Azathioprine User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• Mom...
• August 15, 2015

Azathioprine for Lupus "At the 2 wk mark of taking Imuran, I started having a terrible headache. My body started to ache. I couldn't get comfortable no matter what I did, and I had trouble sleeping. I had a fever, I had chills, and I sweated worse than being at the gym. My urine was golden dark yellow, and my skin was pale. I was tested for the flu, which was negative, and my blood test results were normal (as normal as can be for a lupus patient). My doctor thought I had a virus but told me to stop taking the Imuran. Within a little over 24 hours, the headache started going away, the urine went back to normal color, and my body was feeling better."

• Ebb...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 14, 2016

Azathioprine for Autoimmune Hepatitis "I've been taking Imuran for 18 years, also prednisone. Stopped prednisone 3 years ago and started on allopurinol with Imuran for the last 3 years. Have now stopped allopurinol because I've got urticaria, they think it's allopurinol. This has been for 6 weeks, just started it again 2 days ago and the rash is back, very painful. Not sure what I will take with Imuran now, if anything. Don't understand. Also take Lipitor, Zoloft. I'm a diabetic also and take metformin and insulin: Novolog and Lantus. Also aspirin. I'm 50 this year, and it's worrying."

• No...
• November 9, 2016

Azathioprine for Ulcerative Colitis "Have been on Imuran for 6 years, and it has helped some off and on. In the beginning, I went to the bathroom about 10 to 12 times a day, thus losing a lot of weight, which I didn't expect. Now I go about 3 to 4 times a day, and I do have a flare-up every now and then. Was finally weaned off of prednisone. Have gained some weight back. Overall, the medication has helped, though my immune system has been weakened."

• Big...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 2, 2018

For Autoimmune Hepatitis "I was diagnosed in 2015. Prednisone until levels came under control, and they added the azathioprine to 'keep me there.' Worked great, levels always in line, made a general conversational comment about getting older-almost 60-and feeling a little 'foggy' on name recall. They took me off immediately out of concerns around memory loss. I don't know if an actual side effect or just getting older. But now, struggling to find a replacement. My experience positive until recently, but I think I want to give it another try and just monitor more closely. I had no side effects from the azathioprine other than that potential."

• jul...
• January 24, 2016

For Ulcerative Colitis "Been taking it for 7 months. Prior to this, had really bad flares, nothing worked. Steroids wouldn't control. Had UC for 19 years and had spread further up my colon. Was offered azathioprine, so thought, why not? Best thing I have ever done, I have my life back. My regular bloods are all normal. Not taking anything else for UC. Toilet once a day. Have joint pain, but that's a small price to pay. Don't have to worry about being near a toilet."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2018

Azathioprine for Lupus "I started on Imuran 6 weeks ago. At 4 weeks, I noticed a huge improvement in my hand pain and stiffness. At 6 weeks, I have noticed a general overall improvement in all my joints, the pain in my knees has been reduced by 2. I can do more stairs with less pain. I also take Celebrex, Plaquenil, and Methotrexate too."

• chr...
• April 29, 2019

Azathioprine for Inflammatory Bowel Disease "Shortly after commencing Imuran at a low dose (50 mg/day), I developed a severe and persistent headache and also felt very tired and listless. One week later, everything got a lot worse: within 24 hours of commencing the higher dosage (100 mg/day), I began to feel extremely nauseous, and about an hour later, non-stop vomiting commenced. I couldn't even swallow a mouthful of water without bringing it up almost immediately. That night, all the joints in my body began to swell up and become very painful. By 3 a.m., I could barely walk, and by 7 a.m., my husband had to call in emergency services: my BP had dropped to 56/40, so I was immediately taken to the hospital, where I was treated with copious amounts of IV fluids, antiemetics, and high doses of corticosteroids. Over the next few days, I very gradually began to improve and was discharged from the hospital 6 days later, but it took many weeks before I was anywhere near back to normal."

• PEN...
• April 25, 2009

Azathioprine for Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I have been taking 50 mg daily and have been for six months. I had a serious flare six months ago and a small bowel resection two months later. I feel that the Imuran and Remicade combination is keeping me well and feeling perfectly normal. No side effects so far. I am very glad to have tapered off Prednisone and am happy with Imuran and Remicade for Crohn's maintenance."

• Soh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2018

Azathioprine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was put on Imuran for RA and RA-ILD (Rheumatoid arthritis, interstitial lung disease). As another mentioned, this drug is not widely used for RA, nor is it widely accepted as a treatment for ILD caused by RA. My docs are hoping to cover both bases with one drug. So far, the side effects are monstrous. Willing to go back on a 'regularly prescribed' RA med and hope for the best in the lung flare-ups."

• Lee...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 28, 2019

For Autoimmune Hepatitis "Was on azathioprine for 4-5 years, it got my liver numbers down and kept them down. But into the 5th year, I asked to try weaning off or lowering the dosage, I was constantly getting sick. It seemed that I was being knocked down at least once a month from a cold or just complete fatigue. I also noticed if I went into highly public areas, stores or restaurants, I would be laid up the next two days. I did good at a lower dosage, then stopped taking altogether for almost 2 years. I sustained knee injuries and required pain medication until then, along with lidocaine patches, my numbers spiked to the 300s, and quickly, so I’m back on the azathioprine. Hopefully, I will be able to go off again after healing or something that won’t over-suppress my immune system to the point I cannot be out in public will come along."

• But...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2017

Azathioprine for Lupus "At the 2-week mark on Imuran 50 mg TID, I developed a high temp, severe muscle aches, chilling, and started coughing up green mucus. I also had severe weakness. Went to MD and put on antibiotics. Called rheumy, and I was taken off the med. CBC and CMP lab was normal."

• Aya...
• January 4, 2020

Azathioprine for Lupus "I have been on Imuran three years for SLE, and it works really well for me. The side effects I had diarrhea for the first few months, but it has improved. I barely get any pain, and it has improved my kidney function."

• ThM...
• August 28, 2010

Azathioprine for Lupus "Imuran caused a 10-day hospital stay for me. I was on it about 2 weeks, started running a fever of 104, had chills, very short of breath. I was treated for regular flu, swine flu, tested for all sorts of other breathing problems."

• j-r...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 2, 2023

For Autoimmune Hepatitis "I have been on azathioprine 50mg since January 2015. For the first 6 months, I took prednisone, which once my numbers leveled out, they took me off. I have stayed with azathioprine, and my numbers have always been great. I had a scan in 2022, and I was still at the same level 1 when I began taking azathioprine."

• joe...
• February 20, 2012

Azathioprine for Crohn's Disease "This pill works for me, but I'm sure everyone is different. You just have to go get blood work every 3 months while on it. I've been taking it for 5 years, and I'm doing great, just make sure you eat a small meal before you take Azasan, it can make you sick for an hour if you don't. I do recommend this pill if you have Crohn's. Ask your doctor about it and see if it is right for you."

• Sys...
• December 8, 2015

Azathioprine for Lupus "Have been on it for over a year, works okay at this point, still having some fatigue and still have pain and swelling in feet and hands. Also take Plaquenil, so this may be helping also. Would love to feel as good as the people on Benlysta :)"

• PEW...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 16, 2024

For Autoimmune Hepatitis "I have been on azathioprine for 5 years with success in keeping the autoimmune hepatitis under control, but was sick at my stomach for years. I followed up with a GI doctor for my stomach issues. The NP checked my pancreas and found the lipase elevated. I found out that I had pancreatitis due to this medication. My doctor had not been checking my lipase/amylase for the 5 years I was on this medication. I wish I had known this so I could have advocated for myself to have my pancreas watched while on this medication."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Started on a low dose of Imuran... 50 mg. Was breathing much better after 3 weeks of blood tests, Dr. thought it was okay to increase the dose. Went to 100 mg... a couple weeks later, joint and muscle pain worsened, shortness of breath, just miserable. Dr. said it would take time, needed 6 - 8 weeks for medication to work. Increased dose to 150 mg a week ago. I feel horrible. I have described side effects to Dr. No luck... what to do? I'm very tempted to just stop taking this medication. I feel horrible!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 3, 2021

For Ulcerative Colitis "I've had UC since 1999, and began taking AZA in 2004 after mediocre results from prednisone and aminosalicylates. It has successfully kept me in remission going on 17 years, and I am very grateful. I've had no noticeable side effects, and am very active."

• Fil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 29, 2019

For Crohn's Disease "I have been taking azathioprine for about 9 years, and 5 years ago began experiencing joint pain, intense itching, and hair loss. My doctor dismisses all these problems as not being related to medication. I'm starting to think that it's time to seek another opinion. Just wondering if anyone else had the same symptoms?"

• she...
• February 6, 2010

Azathioprine for Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I have had Crohn's disease for 19 years and have been on many different medications. I have been hospitalized 6 times, where they shut down the colon to leave it to rest (no surgeries). I have taken Imuran for 7 years and, until last month, have only had 4 flare-ups to account for. My doctors put me on a steroid (not something that you want to take a lot of). For me, this is usually about a 2-3 month process. Unfortunately, my thyroid has gone from hypo to hyper, and my Crohn's disease and blood pressure are out of control. So my doctors have suggested I try Remicade... I have just had my second infusion, still taking Imuran and 30 mg of steroid, hoping to see some results soon."

• Anonymous
• January 8, 2010

Azathioprine for Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I was prescribed Imuran but had to come off it within 2 weeks due to acute depression and complete loss of appetite! But some medicines work better on other people, I think you have to find the right one for you!"

• G E...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 2, 2015

Azathioprine for Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I was taking Imuran back in 2012 for Crohn's disease. I switched to Remicade and was doing well until the 6th infusion when I contracted drug-induced lupus. After a short time with prednisone, I went back on Imuran. After 3 years, I seem to be doing well (no flare-ups), etc. I do have a lot of trouble with my skin. I don't know if the Imuran has anything to do with that or not."

• sco...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 28, 2015

Azathioprine for Crohn's Disease "I've been on Imuran for about 9 years now. After trying the medicine Pentasa, where I was taking 4000 mg a day, and it still didn't control my flare-ups. This medicine has its side effects too, but I haven't experienced many other than pain in my joints recently, which is good since I've been taking Imuran for 9 years!"

• Anonymous
• October 3, 2016

Azathioprine for Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I was only diagnosed in May and have been on Uceris and Imuran. Currently taking Imuran 50 mg, and now that I have been on it for a few months, I have been getting nausea every time I take it. Zofran does not even help, they are talking about doing the infusion now. I'm just so tired of being sick. Did this happen to anyone else?"