Azathioprine and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 24, 2018

Azathioprine for Lupus "I've been on Imuran for 6 months, and it hasn't helped at all. In fact, I'm sicker now on it. The biggest side effects for me are loss of appetite, nausea, and diarrhea. The diarrhea is horrible. I go at least 10 times a day, and nothing helps. I'm exhausted from being so dehydrated and malnourished. When I see my rheumatologist in a week, I'm begging him to try anything else but Imuran. I can't handle it anymore."

• Rub...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2020

Azathioprine for Lupus "So, I’m a few days on Imuran for SLE. The first day was okay for me, but then the days after that, I started getting headaches, feeling nausea, and having on-and-off diarrhea. I also don’t feel hungry nor full. Just average, basically, all the time. I also noticed I started losing some weight. Not sure what will happen in the future. Just hoping for the best."

• 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."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2022

Azathioprine for Lupus "I took it for a month. The first week it made me nauseous, which I just took promethazine to help with, but it didn't take the feeling completely away. I wasn't really eating, and the diarrhea started at 2 weeks. By the 4th week, I felt horrible! Headache, weakness, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea from Sunday to Friday. It was then I knew, although effective for some, and I'd really hoped it would help after seeing so many great reviews, but I requested something else."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 27, 2020

For Myasthenia Gravis "I've been taking this for eight months and just got out of the hospital, where I was diagnosed with pancreatitis, probably caused by this drug. I have had stomach issues and diarrhea the entire time I have been on this."

• Ran...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 25, 2022

"I was diagnosed with anti-Jo 1 positive polymyositis. After a complete workup at the Mayo Clinic, it was discovered I actually have the classic triad of the syndrome - a very subset of antisynthetase syndrome including ILD, RA, and myositis. I’m also on hydroxychloroquine and prednisone. But after trying both methotrexate and leflunomide over the course of a year, I began at the starting dose of 50 mg of azathioprine. I’m now on 150 mg daily, and it has been a lifesaver for me, literally. The only real side effect is diarrhea about an hour after taking it in the morning, but it’s completely tolerable considering the myriad of other issues I experienced before this miracle drug. My labs are holding steady, and I’m maintaining. I’m hoping to be able to taper off prednisone completely now that I’ve finally found a long-term medicine that helps because I’ve put on 40 lbs since this whole journey began as a result of the steroids."