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Mercaptopurine effects / Whey protein usage

Thu, February 06, 2025 1:29 AM

Hi everyone.
I am new to this community and would to ask a couple of questions that someone might be able to answer.

1) I have Crohn's disease and have taking Mercaptopurine for three months. I am curious about the effectiveness of this medication. Is it truly helpful?

2) My specialist suggested not to consume any dairy products due to the consequences of them inactivating the Mercaptopurine effects. Based on this fact, could I consume and use whey proteins or gainer proteins? Since it also comes from milk, it likely contains enzymes.

hassani
Joined Feb 6, 2025

Tue, October 21, 2025 9:12 PM

Reply posted for hassani.

Hey there, I also take 6MP and I wait about an hour after taking my medicine and then I drink my coffee with a little cream in it and my GI told me that's fine, you have to time it so your medication absorbs and then you can consume the dairy or protein you need, but I would still ask your GI on this and seek their professional opinion. Good luck

jessicalee0524
Joined Oct 21, 2025

Sun, September 21, 2025 9:11 PM

Reply posted for hassani.

Get your liver enzymes checked frequently, and probably a good idea to avoid alcohol completely. While over the course of my life the treatments for Crohn's have been far, far worse than the disease, this one, for me at least, was especially nasty. It caused stage 4 acute liver failure & 105 degree fever. No joke man ... If it works for you, that's great - just keep an eye out.

eightball298
Joined Sep 21, 2025

Tue, March 18, 2025 8:56 AM

Reply posted for hassani.

Your specialist is correct—dairy products can interfere with the absorption and effectiveness of Mercaptopurine (6-MP). This is because milk proteins and certain enzymes, like xanthine oxidase, can break down the medication, reducing its bioavailability and impact.

Since whey protein and gainer proteins are derived from milk, they likely contain residual enzymes or proteins that could have similar effects. Even though some whey proteins undergo processing that may remove these enzymes, it’s best to consult your specialist or pharmacist before incorporating them into your diet.

If you’re looking for alternatives, plant-based protein powders (such as pea, soy, or rice protein) would be safer options since they don’t contain dairy-derived enzymes that could interfere with your medication.

gameofcrohns42
Joined May 11, 2023

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