Is azathioprine an immunosuppressant? Azathioprine Instructions

[Drug name], Azathioprine tablets, Imulan, Azathioprine

[Indications] It is mainly used to fight rejection during organ transplantation. It is often used in combination with corticosteroids or with anti-lymphocyte globulin (ALG), which has better efficacy. It is also widely used in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, active chronic hepatitis, ulcerative colitis, myasthenia gravis, and scleroderma. For chronic nephritis and nephrotic syndrome, its efficacy seems to be inferior to that of cyclophosphamide. Due to its many and serious adverse reactions, it is not the first choice drug for the treatment of the above diseases and is usually used when corticosteroids alone cannot be controlled.

[Usage and Dosage] First-day dosage: The dosage of this product depends on the immunotherapy regimen adopted. Usually, the first-day dosage is up to 5 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. Maintenance dose: The maintenance dose should be adjusted according to clinical needs and blood system tolerance. It is generally 1 to 4 mg per kilogram of body weight per day.

[Side Effects] Toxic reactions are similar to those of mercaptopurine. High doses and prolonged use can cause severe bone marrow suppression, which can lead to granulocytopenia and even aplastic anemia, which usually appears after 6 to 10 days. There may also be toxic hepatitis, pancreatitis, alopecia, mucosal ulcers, peritoneal hemorrhage, retinal hemorrhage, pulmonary edema, anorexia, nausea, stomatitis, etc. Increased susceptibility to bacterial, viral and fungal infections. May be teratogenic. In addition, it can induce cancer.

【Notes】

This product can cause bone marrow suppression, liver function damage, teratogenesis, etc. This product must not be opened or broken, and the outer packaging must not be accepted after it is broken. It is not harmful to hold this product with the film coating intact, and no other protective measures are required. Or as directed by your doctor.

Live vaccines are contraindicated in patients receiving this product. Individual patients with hereditary thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) deficiency may be extremely sensitive to the myelosuppressive effect of azathioprine. In the early stages of treatment with this drug, they have a tendency to rapidly develop myelosuppression. This effect will be aggravated after combined use of TPMT inhibitors such as olsalazine, mesalazine or sulfasalazine. In patients treated with 6-mercaptopurine (the active metabolite of azathioprine) in combination with other cytotoxic drugs, a possible link has been reported between reduced TPMT activity and secondary leukemias and bone marrow dysplasia.

The above is the instructions for azathioprine. Please use it correctly under the guidance of a doctor.

Note: The above information comes from the Internet and is compiled and edited by Medical Companion Travel (please correct me if there are any errors or omissions). It is only to provide information on the latest drugs on the market in the world and help Chinese patients understand the latest international new drug trends. It is only for internal discussion among medical staff and does not serve as any basis for medication. For specific medication guidelines, please consult the attending physician.