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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Azathioprine ?
| Just a quick question here concerning azathioprine. Since it can take upwards of 6 weeks for azathioprine to start working then would the circumstances be the same when reducing azathioprine? Will it take up to six weeks for there to be a change or notice in change? Also....I'ld assume it'ld be fair to say that one should wait upwards of at least 4-6 weeks after an azathioprine reduction before even considering any other kind of reduction? Any thoughts or experience with this? Thanks, Johnny & Tessy |
| Johnny |
| Johnny. My experience so far with azathiaprine reduction has been 50mg every day to 50mg every other day for 4 weeks then to 2 times per week for 4 weeks. We will br going off totally on June 8 if bloodlevel still good. The azathiaprine reduction has made a huge difference in charlies diarrhea. We Usually see the vet who is a specialist every 4 weeks and call if we have questions or concerns. We are blessed to have Dr. Elliott here in Washington. Charlie is still on 20 mg of prednisone also and we will start to reduce that after the azathiaprine is done. |
| carol |
| Hi Johnny, I don't know the science behind any of it, but we were on 30 mg for about 8 months, then about 2 months of every other day, then about 2 weeks of twice a week, and tiggs just finished altogether last Saturday...Tomorrow we have a PCV to be sure we are ok one week without any IMHA meds, followed by PCV's every 3 weeks to be sure. Holding my breath... melissa and tiggs |
| melissa slc |
| I know every vet is different. I took Keiko for blood work yesterday and she is doing awesome :) In June it will be 2 years post IMHA diagnosis. 6 months ago her blood work showed only 1 WBC where the normal range is 6 - 17. Her RBC has been awesome and holding at 59.2 for over a year. Her AZA was reduced 6 months ago to 0.3 at 3 times a week, from 0.4 EOD. Her WBC climbed to 5.7 and her RBC stayed at 59.2 :) I always ask if we can't get her off the AZA altogther but he is adamant that if things are going well, don't change it. He says she will probably be on the AZA the rest of her life. He brought her back from deaths door 2 years ago to the healthy, active dog she is today, 2 years later so I will continue to follow his advise even though I wish she did not have to take anything. He does blood work every 5 or 6 months now as long as Keiko is continuing to do good. Sorry if I hijacked your thread Johnny, just wanted to mention my thoughts on the AZA.. Good luck and I keep all the dogs and owners in my prayers. Jess and Keiko |
| jess BC Canada |
| No problem Jess. Good to hear Keiko is doing great. Just out of curiosity....what was the first reduction for Keiko? When you reduced the Aza for the first time how did you go about it? It seems all doctors take reductions differently. Too bad there wasn't some kind of guide to go by from proven methods. It just seems that the treatment(s) of this disease has such a wide range from doctor to doctor. Makes me wonder if there are discusions among the medical world with regards to treatment protocol for this disease or if they just do what they think will work. The more I read and try to learn about this disease the more confused I seem to get. Anyhow, hope everyone is doing good today. Prayers and hugs to all the furbabies out there. Johnny & Tessy |
| Johnny |
| Hi Johnny, I'm with you on the confusion about reductions. It does seem like the standard is 25-33% reduction at a time, but which med and when seems to vary a lot. I am hoping if all goes well to bring my dog down from the 50 mg azathioprine every other day. He has bare patches, hair loss and dark skin. Can't imagine what its doing to his body that I can't see! -Leslie |
| Leslie |
| Hi Johnny, I am going through Keiko's file, yes she does have a file! and the first mention I see of AZA is Dec 07 (her initial collapse was June 07 and she started pred every day and .06 AZA EOD. She is a small dog, only 7 pounds.. In Feb 08, we kept the AZA the same, and were weaning her off the pred, stopping it March 1/08. In May 08 she went from .06 to .04 EOD (AZA) and in Jan 09 she went to 0.3 At 3 times a week as her blood draw showed her WBC at only 1, giving her no immune system. She is still at 0.3 at 3 times a week and her WBC climbed to 5.7, much better, so no changes for now. Her RBC has remaing high at 59. Hope you could follow that! Take Care, ((hugs)) to you and Tessy Jess and Keiko |
| Jess BC |
This thread was discussed between 28/05/2009 and 29/05/2009
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