Generic name: azathioprine [ ay-za-THYE-oh-preen ]
Brand names: Azasan, Imuran
Dosage form: oral tablet (100 mg; 50 mg; 75 mg)
Drug classes:Antirheumatics, Other immunosuppressants
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.
Warnings
Azathioprine may cause a rare type of lymphoma (cancer) of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow that can be fatal. This has occurred mainly in teenagers and young men with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
Before taking this medicine
You should not take azathioprine if you are allergic to azathioprine.
You should not use azathioprine to treat rheumatoid arthritis if you are pregnant. This medicine can harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while using this medicine.
Azathioprine may cause a rare type of lymphoma (cancer) of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow that can be fatal. This has occurred mainly in teenagers and young men with Crohn's disease or ulcerative
