Azasan

Generic Name: azathioprine (ay za THYE oh preen)

Brand Names: Azasan, Imuran

What is Azasan (azathioprine)?

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 purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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

Do not use azathioprine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Some people using azathioprine have developed a rare fast-growing type of lymphoma (cancer). This condition affects the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, and it can be fatal. This has occurred mainly in teenagers and young adults using azathioprine or similar medicines to treat Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Call your doctor at once if you have any of the following symptoms: fever, night sweats, itching, loss of appetite, weight loss, tiredness, feeling full after eating only a small amount, pain in your upper stomach that may spread to your shoulder, nausea, easy bruising or bleeding, pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Azathioprine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. Your blood may need to be tested often. Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Avoid activities that may increase your risk of bleeding injury. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

If you need to have 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.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Azasan (azathioprine)?

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to azathioprine. Some people using azathioprine have developed a rare fast-growing type of lymphoma (cancer). This condition affects the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, and it can be fatal. This has occurred mainly in teenagers and young adults using azathioprine or similar medicines to treat Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

However, people with autoimmune disorders (including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriasis) may have a higher risk of lymphoma. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk.

To make sure you can safely take azathioprine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

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  liver disease;

  
  


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  any type of viral, bacterial, or fungal infection; or

  
  


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  if you have recently received chemotherapy treatments with medications such as cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), chlorambucil (Leukeran), melphalan (Alkeran).

  
  

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use azathioprine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Azathioprine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using azathioprine.

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.

How should I take Azasan (azathioprine)?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take azathioprine with a full glass of water. Take azathioprine with food to lessen stomach upset. Azathioprine can lower 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. Your blood may need to be tested often. Visit your doctor regularly. If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using azathioprine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time. Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you take this medicine once daily and you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

If you take this medicine more than once daily and you miss a dose, take the medicine as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, take both doses together, then go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Call your doctor if you have missed more than one dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, bleeding, fever, chills, and other signs of infection.

What should I avoid while taking Azasan (azathioprine)?

Avoid being near people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses. Contact your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using 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. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), oral polio, rotavirus, smallpox, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), H1N1 influenza, and nasal flu vaccine.

Azasan (azathioprine) side effects

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. Stop using azathioprine and call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms of lymphoma:

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  fever, night sweats, weight loss, tiredness;

  
  


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  feeling full after eating only a small amount;

  
  


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  pain in your upper stomach that may spread to your shoulder;

  
  


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  easy bruising or bleeding, pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate; or

  
  


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  nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

  
  

Stop using azathioprine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these other serious side effects:

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  signs of infection (fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, weakness, muscle pain, flu symptoms);

  
  


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  severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;

  
  


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  pain or burning with urination; or

  
  


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  white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips.

  
  

Less serious side effects may include:

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  mild upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite;

  
  


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  hair loss; or

  
  


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  skin rash.

  
  

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Azasan (azathioprine)?

Before taking azathioprine, tell your doctor if you are taking, have taken, or need to take any of the following medicines:

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  allopurinol (Zyloprim);

  
  


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  mercaptopurine (Purinethol);

  
  


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  methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Immunex);

  
  


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  a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);

  
  


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  cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);

  
  


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  olsalazine (Dipentum), or sulfasalazine (Azulfidine);

  
  


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  sulfamethoxasole and trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra, Sulfatrim, SMX-TMP, others); or

  
  


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  an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), or trandolapril (Mavik).

  
  

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with azathioprine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More Azasan resources

• Azasan Side Effects (in more detail)
• Azasan Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Azasan Drug Interactions
• Azasan Support Group
• 2 Reviews for Azasan - Add your own review/rating

• Azasan MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Azasan Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Azasan Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Azathioprine Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Azathioprine Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Azathioprine Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• Imuran Prescribing Information (FDA)


• azathioprine Intravenous Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

Compare Azasan with other medications

• Atopic Dermatitis
• Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Chronic Active Hepatitis
• Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy
• Crohn's Disease
• Crohn's Disease, Acute
• Crohn's Disease, Maintenance
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Organ Transplant, Rejection Prophylaxis
• Renal Transplant
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Sarcoidosis
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Takayasu's Arteritis
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Uveitis

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about azathioprine.

See also: Azasan side effects (in more detail)