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FLU Vaccine - on Azathioprine, will this make me flare

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/20/2008 5:22 AM (GMT -5)
Hi, I am currently taking 100mg Azathioprine and my GP doctor advised best that I get the flu vaccine (I have never had it before) so last Thurs I got the flu vaccine in one arm and the pneumonia vaccine in the other. Well since Monday my colitis seems to be getting progressively worse.  Has anyone else experienced this or do you know if this could be linked to a flare? Thanks
Posted 11/20/2008 5:35 AM (GMT -5)
Hi, I get the flu shot every year. And I have no problems with my Crohn's.

TBW
Posted 11/20/2008 5:42 AM (GMT -5)

tums said...
Hi, I am currently taking 100mg Azathioprine and my GP doctor advised best that I get the flu vaccine (I have never had it before) so last Thurs I got the flu vaccine in one arm and the pneumonia vaccine in the other. Well since Monday my colitis seems to be getting progressively worse.  Has anyone else experienced this or do you know if this could be linked to a flare? Thanks

Hi,

I am on similar meds to you and relapse practically every year, once I'm off the preds.  I started taking 100mg Azathioprine this summer, so was invited for a free flu jab at the GP.  This was my 1st ever flu jab and I had it done with some trepidation.

I did take the day off work, basically to rest while the vaccine kicked in.  I didn't take a pneumonia vaccine though - it was never offered to me.  I don't know if I was lucky or not but my UC did not react. 

I would hazard a guess that the combination of both vaccines together on the same day may have kicked in the UC.  That's quite a lot of vaccine for your body to deal with in one go.  But then again, I'm no doctor.

Sorry to hear that you had a flare up but I think it is symptomatic of UC that it strikes in different ways for different people.

Hope you recover soon from this flare up. wink

Posted 11/20/2008 5:42 AM (GMT -5)

tums said...
Hi, I am currently taking 100mg Azathioprine and my GP doctor advised best that I get the flu vaccine (I have never had it before) so last Thurs I got the flu vaccine in one arm and the pneumonia vaccine in the other. Well since Monday my colitis seems to be getting progressively worse.  Has anyone else experienced this or do you know if this could be linked to a flare? Thanks

Triple post - arrrgh mad mad

Posted 11/20/2008 10:16 AM (GMT -5)

I asked my GI yesterday about the flu vaccine - he didn't recommend it.  He said my immune system is already good - too good in fact - that's why I have UC!   It seemed to go against the advice of people on this board, but since I'm so new to UC I'm inclined to do as he says and see how it goes!   You should let your doctor know how it's affected you.  I hope you're feeling better soon!

Posted 11/20/2008 11:23 AM (GMT -5)
I had the flu shot last week because I'm living in the dorms with a ton of people. I've had the flu shot every year since I was a kid and it didn't bother me then and it doesn't know. The way I look at it is that I would rather get the shot then get the flu which no doubt would put me into a flare.
Posted 11/20/2008 11:33 AM (GMT -5)
The flu vaccine is a dead virus, I don't think it would cause a flare. I don't get them but just for the reason that I am too lazy and cheap. I imagine if I got the flu I would change my mind!

Sue
Posted 11/20/2008 11:39 AM (GMT -5)
My GI insists on the flu shot for all patients with weak immune systems whether from steriods or 6MP. I have gotten it with no problems since my first round of Pred. in 2004. My husband and daughter get it too.
Posted 11/20/2008 2:34 PM (GMT -5)

My doctor insisted on a double flu shot.  He said that with the Remicade and Methotrexate my immune system is so low that he prefers his patients get a double dose.  Have to wait and see if it really prevents the flu.  Last year I got a pneumonia shot and still got a very bad case of pneumonia - had to take 2 weeks off of work - was out of sick days so I lost those wages.

Posted 11/21/2008 7:54 AM (GMT -5)
I haven't had a flu shot in years but used to years back, and I have never noticed any correlation between getting/not getting the flu shot and getting the flu, but I did flare once a bit after getting a flu shot so I am not so sure I believe in them being safe, even with a dead virus. It seems extremely hit and miss when it comes to which strains they choose each year- more often than not miss. If you google and pubmed flu vaccines there is some paradoxical data- eg one that showed elderly people who got flu shots actually got more flu, not less. There is of course also data supporting flu shots, so all I'm saying is the case is not cut and dried in my view. I also tend to agree with the GI who says our immune systems are hyper, and even on immune modulators we may not therefore be more susceptible to colds/flus than the average normie.
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