Azithropine/imuran

Just a question as I am having trouble finding out the answer and thought I would throw it out here. The hepatologist wants me to start azithropine (imuran). I am in remission from the ITP after splenectomy with my platets in the 500 range normally now. In reading about imuran it identifies it causes low platelets and stresses that a lot. Thus I am worried if I take it it may end the remission, however I have also seen that people have been prescribed it for ITP so I am trying to make sense of that?

Does anyone have experience with it for ITP? Or have any thoughts about it taking away the remission? I am going to ensure the hepatologist runs it by my hematologist for approval but want to be as prepared as I can be for the hepatologist appt coming up myself!

Thanks for any thoughts or advice!

Isn't Imuran one of the treatments listed on the treatment page? (too lazy to look myself! :laugh: ) When I was first diagnosed, I took that list with me to the dr. app't and asked him about each one. He wouldn't give me most of them due to the side effects. He did give me IVIG.

Hi Cindy, yes it is, thanks! That is why I am finding it so confusing then though as anything I read about it stresses that itndrops platlets and notes side effects of bruising, petechia, etc...how can it do that and also treat itp?

Most drugs have a possible side effect of lowering platelets. But the vast majority of patients don't get that side effect. If you look at any of the drugs we might use for ITP, you will most likely see thrombocytopenia listed as a possible side effect.

I tried azathioprine but had one of the less rare side effects of nausea and vomiting so stopped using it, but many have used it to good effect.

Ann is right. Most of the meds for ITP list thrombocytopenia as a side effect. Rituxan, Imuran, CellCept, etc. I think I've even seen it listed for Prednisone.

I am also in ITP remission but have taken Imuran for Lupus. It didn't affect my platelets, but did lower my whites.

Thanks ladies! That does make sense, and Sandy it makes me feel better that you have been on it. My biggest worry is that the hepatologist will just pay attention to the liver and I will end up with the ITP back again which will complicate everything further. I know it is possible, just want to do whatever I can do to avoid it.

Thanks for your insights!

You have to just remind the Hepatologist and keep him aware of it. The thing to remember though is that you really have to put the more serious of the two as first priority. I've had to do that with Lupus and sometimes just take my chances with ITP returning. It's hard to juggle more than one issue sometimes because of contradictions, but most manage it.

So here's what I know about drugs and their side effects:

1. They list side effects for each system Nerves, muscles, skeleton, blood ...

2. They are usually listed in order of most common to least common. So if 100 people take a drug and out of them 50 get a headache 10 have a diarrhea and 1 ends up with lower platelets than the list you see from the pharmacy would look like this. Don't forget with any drug can come an allergies so that is auto listed.

Possible side effect (common side effects)

Headaches

Less common side effect

Diarrhea

Contact your doctor if you have any of the following:

Shortness of breath
Rash
bleeding.

3. When they do studies of the drugs they have to report all side effects. Even if it is 1 person out of a 10,000 that had thrombocytopenia (low plateletes) they have to add it to the list.

4. My personal thought is they throw in a side effect for each system because it covers their legal butts.

So you do not really know what is going to happen when you take a drug. Example: I was prescribed Prednisone for my ITP and it cause me to break out in hives. Prednisone is the most common drug prescribed for hives.

Thanks again ladies!Sandi you are right I just need to ensure the hepatologist stays informed. Just feeling a little in edge and like if things can go wrong they will! As we all do sometimes! But your right and I have dine that before with the endo and the oncologist so I can do it again- just need to pump myself up for that! Many people do it and I can too! I think overall the drug just scares me overall with cancer warnings (which I have had) and platelet warnings etc... But time to pull up my big girl panties and take it if it is what's best for me right now!

And Winnifred you are very correct! And the hives from prednisone made me laugh! How ironic!!! Sorry! I guess you have a good reason not to use steroids then!!

Thanks for the feedback and info! Hope your feeling better and better each week Sandi!