Azathioprine (Systemic)

Brand Names : Imuran

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For azathioprine, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to azathioprine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Use of azathioprine is not recommended during pregnancy. It may cause birth defects if either the male or the female is using it at the time of conception. The use of birth control methods is recommended. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Breast-feeding - Azathioprine passes into breast milk. Because this medicine may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are using it.

Children - This medicine has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of azathioprine in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Dental - The effects of azathioprine may cause increased infections and delayed healing. Dental work, whenever possible, should be completed prior to beginning this medicine.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking or receiving azathioprine it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Allopurinol (e.g., Zyloprim) - May interfere with removal of azathioprine from the body; effects of azathioprine (including toxicity) may be increased

• Chlorambucil (e.g., Leukeran) or
• Corticosteroids (cortisone-like medicine) or
• Cyclophosphamide (e.g., Cytoxan) or
• Cyclosporine (e.g., Sandimmune) or
• Mercaptopurine (e.g., Purinethol) or
• Muromonab-CD3 (monoclonal antibody) (e.g., Orthoclone OKT3) - There may be an increased risk of infection and cancer because azathioprine reduces the body's ability to fight them

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of azathioprine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
• Herpes zoster (shingles) - Risk of severe disease affecting other parts of the body

• Gout - Allopurinol (used to treat gout) may increase wanted and unwanted effects of azathioprine

• Infection - Azathioprine decreases your body's ability to fight infection

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease - Effects of azathioprine may be increased because of slower removal from the body

• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) - Azathioprine can cause pancreatitis