Help with Imuran

[suecy]

Hi. I'm new to these boards. I wonder if anyone can give me info on Imuran. I've been on Plaquenil for approx 10 years but have been feeling really bad lately and I've just seen a new doctor that has put me on Imuran. I took the first dose last night and now my mouth and eyes feel even more dry than normal and i'm feeling nauseous with a churning stomach. Has anyone else suffered with this and does it settle down after a while?  Thanks.

[Scottietottie]

Hi Suecy 

Welcome!

I've never been on Imuran but I'm sure someone who has will be along with some advice soon. The other thing you could do is to type 'Imuran' into the search box at the top left and it may bring up older threads where imuran has been mentioned.

Take care - Scottie 

[Linda196]

Hello and welcome Suecy.

I took Imuran for 6 months some years ago, and only stopped because it didn't appear to be helping me any, but that's just my personal reaction. I never had any side effects from it, although it can cause nausea and stomach upset. Many people find that by taking it with food or milk, those can be minimized.

I don't think I'd be too quick to blame the inceased dryness on the new drug, because the dryness levels wax and wane anyway, and this could be coincidental. Are you still taking the Plaquenil, or did you just stop cold turkey? That could cause an increase in dryness on it's own.

I hope you find the information and support here that you need...drop in any time!

[suecy]

Thanks everyone for your help. I'm still taking the plaquenil at the moment but my doctor is hoping to decrease the dose in time. Second day in and the dryness of my mouth and eyes isn't so bad,so I 'm feeling a bit more hopeful. Also I may be imagining it but I thought I felt generally a bit less achey and tired yesterday. I don't think I realised just how permanently exhausted I had become. Even a slight improvement made me realise just how dreadful I had been feeling!!

Suecy x

[Victoria05202000]

Hi Suecy, 

I don't take Imuran, but I take Cellcept.  They are both "big" drugs to suppress the immune system...normally after a transplant to help not reject the kidney.  I have been on cellcept since December and my numbers have come down TONS. I will say I still have crappy days, but I think it is more from the kidney problems I have.

It took me a couple of weeks to get use to it. I had nausea and still do occasionally. Most of the time it doesn't last long. 

Take Care!
Vicky

[kim31072]

I took Imuran for about 2 months and for a while all was well.Everyone in the house got sick(other than dear old moms  )so about a week later when I took my dose and got ready for bed and felt mildly queasy I thought "great now I have it"..couple of more nights of mild off feelings then a throw up episode on and off that lasted about an hour.Asked rheumy to go off it til I got over " the bug" fast forward 4-5 days no nausea nothing.Started it up again and oh my word!I threw up for about 6-8 hrs.I could not lean over any as my sides hurt so bad and I tried to throw up standing up,off the porch  ,and finally just laid on the couch on my stomach and threw up in a wastebasket..then a blanket as I couldnt even move anymore.It took me awhile to get over that one...tried one more pill was queasy for 2 days and felt like I was barely holding it in..so I got pulled off it.

No rhyme or reason and it was working really well for me up until that point.Bummed me out but I wouldnt ever chance that again.

I hope you do better with it and it works well for you.