azathioprine

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

What is azathioprine?

Azathioprine weakens your body's immune system, to help keep it from "rejecting" a transplanted organ such as a kidney. Organ rejection happens when the immune system treats the new organ as an invader and attacks it.

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

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

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

While taking azathioprine, you may have a higher risk of developing skin cancer. Ask your doctor about skin symptoms to watch for.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease, or a kidney transplant (if you are using azathioprine for rheumatoid arthritis);
• any type of viral, bacterial, or fungal infection;
• liver disease; or
• chemotherapy with medications like cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, melphalan, busulfan, and others.

How should I take azathioprine?

Your doctor will perform blood tests to make sure you do not have conditions that would prevent you from safely using azathioprine.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

When given for kidney transplant, azathioprine is usually given right before or on the day of transplant. For rheumatoid arthritis, azathioprine is taken on a daily basis.

It may take up to 8 weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using azathioprine as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms have not improved after 12 weeks of use.

Azathioprine affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Your doctor will need to examine you on a regular basis.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking azathioprine?

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using azathioprine. The vaccine may not work as well and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and zoster (shingles).

What are the possible side effects of azathioprine?

• fever, swollen glands, body aches, night sweats, not feeling well;
• pale skin, rash, easy bruising or bleeding;
• cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath;
• pain in your upper stomach that may spread to your shoulder; or
• feeling full after eating only a small amount, weight loss.

• signs of infection (fever, chills, weakness, flu symptoms, sore throat, cough, pain or burning when you urinate);
• severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding;
• rapid heartbeats, shortness of breath;
• pale skin, cold hands and feet; or
• dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain;
• hair loss; or
• 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 azathioprine?

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect azathioprine, especially:

• allopurinol;
• febuxostat; or
• ribavirin.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect azathioprine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about azathioprine.