Question:
Good Morning Everyone, Am I stupid or what? I don’t want any smart comments from Janers and J. That is meant as a rhetorical question. I have told you before that it is clear to me that my rheumy doesn’t know what to do about my up and down platelet count. She had her secretary call me after my last blood test to say they were down again. I have immune thrombocytepenia. I have been weaned off the pred and am on 150mgs Imuran. I just read that one of the side effects of Imuran is a decrease in the WBC, platelet count, or RBC. I already have a low WBC as well as pernicious anemia. Does anyone have ideas on why the doctor would choose Imuran over some other drug in this case? The reason this came to mind now, is that the pharmacy is having trouble getting Imuran, so I began looking for alternatives. Like I said before, I tend to take first, read later. Thanks and Good Day-eh, BJ
Response:
It sounds backwards but try to think of it this way… your immune system is what is generally reducing your counts. The imuran (or another immune suppressant) suppresses the cell-killing action of the immune system. Therefore, tho the drug itself can reduce counts, it can in some cases, actually *increase* counts because it’s level of destruction of cells is less than that which would be caused by your immune system. Does that make sense? I went through this earlier in the year. I can look it up in the Merck to get the technical wording – or you can trust me.. <wink> hugs, kcat – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On Sat, 29 Sep 2001 17:23:12 GMT, "BJ" <B…@sk.nojunk.ca> wrote: >Imuran is a decrease in the WBC, platelet count, or RBC. I already have a >low WBC as well as pernicious anemia. Does anyone have ideas on why the >doctor would choose Imuran over some other drug in this case? The reason >this came to mind now, is that the pharmacy is having trouble getting >Imuran, so I began looking for alternatives. Like I said before, I tend to >take first, read later. >Thanks and Good Day-eh, >BJ
Response:
<<It sounds backwards but try to think of it this way… your immune system is what is generally reducing your counts. The imuran (or another immune suppressant) suppresses the cell-killing action of the immune system. Therefore, tho the drug itself can reduce counts, it can in some cases, actually *increase* counts because it’s level of destruction of cells is less than that which would be caused by your immune system.>> Actually, that makes perfect sense to me. Imuran is very similar in its action to Cytoxan, though not as strong. When my daughter was on Cytoxan, something which is well known to cause decreased white counts, her counts rose somewhat dramatically early in the therapy. Her doctor said it was a good sign that the therapy was working. Kcat gives an excellent explanation (above) for why this is true. Sandra
Response:
I trust you. BJ "KCat" <k…@asarian-host.net> wrote in message
news:fskertsj4mieno3i2ov31hhkjh7c3c91ol@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> It sounds backwards but try to think of it this way… your immune > system is what is generally reducing your counts. The imuran (or > another immune suppressant) suppresses the cell-killing action of the > immune system. Therefore, tho the drug itself can reduce counts, it > can in some cases, actually *increase* counts because it’s level of > destruction of cells is less than that which would be caused by your > immune system. > Does that make sense? I went through this earlier in the year. I can > look it up in the Merck to get the technical wording – or you can > trust me.. <wink> > hugs, kcat > On Sat, 29 Sep 2001 17:23:12 GMT, "BJ" <B…@sk.nojunk.ca> wrote: > >Imuran is a decrease in the WBC, platelet count, or RBC. I already have a > >low WBC as well as pernicious anemia. Does anyone have ideas on why the > >doctor would choose Imuran over some other drug in this case? The reason > >this came to mind now, is that the pharmacy is having trouble getting > >Imuran, so I began looking for alternatives. Like I said before, I tend to > >take first, read later. > >Thanks and Good Day-eh, > >BJ
Response:
In article <VeLt7.121$D5pi.1376…@tomcat.sk.sympatico.ca>, "BJ" says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->BJ~~~If the Imuran doesn’t yield results, your doc may try purinethol-6, which >is the old derivative of Imuran, but is metabolized differently in the body–it >bypasses the gi tract, I believe, or the liver. I think it’s the gi tract, >because I was having so much diahrrea, and stomach pain on the Imuran. Our >pharmacy didn’t have difficulty with obtaining the drugs. Perhaps it’s because >there aren’t that many in your area that are using it. And KCat’s description >is exactly why they tried Imuran with me–anything to try to slow down the >destruction of my existing immune system. One thing I distinctly remember with >the Imuran–I had little muscle twitches that drove me crazy–my finger would >jerk, or a calf muscle would twitch. If that happens, please call your doc, >your dose may need adjusted, or you may not be tolerating the drug. Good luck. >Kimw777 >I trust you. >BJ >"KCat" <k…@asarian-host.net> wrote in message >news:fskertsj4mieno3i2ov31hhkjh7c3c91ol@4ax.com… >> It sounds backwards but try to think of it this way… your immune >> system is what is generally reducing your counts. The imuran (or >> another immune suppressant) suppresses the cell-killing action of the >> immune system. Therefore, tho the drug itself can reduce counts, it >> can in some cases, actually *increase* counts because it’s level of >> destruction of cells is less than that which would be caused by your >> immune system. >> Does that make sense? I went through this earlier in the year. I can >> look it up in the Merck to get the technical wording – or you can >> trust me.. <wink> >> hugs, kcat >> On Sat, 29 Sep 2001 17:23:12 GMT, "BJ" <B…@sk.nojunk.ca> wrote: >> >Imuran is a decrease in the WBC, platelet count, or RBC. I already have a >> >low WBC as well as pernicious anemia. Does anyone have ideas on why the >> >doctor would choose Imuran over some other drug in this case? The reason >> >this came to mind now, is that the pharmacy is having trouble getting >> >Imuran, so I began looking for alternatives. Like I said before, I tend >to >> >take first, read later. >> >Thanks and Good Day-eh, >> >BJ
Response:
Hi Kim, Thank you for your reply. I seem to tolerate the Imuran as far as my stomach is concerned. I do understand why I need a drug to suppress my immune system. I guess I was questioning Imuran because one of the listed side effects is a reduction in platelet counts. As I explained in my post,immune thrombocytepenia is one of the major expressions of my lupus. I thought that maybe, in light on that, another drug such as plaquinel would be a better choice. Maybe that drug is not as potent as Imuran. I don’t know. My platelets are very unstable and the rheumy doesn’t seem to know why. I wondered if the Immuran was part of the problem. Regards, BJ "kimw777" <kimw777_mem…@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:9pa2d10e5m@drn.newsguy.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> In article <VeLt7.121$D5pi.1376…@tomcat.sk.sympatico.ca>, "BJ" says… > >BJ~~~If the Imuran doesn’t yield results, your doc may try purinethol-6, which > >is the old derivative of Imuran, but is metabolized differently in the body–it > >bypasses the gi tract, I believe, or the liver. I think it’s the gi tract, > >because I was having so much diahrrea, and stomach pain on the Imuran. Our > >pharmacy didn’t have difficulty with obtaining the drugs. Perhaps it’s because > >there aren’t that many in your area that are using it. And KCat’s description > >is exactly why they tried Imuran with me–anything to try to slow down the > >destruction of my existing immune system. One thing I distinctly remember with > >the Imuran–I had little muscle twitches that drove me crazy–my finger would > >jerk, or a calf muscle would twitch. If that happens, please call your doc, > >your dose may need adjusted, or you may not be tolerating the drug. Good luck. > >Kimw777 > >I trust you. > >BJ > >"KCat" <k…@asarian-host.net> wrote in message > >news:fskertsj4mieno3i2ov31hhkjh7c3c91ol@4ax.com… > >> It sounds backwards but try to think of it this way… your immune > >> system is what is generally reducing your counts. The imuran (or > >> another immune suppressant) suppresses the cell-killing action of the > >> immune system. Therefore, tho the drug itself can reduce counts, it > >> can in some cases, actually *increase* counts because it’s level of > >> destruction of cells is less than that which would be caused by your > >> immune system. > >> Does that make sense? I went through this earlier in the year. I can > >> look it up in the Merck to get the technical wording – or you can > >> trust me.. <wink> > >> hugs, kcat > >> On Sat, 29 Sep 2001 17:23:12 GMT, "BJ" <B…@sk.nojunk.ca> wrote: > >> >Imuran is a decrease in the WBC, platelet count, or RBC. I already have a > >> >low WBC as well as pernicious anemia. Does anyone have ideas on why the > >> >doctor would choose Imuran over some other drug in this case? The reason > >> >this came to mind now, is that the pharmacy is having trouble getting > >> >Imuran, so I began looking for alternatives. Like I said before, I tend > >to > >> >take first, read later. > >> >Thanks and Good Day-eh, > >> >BJ
Response:
On the other hand, if you’re worried about your platelet counts and concerned that Imuran might be part of the problem, why not consult with a hematologist? Sandra
Response:
Hi Sandra, I think seeing a hematologist will be the next step. You can’t just see one here, one needs a referral. I think the rheumy may be ready to do this. I see her near the end of this month. She has already indicated that she is unsure about what to do, and may ask for a consult. Good Day, BJ "SCroyle909" <scroyle…@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20011002010008.23935.00001876@mb-ms.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On the other hand, if you’re worried about your platelet counts and concerned > that Imuran might be part of the problem, why not consult with a hematologist? > Sandra
Response:
<<I think seeing a hematologist will be the next step…I think the rheumy may be ready to do this. I see her near the end of this month. She has already indicated that she is unsure about what to do, and may ask for a consult.>> Sounds like a good idea. Sandra
Response:
Hi there, Just a FYI – I had an allergic reaction to Imuran a few years ago. Not your typical nausea, etc. My BP went sky high & I swelled all over. Couldn’t take it. Candi ———- In article <4snt7.54$D5pi.1245…@tomcat.sk.sympatico.ca>, "BJ" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<B…@sk.nojunk.ca> wrote: >Good Morning Everyone, >Am I stupid or what? I don’t want any smart comments from Janers and J. That >is meant as a rhetorical question. I have told you before that it is clear >to me that my rheumy doesn’t know what to do about my up and down platelet >count. She had her secretary call me after my last blood test to say they >were down again. I have immune thrombocytepenia. I have been weaned off the >pred and am on 150mgs Imuran. I just read that one of the side effects of >Imuran is a decrease in the WBC, platelet count, or RBC. I already have a >low WBC as well as pernicious anemia. Does anyone have ideas on why the >doctor would choose Imuran over some other drug in this case? The reason >this came to mind now, is that the pharmacy is having trouble getting >Imuran, so I began looking for alternatives. Like I said before, I tend to >take first, read later. >Thanks and Good Day-eh, >BJ
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.