Lupus Support Group
Lupus is an auto-immune disease in which the immune system cannot distinguish between threats (like viruses and bacteria), and healthy cells and tissue. As a result, the body produces antibodies that inflict cell damage, most commonly targeting joints, skin, kidneys and the nervous system. Join the group and find support for coping with lupus.
HEllo everyone! I have been on Imuran 4 weeks now and wondering for the most part, how long does it take for Imuran to really start making a difference? If you have a history with Imuran I would appreciate your knowledge and experiences with Imuran. Thanks.
deleted_user
I'm on Imuran for myasthenia gravis, 150 mg/day. The neuro told me it takes a full year to work. I will tell you that it started making a large difference in 6 months. Hopefully you will feel it that soon. I still have some lingering symptoms, but they are nothing like before the imuran and prednisone (which I'm now off of). October will be a full year for me and imuran. Neuro says if I get a perfect score on my testing, she will take me off of it. Right now my MG is considered in pharmacological remission, we are hoping that I will be in complete remission by November. Good luck to you.
deleted_user
What???A full year!!!How can that be right? I am taking it for Lupus flares. Maybe it is different for Lupus patients. Does anyone know? I can't live like I am living for a year! If this is really true I have to go back to my Rheumy and ask her to put me on something else till that kicks in. I just don't see how that could be.
bookkeeper64
I am on a combination of Imuran and prednisone. I was diagnosed with lupus in September 2007 and have been on Imuran since October 2007. Right now I am on 200 mg of Imuran and 20 mg of prednisone. They just upped my dose of Imuran to the 200 from 150 as I keep having reactions to the other meds that they are trying to get me to take to replace the prednisone. Every time I get lower on prednisone, it seems I have a major flare and they have to increase it again. I was told by my rheumy that it takes about a month for the imuran to be effective so now I'm starting to decrease my prednisone in small increments to give the imuran time to take over. It is a long process but one day I hope to be off the prednisone cause I'm not sure what is better, the lupus flares or the side effects of prednisone. I'm also on a bunch of other meds too.
deleted_user
I was told after being on the Imuran for 4-6 weeks that they would be able to start slowly decreasing my Pred. I'm on 100mg of Imuran and 10mg of pred however the past 2 days I had to up my pred to 15-20mg as I am in a nasty flare...
deleted_user
It took me about six months before I started noticing that it had kicked in. It does make a differenc, so hope it works for you soon!
deleted_user
I also take prednisone for the flares.
deleted_user
Hope you feel better soon M06.
deleted_user
thanks kat :)
gmarcy
My neurologist told me it will take six months for the imuran to kick it so I have another month to go. I am having lots of back pain and lots of breathing issues do can't wait for it to work! I will be getting an series of IVIG Infusion Therapy next week so that will help hopefully.
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