Has anyone knows about this medication Imuran - Lupus Message Board

gbmccaw · 09-20-2005, 09:41 PM

Hi I've been diagnosed with Lupus 3 years ago. I've been taking 200mg of plaquanil and 20mg of prednisone. I went to see my rhumy today. my husband and I plan on going through IVF but the procedure not until january and my rheumy doc is aware of this. I did have a flare up there weeks ago and they had given me a Solumedrol through IV. and had to be put on high dosege of pred 50 mg and now I'm down to 20mg. I went to see my rheumy today. but before that someone from research technician approach me and ask me if I would be interested to volunteer in Lupus research. she explain to me everything they would have to do and for me to give permission to take blood test each time my doc visit. the reason they are asking me because of I'm one of the lupus patient that did not take too many medication and they would like to study my blood and compare to other lupus patient had taken to many drugs. also, she told my that my rheumy doc is involved with this research. well I did sign all the paper work and give them permission for all there study. so when my rheumy doc came and see me she mention to me right away about my plan of getting pregnant and said that my lupus is flare right now and it's not the right time to get pregnant for a year and that she would put me on new DRugs IMURAN and that I would have to get some blood test done within 30 days after taking this drugs. and she said that this drugs supposed to make my lupus on remission. I did not believed that for a second when she told me that. but yet I don't know. then I'm beginning to think that I wonder if this drugs and me volunteer with this reasearch they are doing had something to do with this. now, I realized that I don't want to be a subject of there lab search and I'm afraid they put me on this IMUran drugs because of that. after doing research about this drugs I'm scared taking this drugs. has anyone had been taking this drugs and what is the side effect on this??? also has anyone volunteer for a lupus research????? and what can tell me about it if anyone please tell me about it. I'm my wrong with my thoughts? is my rheumy right about what she said about this drugs can it put my lupus in remission??? if anyone would know I would appreciated. I know ask to much and hoping for answer. Thank you.

darkwater · 09-21-2005, 01:29 PM

From what I have read in the literature, it seems quite possible that Imuran could put your lupus into remission. It's just that no one drug works the same for every person, and while it may put some people into remission, it may not necessarily put YOU into remission. And yes, I have also been told that your lupus needs to have been under control (as verified by blood and urine lab results) for at least one year before attempting a pregnancy. I don't think any of the doctors will approve of you trying to get pregnant if you continue to have frequent and severe flares, but you will have to make the decision yourself. Azathioprine (the generic name for Imuran) doesn't seem to affect female fertility, so it shouldn't affect your ovaries, though I don't know if you are planning on using your own eggs for the IVF. And Imuran is NOT taken when a person is or is trying to become pregnant. So, as long as you are on it, I don't think you would be able to try for a pregancy due to the risk of harm to the fetus. But it seems Imuran can have many of the typical side-effects of chemotherapy type drugs, such as nausea and hair loss. It is all so individual. It does seem like we are all guinea pigs for them to test their drugs on sometimes. I don't think you should be so scared taking Imuran, but whether it fits in with your life plans is something to consider.

gallie · 09-23-2005, 08:37 AM

I've been taking imuran for two years know for my lupus. Before I started taking it I was very ill. When I began to take it I felt no difference, after avout two months I noticed a change in my pain and the amount of flare ups I was getting. The medication will help if you if you follow your dr's instructions and take everyday. Also with the other medication you take it will help with your lupus. Imuran is actually a chemotherapy medication, it can cause some side effects but nothing to crazy. Don't get to nervous it will help you. In the case of getting pregnant my rhum told me I was ok to get pregnant on these meds, also when are pregnant lupus tends to go into remission. That happen when I got pregnant with my daughter, then six months after she was born I got very sick. The pregnancy took such a toll on my body. Your best bet is to do as much research as possible on the medication and getting pregnant. There is a book called Getting Pregnant with Lupus, I read thr book front to back andc it gave me such wonderful information. Good Luck!!!!!