Azathioprine and Chills: What Users Say

• MI ...
• February 18, 2016

Azathioprine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "The first two to three weeks were fine. Then I started experiencing a bad headache, the next two days fever and chills. The next evening, severe chills, weakness, dizziness, raging fever (up to 104.3), and began throwing up. It was the worst I've ever felt in my life (and that includes a hospitalization in ICU when first diagnosed). I was on the verge of calling 911. However, it eventually passed (as the medicine worked its way out of my system) and the fever subsided. My rheumatologist ran a complete series of blood work and she said that I had an allergic reaction. Prior to starting Imuran, I had been tested for liver compatibility and the results showed that I would have no issues, so I proceeded. Proceed with extreme caution."

• MI ...
• February 18, 2016

Azathioprine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "The first two to three weeks were fine. Then I started experiencing a bad headache, the next two days fever and chills. The next evening, severe chills, weakness, dizziness, raging fever (up to 104.3), and began throwing up. It was the worst I've ever felt in my life (and that includes a hospitalization in ICU when first diagnosed). I was on the verge of calling 911. However, it eventually passed (as the medicine worked its way out of my system) and the fever subsided. My rheumatologist ran a complete series of blood work and she said that I had an allergic reaction. Prior to starting Imuran, I had been tested for liver compatibility and the results showed that I would have no issues, so I proceeded. Proceed with extreme caution."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Dar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2022

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "My gastrointestinal doctor put me on this medication for my Crohn's. After taking this medication, I was taken off by Dr. who believed I was having an allergic reaction. Made me feel very weak, trouble breathing, sick to my stomach, cold, and fast heartbeat."