Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Azasan, Imuran

Generic Name: azathioprine (Pronunciation: ay za THYE oh preen)

• What is azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)?
• What are the possible side effects of azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)?
• What is the most important information I should know about azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)?
• How should I take azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Azasan, Imuran)?
• What happens if I overdose (Azasan, Imuran)?
• What should I avoid while taking azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)?
• What other drugs will affect azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)?

Azathioprine lowers your body's immune system. The immune system helps your body fight infections. The immune system can also fight or "reject" a transplanted organ such as a liver or kidney. This is because the immune system treats the new organ as an invader.

Azathioprine is used to prevent your body from rejecting a transplanted kidney. It is also used to treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Azathioprine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Azathioprine 50 mg-GG

oblong, yellow, imprinted with GG 210

Azathioprine 50 mg-ROX

round, yellow, imprinted with 54043

Imuran 50 mg

peanut, yellow, imprinted with IMU RAN 50

What are the possible side effects of azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
• fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, weakness, muscle pain, flu symptoms;
• severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
• severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, fast heart rate;
• pain or burning with urination;
• stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips.

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite;
• hair loss; or
• skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)?

Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. It could cause harm to the unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

Taking azathioprine may increase your risk of developing cancer. Talk with your doctor about your specific risk.

Azathioprine can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. To be sure your blood cells do not get too low, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney function may also to need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Call your doctor at once if you have a fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, weakness, muscle pain, easy bruising or bleeding, mouth sores, pale stools, darkened urine, or severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using azathioprine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

This medication can affect fertility (your ability to have children), whether you are a man or a woman. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about this.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are being treated with azathioprine and avoid coming into contact with anyone who has recently received a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus could be passed on to you.