keeping your vasculitis in remission than Myco, so it is worth sticking it out to see if the side effects ease.

Good luck Chris

[cambs13 in reply to Chris-Bromsgrove]

Thanks for your reply. This site is invaluable as so many have been there and done it. Pam

[Doghouse]

Hi , I've had 10 infusions of cyclo but by the time I got to the nineth my consulstants realised it wasn't working . I've had a four weekly infusions of rituximab and now started Aza ,the first week one a day was fine now on two a day and for the last few days I also feel sick and bloated . I'm taking omeprazole twice a day and prednisolone 15mg a day , I'm going to see the specialist nurse today so hopefully we can sort it without swapping medication .

[cambs13 in reply to Doghouse]

Hi Doghouse, sounds familiar, let me know how you get on. Ta Pam

[Doghouse in reply to cambs13]

Hi Pam , we decided to perservere with it for another week at 50mg in the morning and 50mg at night. Hopefully it will settle down, if it doesn't we are going to try an anti sickness tablet before we consider changing the medication. I asked about taking two tablets together at night, but after a discussion with my nurse and the hospital pharmacist decided against it as this could make the sickness worse and then I would have to cope with a sleepless night as well.

[DevonLottie]

I was given aza after cyclo and felt really nauseous. After a few weeks I was pleading to come off it! Was put on methotrexate instead which sorted the problem immediately.

[anthony01]

I was on Aza 250mg daily with Methotrexate. I would have 2 x 50mg morning and 3 x 50mg at night. Right throughout the months always felt nausea and sometimes feel really nausea , which would last about 3-5 minutes and settle down again. I was not sure what medication that was doing it but since changed to Cyclophosphamide this has gone off - touch wood. All I did was warn people I was with! I did not really want to eat but once I started felt better and would enjoy the food. Sometimes I would feel extremely nausea with thoughts of certain foods which contained fats or certain meats but try face the food and try eat it and you may feel better for it?

[janieg]

I found the nausea went after a couple of weeks on azathioprine.