Stopping Azathioprine advice

[vickyb]

Hi, not been here for a while. Sapphy, finally 13 mths after starting with IMPA seems to be in remission. She is on 50mg Azathioprine every 3rd day and 2mg medrone alternate days. We did try stopping the medrone completely but she started to limp again so started it again and she's fine.

The next step is to stop the azathioprine which she's been on for around 10 mths. My vet says just stop completely when the tablets run out in a week or so now she's stable again on the medrone. It feels a bit scary and I just wanted some reassurance that just stopping it is ok.

Thanks a lot - I wish I'd found you as soon as she was ill but your reassurance was invaluable earlier this year.

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi

You can just stop Azathioprine.  It is not like steroids that affect adrenal function and must not be stopped abruptly.  Your vet must be confident that Sapphy is in remission.  If you are worried you could ask your vet to prescribe 25mg tablets and wean Sapphy off more slowly, or some vets will gradually wean down giving the Aza every 4th day and then every 5th  etc.,  until it is given only once a week, and then stop altogether.

Jo

[Penel CIMDA moderator]

Fingers crossed that the change in medication all goes smoothly for you.