Azatioprina

[fefevian]

Does anyone use azatioprina??? I’ve vasculits and im using that with predsolona when will i stop taking predsolona? Sorry about the ebglish im from brasil

[Kentk8]

I'm not an expert but I think that this will depend on your symptoms and your condition. However Generally it takes up to three months for the azathioprine to have full effect and then if all is going well they may start to reduce the prednisolone which is best done very slowly especially if you have been on it for some months and very very slowly when you get to 10mg. Hope you soon feel better

[Keithtim10]

Hi there i have ANCA Vasculitis and i was on Azothioprine and Prednisolone but i started Rituximab every 6 months and i had my Azothioprine stopped and have not been taking it since i started on the Rituximab but never stopped the prdnisolone and i am at the moment doing ok insofar keeping me in remission.

Hope this helps.

[fefevian in reply to Keithtim10]

Hi!! Why did you stop azothioptine? I hate prednisole i got too fat and that made me feel sad! How did you discovey your vasculitis?

[Keithtim10 in reply to fefevian]

It was discovered after i felt very unwell and feeling sick and had blood tests which showed my kidneys were in a poor state so i had a biopsy and was given a plasma exchange urgently them chemo.

[xz3sgn in reply to Keithtim10]

Hi Keithtim10,

What made u switch over to Rituximab from Azathioprine ?

[Keithtim10 in reply to xz3sgn]

Basically my consultant advised me he felt it was a better way forward and so far this seems the case.

[xz3sgn in reply to Keithtim10]

Thnx for prompt reply

[Chris-Bromsgrove]

Hi fefevian

I agree very much with Kentk8 reply. Usually you will start on a high tapering dose of Prednisolone. Usually by the time your Vasculitis is in remission you will have reduced to a maintenance dose of Prednisolone of around 5 mg. As Kentk8 says if all is going well your doctor will look to wean you off Prednisolone very gradually. I was taken off Pred completely after about three years and didn't have any problems. However some people have difficulty weaning off Pred and have to continue taking a small dose.

Hope this helps Chris

[Wordsley]

Dmy husband is on the same for a vasculor problem the steroids eventually will be reduced and eased off and replaced by azathprine which will be always on they don't like you left on steroids more than two years the most. That's what's happening with him so it may be what they do with yourself . Take care.

[jgold]

I was diagnosed with vasculitis in autumn 2014. and given initial treatment with cyclophosphamide and prednisolone.

I then went on to azathioprine as my maintenance immuno-suppressant. This worked quite well, with the vaculitis flaring up just once per year and quickly suppressed with a short dose of prednisolone.

However this year I have had three flares in nine months, which suggests the azathioprine is no longer working very well. My vasculitis consultant is not happy for me to have frequent courses of prednisolone. Therefore we have just started on rituximab which he hopes will be more effective than the azathoprine. If this turns out to be the case, the azathiprone will be stopped.

Of course with vasculitis we are all different and therefore may need different treatments - and we may have different side-effects from the various drugs. Having an experienced vasculitis doctor is very important. We have some - but not many - in Britain. I hope you are being looked after by one in Brazil.

Hope this helps.