METHOTREXATE NO .... AZATHIOPRINE YES?

carola

Good Morning my Friends

Hope you all had a decent sleep last night and full of the joys this morning?

I have SLE (a form of Lupus) & PolyArthritis. As well as lots of different meds, I have been on methotrexate for just over a year and have my bloods tested every 2 weeks. Over the last few times, my liver test has been increasing every time therefore 2/3 weeks ago the hospital called me to advise stop taking meth immediately.

Unfortunately, my swellings and pain have returned over the last couple of days and I am gutted. Anyway, depending upon my results this week I will likely now be put on Azathioprine (think is also known as Imron?),

Was wondering if anyone else out there has taken this med and your experience? Some internet info say don't get pregnant on it and some say yes but monitor closely. I'll ask the Rheumy everything however I find all your experiences so useful to hear.

Have a great day and keep smiling.
Carol

dreamdaisy

Ooooh, stumped me there Marilyn! I have never heard of it but I am sure someone will come along in due course who has and can help. I wish you well. DD

frogmorton

Hi Carola

sorry about the bloods going haywire...totally agree you should come off the MTX!

Imuran

i think it's called imuran as it's other name and it has to be worth a try.

Can l wish you all the best with it...you sound to be suffering a lot at the moment :sad:

Love

toni xx

carola

Thanks DD and Toni

Ocht, I'm not suffering too bad .... it could be worse!

When I woke up this morning and felt the pain and swellings returning I just got really bummed off as when I stopped taking the Methotrexate I was really chanting a mantra to myself that it wasn't the Meth that was working anyway so it wouldn't make a difference!

Still keeping my positive attitude that maybe my body will take a wee while to adjust to no Meth as if my liver readings return to 'normal' I don't want to go back on it and can't help thinking that this other med they want to put me on is just as toxic.

So, going to keep on truckin' on, keep wholefood eating, keep decreasing the steriods and although don't know if I'll be able to do any tonight still going to go to yoga class.

Basically, taking my own medicine of thinking positive and still smiling.
Carol x

suzygirl

Hi, I do know someone who has lupus and takes AZA, it has worked for them. I do beleive you can take it whilst pregnant. It is often used a s a med when the liver can't take mtx, and used effectively.

Hope your appt goes well.

carola

SuzyGirl - thanks for that. Yep, my liver cannae take the meth.

Thanks again.

Carol

ichabod6

I was on methotrexate and humira for my ra and in
October last year contracted crohns disease.
I was in hospital for several weeks during which time
azathioprine was substituted for those.
I am now on a much smaller dose of this plus a reducing
dosage of steroids and all is well; in fact all is very well.
I feel as fit as I was last autumn and on a much smaller
dosage of medication.
I am lucky in that altho I now have two long term health
conditions the same medication does for them both.

scattered

I was on azathioprine for about a year. It worked kinda on my RA, in conjunction with lots of other meds as well. I had to keep increasing the dose as my RA would start to fight back after a few months, but that seems to be my story with all meds not just AZA. I had to stop it because it decimated my white blood count, but I understand this is pretty rare. I hope you get on with it. I had no side-effects from it.

julie47

Hi carola

No info from me on your new medication but i see others have been able to give you some advice. I just wanted to say I hope it works for you, and you start to feel better soon.
Take care
Love Juliepf x

carola

Collywobble and Julie

Really appreciate your well wishes. They haven't given me the new med yet so limbering up for it in anticipation!!

carola

Scattered and Inchabod

This is very good to hear of your experiences with it and I appreciate you taking the time to tell me.

Not been given the new med yet so positive thoughts and all that.

Thanks again.
Carol

justinbarrow

I was on methotrexate and had the same problem with my liver function test being high and also I suffered from terrible runs from it so they changed me to Azathioprine and this was much better regarding my liver function and side effects. I suppose everyone is different.

Hope it makes things a bit easier for you

carola

Thanks Justin.

Good to hear your progress on Az.