Azathioprine for Lupus User Reviews

• Kar...
• February 26, 2020

Azathioprine "I was prescribed Imuran for systemic lupus. I took the medicine for about one month. I had a terrible allergic reaction - I was hospitalized for several days. High fever, liver, and joint pain. It is my understanding that Imuran can cause an allergic reaction (it was not a unique reaction to me). I have since learned (from a doctor at the Johns Hopkins Lupus Center) that there is a test to determine if you will tolerate Imuran. The test checks the level/presence of an enzyme necessary for the body to process or tolerate Imuran. I would ask your doctor about the test for Imuran tolerance before starting Imuran - my allergic reaction was very bad. I am not an alarmist, and I understand that Imuran is an effective medicine for many people. However, I wish I had known that a test was available to determine if a patient will tolerate Imuran, as this would have been extremely helpful and I could have avoided a very serious allergic reaction to Imuran."

• pre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2012

Azathioprine "Imuran greatly improved my systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) symptoms. I have neurological involvement, and before this medicine, my right foot was paralyzed. I can now walk, thanks to this. I had blood work done, and all my values are normal now, which was not the case before. I do not have any side effects either. It has been a lifesaver for me."

• Mar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 21, 2020

Azathioprine "I have been taking Imuran for over 40 years since I was diagnosed with lupus. My lupus has been in remission for over 40 years. I have had a kidney transplant for over 30 years (failure due to my lupus). I am a strong believer that by taking Imuran, my lupus being in remission and having my transplant for so many years is part of the reason for taking Imuran."

• BB1...
• March 27, 2014

Azathioprine "I'm a woman age 39. I've been on Imuran for over 4 years. Before taking Imuran, I was on methotrexate and Lyrica, which I had EVERY SIDE EFFECT to. But when I switched medicines and began the Imuran, it was very helpful! I could tell a big difference in how I felt. I also have fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis as well. Over time, and up to this point, I'm feeling I need something stronger or even different. I can't tell that I have any known side effects from Imuran. My doctor suggested I try Benlysta. I'm scheduled to start that in two weeks! I'm very nervous because of some of the side effects, but you never know until you try! Hope this was helpful! Best of luck!"

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

Azathioprine "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."

• sma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2014

Azathioprine "After about 2 weeks into the medicine, I started vomiting severely whenever I took this medication. Ended up in the hospital. I tried this medication again several years later and immediately started vomiting severely. I had to go by ambulance to the emergency room because I could not go by car. I would use extreme caution when first starting this medication because apparently it can cause severe side effects."

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

Azathioprine "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."

• Mom...
• August 15, 2015

Azathioprine "At the 2 wk mark of taking Imuran, I started having a terrible headache. My body started to ache. I couldn't get comfortable no matter what I did, and I had trouble sleeping. I had a fever, I had chills, and I sweated worse than being at the gym. My urine was golden dark yellow, and my skin was pale. I was tested for the flu, which was negative, and my blood test results were normal (as normal as can be for a lupus patient). My doctor thought I had a virus but told me to stop taking the Imuran. Within a little over 24 hours, the headache started going away, the urine went back to normal color, and my body was feeling better."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2018

Azathioprine "I started on Imuran 6 weeks ago. At 4 weeks, I noticed a huge improvement in my hand pain and stiffness. At 6 weeks, I have noticed a general overall improvement in all my joints, the pain in my knees has been reduced by 2. I can do more stairs with less pain. I also take Celebrex, Plaquenil, and Methotrexate too."

• But...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2017

Azathioprine "At the 2-week mark on Imuran 50 mg TID, I developed a high temp, severe muscle aches, chilling, and started coughing up green mucus. I also had severe weakness. Went to MD and put on antibiotics. Called rheumy, and I was taken off the med. CBC and CMP lab was normal."

• Aya...
• January 4, 2020

Azathioprine "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."

• ThM...
• August 28, 2010

Azathioprine "Imuran caused a 10-day hospital stay for me. I was on it about 2 weeks, started running a fever of 104, had chills, very short of breath. I was treated for regular flu, swine flu, tested for all sorts of other breathing problems."

• Sys...
• December 8, 2015

Azathioprine "Have been on it for over a year, works okay at this point, still having some fatigue and still have pain and swelling in feet and hands. Also take Plaquenil, so this may be helping also. Would love to feel as good as the people on Benlysta :)"

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

Azathioprine "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."

• daw...
• August 18, 2015

"I've been on Imuran for a year now, and before this, nothing worked for my SLE and rheumatoid arthritis. I also take another drug. But before Imuran, I couldn't get shoes on because my legs and ankles were so swollen and my feet. I couldn't dress myself. It was so depressing. I haven't been able to go back to work due to seizure disorder, but this medication has given me back a big part of my life, it feels wonderful to be able to be semi self-dependent."

• BBa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 18, 2021

"I've been taking azathioprine for over two months now (May 2021) for my lupus. First on a low dose, then it was raised after a few weeks of taking it. There has been no improvement for me, but there have been problems that were caused by azathioprine. There has been blood in my urine, stomach irritation, occasional nausea, fatigue (even though I'm often fatigued because of lupus & other medications), as well as hair loss. When I was first diagnosed with lupus in April 2020, my symptoms were getting worse & hair loss happened majorly. By mid-October 2020, I was hospitalized for over a month. I started to improve but still not my full self. Still aches & pains, but my hair was starting to grow back. However, taking azathioprine has caused me to lose my hair again but in noticeable areas. Azathioprine isn't working for me & causing me problems."

• bar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 17, 2014

Azathioprine "I have been on Imuran for at least 25 years. I have had few, if any, side effects. My lupus is basically in remission most of the time. I also take prednisone."

• Jud...
• April 28, 2009

Azathioprine "Worked fantastic for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that included heart and lung involvement."

• ric...
• December 7, 2009

Azathioprine "Had an allergic reaction about three weeks into treatment. Broke out in hives. Was taking it for systemic lupus."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 15, 2020

Azathioprine "This medicine has really helped me with joint pain and kidney issues."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2015

Azathioprine "After a week, I started vomiting. My mother also told me I called her in the middle of the night and was confused. I had no idea I even called."

• VLE...
• June 21, 2010

Azathioprine "Worked well at higher doses but affected my liver functions, so had to cut back on dosage. Helps at lower dosage, but not as well."

• Imu...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 10, 2022

"This drug has kept me out of the hospital for over 10 years. CNS lupus."

• Anonymous
• August 23, 2010

Azathioprine "Elevated liver enzymes, nausea, and vomiting."