Azathioprine Indication.
For use as an adjunct in the prevention of rejection in renal homotransplantation. Also for the management of severe, active rheumatoid arthritis unresponsive to rest, aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or to agents in the class of which gold is an example.
Azathioprine Contraindications.
Azathioprine should not be given to patients who have shown hypersensitivity to the drug.
Azathioprine should not be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis in pregnant women. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis previously treated with alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, melphalan or others) may have a prohibitive risk of neoplasia if treated with azathioprine.
Azathioprine Prescription.
Azathioprine is prescribed with other prescription to prevent rejection of kidney transplants. It is also used to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints, causing pain and swelling) when other prescription and treatments have not helped. Azathioprine is in a class of prescription called immunosuppressants. It works by weakening the body's immune system so it will not attack the transplanted organ or the joints.
An immunosuppressive agent used in combination with cyclophosphamide and hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. According to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP 85-002, 1985), this substance has been listed as a known carcinogen. (Merck Index, 11th ed)
How should Azathioprine be used?
Azathioprine comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once or twice a day after meals. To help you remember to take azathioprine, take it around the same time(s) every day.
If you are taking azathioprine to treat rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor may start you on a low dose and gradually increase your dose after 6-8 weeks and then not more than once every 4 weeks. If you are taking azathioprine to prevent kidney transplant rejection, your doctor may start you on a high dose and decrease your dose gradually as your body adjusts to the transplant.
Azathioprine controls rheumatoid arthritis but does not cure it. It may take some time before you feel the full benefit of azathioprine. Azathioprine prevents transplant rejection only as long as you are taking the prescription.
Azathioprine is a chemotherapy drug, now rarely used for chemotherapy but more for immunosuppression in organ transplantation and autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn's disease. It is a pro-drug, converted in the body to the active metabolite 6-mercaptopurine. Azathioprine acts to inhibit purine synthesis necessary for the proliferation of cells, especially leukocytes and lymphocytes. It is a safe and effective drug used alone in certain autoimmune diseases, or in combination with other immunosuppressants in organ transplantation. Its most severe side effect is bone marrow suppression, and it should not be given in conjunction with purine analogues such as allopurinol. The enzyme thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) deactivates 6-mercaptopurine. Genetic polymorphisms of TPMT can lead to excessive drug toxicity, thus assay of serum TPMT may be useful to prevent this complication.
Azathioprine side effects.
- blurred vision;
- cough;
- diarrhea;
- flu-like symptoms;
- lack of energy;
- loss of appetite;
- mouth sores;
- muscle aches;
- pain in the upper right part of the stomach;
- rash;
- sore throat, fever, chills, and other signs of infection;
- stomach pain;
- upset stomach;
- vomiting;
- yellowing of the skin or eyes;
