Ocular Myasthenia Gravis - Immune Disorders Message Board

ritj77 · 06-16-2008, 09:35 PM

What would be the least toxic of these medications to combat the symptoms of Ocular Myasthenia Gravis: Cytoxen, Imuran or Cellcept?

dennis45 · 06-23-2008, 03:04 AM

Hi,
The only medication of these that I have taken was Imuran. At the time it was for Crohn's Disease. Was on it for a year. It takes about three months for it to start working in your system. Usually they will do blood work on you weekly for the first two months and then once a month. Biggest concerns are white blood cell count. There has been some people that have taken it have gotten Luekemia. Very rare they say with the dose they give for my problem and more and likely the same for you.

This medication was normally used for things like transplant patients. It is an immuno modulator. The main side affect from this medication that I had was hair loss. Didn't need much help with that.

I'm being tested for MG now also and my main problem is double vision. So might get the same suggestions from my Dr.

Only thing my Dr. told me about Imuran is if you take it for a long period and then stop, if they want you to take it again it may not work as well.

Good Luck and let me know which one they put you on if you can.
Take care,
Dennis

debbie363636 · 06-27-2008, 05:11 PM

Hi, my husband is on cytoxen for Wegeners Granulomatosis. Four 50mg pills in the morning. It is a very toxic form of chemo. He can only stay on it for 3 months and then needs to be weaned down to a milder form of immuno supressant. He has to get blood work weekly. It has many bad effects on the body. I am also familiar with imuran as he was on it for colitis and had no problems with it. I am hoping that imuran is what they wean him to but it may not be strong enough. The next drug that they talked about was methotrexate. I am not familiar with the treatment options for your disease but if I had to choose I would definitely take imuran before cytoxen. Good luck with your treatment.........Debie

PatNJ · 07-07-2008, 06:33 PM

ritj77 and Dennis45~

The first line of defense drug for ocular and generalized MG is usually Mestinon. It didn't help me. Prednisone is also used, but I can't take it because of psychiatric side effects.

ritj77, I tried CellCept at one point for MG. I tolerated it well, except that it lowered my white count and didn't work, either.

Good luck to you both.