Mercaptopurine Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a painful disease that causes bloody diarrhea and frequent bowel movements. According to the Mayo Clinic, one widely held belief is that ulcerative colitis is caused by a malfunctioning immune system.

Mercaptopurine

• One course of treatment commonly used for ulcerative colitis is mercaptopurine. Also known as 6-MP, this medicine suppresses the immune system, bringing ulcerative colitis symptoms into remission.

Course of Treatment

• Doctors at the Mayo Clinic say mercaptopurine can take up to three months to start working, so they often prescribe corticosteroids with the medication for the first few months of treatment.

Common Side Effects

• According to the Mayo Clinic's website, possible side effects of mercaptopurine include "allergic reactions, bone marrow suppression, infections and inflammation of the liver and pancreas." The U.S. National Library of Medicine says you could also have frequent headaches, weakness, fatigue, rash, nausea or vomiting. Report all side effects to your doctor.

Risk of Cancer

• Some patients who took mercaptopurine developed cancer, so your doctor will monitor your reaction to the medication closely through frequent blood tests.

Precautions

• An article about mercaptopurine in the U.S. National Library of Medicine says the medication can disrupt a woman's menstrual cycle and stop sperm production in men. Mercaptopurine can harm a fetus, so you should avoid getting pregnant while on this medication.