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Hello,

My son is being started on Imuran/Azathioprine this week.  He is 7 and has Crohns.  I am hoping someone can give me the good and the bad on this drug.  Any advice or experiences anyone has had with it would be appreciated.  He is already on Pentasa, Prevacid, Iron, Vitamin D.  It is being added because although he is symptom free his labs show that he is still severely anemic, iron deficient, and protein deficient. This is a last resort before Remicaid and the doctor wants to try it because it takes time to work and since my son is symptom free we have some time to see if lab work can normalize.    Thanks again for any advice. 

 Reply posted for loving mother.

Hi,

 Reply posted for sandpiper.

Thanks for your input.  My son just moved up on the Imuran dose.  It takes a few monthes to work I guess, but I will let you know.

 Reply posted for loving mother.

Your story sounds similar to ours--my son wasn't too symptomatic, once he got through his course of prednisone and onto 6-MP.  But he kept losing weight, like your son he also had iron-deficiency.  He didn't feel that bad (probably because he didn't eat much, to avoid the pain and the diarrhea) but it was obvious that he wasn't in remission.  Too tired and too skinny to play sports at the level he always had, for example, and just crabby.  He is usually a very funny, outgoing kid, and he was just a little subdued.

I hope the imuran works for your son.  It was a very easy drug to take, while remicade IVs are a nuisance.  I guess the only thing I would say to you is to not be afraid to take the next step if it doesn't control his disease.  I think when your kid doesn't have terrible symptoms, it's easier to be in denial that the disease is still active.  I certainly resisted remicade for about six months longer than I should have.  Hindsight's always 20-20, right?

Again, good luck and keep us all posted.

 Reply posted for sandpiper.

Thank you so much for your response.  Tomorrow is his 2 week anniversary on Imuran and so far he seems okay.  I guess Imuran takes 3, sometimes 4 monthes to kick in so hopefully it will go well.  The doctor mentioned Remicaid to us but said he wanted to give Imuran a try because our son is "symtom free" right now.  My son's bloodwork will not normalize and the doctor says that he will relapse if we do not do more than Pentasa.  I debated but then realized I had no choice if I want to keep him looking and feeling "normal" as you put it nicely.  There is something in the stool that our doctor said was extremely elevated too called calprotectin and it was 1600 for my son and normal is I think 65.  I googled calprotectin and it said it is a strong indicator for relapse and flares when it is elevated.  Anyway, thank you so much for the input.  There is nothing like talking and  hearing other peoples experiences with medicine and the disease itself.  Take care. 

 Reply posted for loving mother.

Hi,

I think my experience is similar to that of another poster--my son (13) was on 6-MP, similar to imuran, for about a year, starting shortly after his diagnosis.  He didn't have any problems with it, no side effects or abnormal blood work, but it just wasn't effective enough, and he ended up on remicade 6 mos ago (which has been the wonder drug, I have to say, he looks and feels great and has gained lots of weight and muscle back.  For the first time since his dx he is completely "normal").

So I wouldn't worry about imuran, but it seems like there are several of our kids who have gone on to the biologics.

Good luck and I hope things go well for you.

 Reply posted for Concerned Mom.

Thank you for  the reply.  I appreciate it.  I am glad your daughter is doing well on it.  I am hoping my son also responds.  God Bless.

 Reply posted for loving mother.

My 9 year old daughter has Crohn's and has been on Imuran for just over a year.  Her doctor started her on it immediately upon diagnosis along with Prednisone and some vitamins.  She is off Prednisone now and takes 75mg of Imuran daily. While she is not symptom-free she is definitely stable and her labs are good.  Overall she has done well on the Imuran and she continues to grow and gain weight.  I know it takes awhile to work and the doctor has had to increase the dosage gradually based on her weight.  The only negative is that she has to have her blood drawn every few months to monitor the Imuran levels.  Good luck, I hope your son does well on it too. 

 Reply posted for andrews mom.

Thank you for the input.  It is appreciated.

 Reply posted for loving mother.

My son was diagnosed with Crohn's almost a year ago when he was 12 and was on Imuran for several months.  He didn't have any problems with the drug, but it didn't help his symptoms.  He ended up on Remicade and has been responding very well to it.  He was severly anemic at the time of diagnosis, and my understanding from his physicians was that it would take some time to get the iron built back up.  His bloodwork is all good now, but it took 6-8 months and several different medications before he responded really well.  He's still fighting fatigue and arthritis on the Remicade, but not at all to the extent he was before.  Hope it helps.