Imuran

[goosey]

I need some advice about Imuran, I'm on 100mg. daily, about 1month now & loosing my hair. I went through 6months of cyclophosphamide chemo without any hair loss.
also have been getting night sweats & a dry mouth . My pred dose is now down to 7.5mg. I was wondering if hair loss was common with all the meds. because my doctor said they may have to change them , I probably have lost about half my hair in a month, glad i had thick hair to start with.:sad:

[Pete]

Hello Goosey,

I was one of the wegs patients who did not tolerate immuran well. This adverse reaction may have been coupled with pneumonia. My symptoms included night sweats, cough, loss of appetite, and major fatigue. I hope you have (or can get) convenient access to a wegs specialist who could test to see whether you're having a flare or something else.

Good luck!

Pete
dx 1/11

[Dirty Don]

I probably have lost about half my hair in a month, glad i had thick hair to start with.:sad:

I'm on mtx, but had significant hair loss at first. Doc tripled my dose of folic acid, the hair has since come back in full...in fact, it came back wavy for a while!! LOL, I've never had curly hair in my life! But, do ask about the folic acid.

[goosey]

Hi Pete,
I have been seeing a wegs. specialist for 1year now. I must say I'm feeling very well apart from the things i mentioned , Am having regular bloods done all is normal except my ANCA levels are slightly above normal.
Doctor said I am in "clinical" remission now but have to be checked every couple of months. I just dont want to loose my hair.:crying:

[goosey]

Thanks for that ,I will ask my dr.about folic acid.

[mishb]

I think the folic acid has helped with mine too. It is a little thinner and more curlier than before.

I was very worried about losing my hair when I first started on MTX, but my aunty who has just had her 89th round of chemo due to cancer, told me.........it is only hair, you can wear a scarf, a hat or anything. You need the medication to help you get better and once you are better and no longer taking the medication, your hair will return, and in most cases, thicker and fuller.
After she said this, my fear was gone....she is right, it doesn't make who you are......I know we all like it, but we can learn to get along without it.

I hope things start coming good for you, very quickly

[Al]

Goosey--Imuran (azathioprine) is sometimes associated with digestive issues, and there are some who have an insufficiency of the liver enzymes that process it. But, so far as I know, it is not not though of as causing hair loss. This is more likely a delayed reaction to the cytoxan. Or, possibly, the vasculitis itself (which can cause alopecia through starving the nerves around follicles). Folic acid is usually prescribed along with methotrexate (which depletes B vitamins), but not Imuran.

By the way, we Weggies seem to be animal lovers; I love your avatar!

Al

[Lightwarrior]

Al says we weggies seem to be animal lovers and I tend to agree. By the way Goosey, is that a little boxer puppy? I have a boxer that I am crazy about, she knows a week before I flare.

[goosey]

Lightwarrior, she is a pug/jack russell cross, called a "puggle". She was a birthday present a few years ago, all the rest of my dogs have been rescue ones. We still have Lucy(the puggle ) but it is the rescue ones who seem to know when something is not right with you. My latest one wont leave my side if I am ill.