Show
Brand Name: Imuran Why is this medicine prescribed? How should this medicine be used? What
special precautions should I follow?
What side effects can this medicine cause?
Your doctor will monitor you regularly for blood and liver problems. You will need to have blood tests done periodically as long as you are receiving azathioprine. Check with your doctor for instructions regarding testing frequency. What storage conditions are needed for this medicine? What other information should I know? Do not start taking this medication if you are planning to become pregnant, if you are currently pregnant or if you are breastfeeding. Use of adequate birth control while taking this medication is recommended in many cases. Please discuss this with your doctor. This medication will temporarily suppress you immune system, so be sure to take appropriate precautions such as:
Azathioprine is a type of medicine called an immunosuppressant. Immunosuppressants help "calm" (or control) your body's immune system. This medicine helps treat inflammatory conditions such as: If you have had a transplant, taking azathioprine can prevent your body from rejecting your new organ. Azathioprine
is sometimes also used to treat conditions that affect the skin, such as lupus or atopic eczema. Azathioprine is available on prescription only. You will usually be prescribed this medicine by a specialist doctor. It comes as tablets. It is also available as an injection, but this is usually only
given in hospital. 3. Who can and cannot take azathioprineMost adults and children can take azathioprine. You will have a blood test before you start taking this medicine to make sure it is safe for you. This medicine is not suitable for some people. Tell your doctor before taking this medicine if you:
4. How and when to take itAlways follow your doctor's instructions for how to take azathioprine. Swallow the tablets whole, with a drink of water. Do not chew them. You'll usually take your tablets once or twice a day. You can take them with or without food. DosageYour dose depends on your body weight and why you need to take azathioprine. Your doctor will tell you how much to take. After a transplantThe usual dose on the 1st day is up to 5mg for each kilogram you weigh. From day 2 onwards, you'll take 1mg to 4mg for each kilogram you weigh. You'll usually need to take this medicine long term, probably for the rest of your life. For other conditionsThe usual starting dose is 1mg to 3mg each day, for each kilogram you weigh. Your doctor may lower your dose as your condition gets better. However, it takes a while for azathioprine to work. You may have to wait a few months to see an improvement. Regular blood tests during treatmentTaking azathioprine can sometimes affect your liver, kidneys or bone marrow. You will have blood tests to check your liver function, kidney function and blood count before you start taking this medicine. From week 1 to week 8 of your treatment you'll have blood tests every week. This is particularly important if you're taking a high dose, or you have kidney or liver problems. From week 9 onwards you will have blood tests less often. Your doctor will decide how often you need them. You may only need them every few months. It's important to have ongoing monitoring for as long as you're taking this medicine. What if I forget to take a dose?Check with your doctor or a pharmacist if you miss 2 doses or more. If you forget to take 1 dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's almost time for the next dose. In this case, skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask a pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. What if I take too much?Urgent advice: Contact your doctor or specialist for advice immediately if:
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
If you need to go to hospital, take the medicine packet or leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine, with you. 5. Side effectsLike all medicines, azathioprine can cause side effects, but not everyone gets them. Common side effectsThese common side effects happen in more than 1 in 10 people (when you first start treatment or when your dose is increased). Tell your doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away:
Serious side effectsSome people can have serious side effects when taking azathioprine. Stop taking your medicine and contact your specialist or a doctor immediately if:
Serious allergic reactionIn rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to azathioprine. Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:
You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital. These are not all the side effects of azathioprine. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. Information: You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. 6. How to cope with side effectsWhat to do about:
These side effects are more likely when you first start taking azathioprine or when your dose is increased. You will usually feel better after a week or so. Talk to your doctor if these side effects do not go away or they get worse. 7. Pregnancy and breastfeedingAzathioprine and pregnancyAzathioprine is not recommended in pregnancy by the manufacturer. This appears in the leaflet that comes with your medicine. However, there is no strong evidence that it can harm your baby. If you become pregnant, do not stop taking your medicine and speak to your doctor. They’ll review your treatment and tell you if it’s OK to keep taking azathioprine. In most cases, it’s safe to take during pregnancy. It’s important for you to stay healthy while you are pregnant. For this reason, you will need to keep taking your medicine if you have an autoimmune condition or have had an organ transplant. As azathioprine affects your immune system, it means that after your baby is born, there’s a very small risk it can affect the way they fight infections. If your baby is unwell, speak to a doctor, your midwife or health visitor and ask for advice. It is important to tell them that you took azathioprine during pregnancy. Azathioprine and breastfeedingSmall amounts of azathioprine may pass into your breast milk. However if your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, then it’s OK to take azathioprine when breastfeeding. It has been taken by many breastfeeding mothers without any problems and extra monitoring is not usually required. If your baby requires any additional tests, the hospital neonatal team will let you know. If you notice that your baby isn't feeding as well as usual, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your health visitor, midwife or doctor as soon as possible. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:
For more information about how azathioprine can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, read this leaflet on the best use of medicines in pregnancy (BUMPs) website. 8. Cautions with other medicinesAzathioprine can affect the way some medicines work. Other medicines can also affect the way azathioprine works. Tell your doctor or a pharmacist if you:
Children taking azathioprine must not have a "live" flu vaccine (this usually applies to children aged 2 to 17 years). Adults are given an "inactivated" flu vaccine and this usually causes no problems with azathioprine. Mixing azathioprine with herbal remedies and supplementsThere's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with azathioprine. ImportantFor safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements. 9. Common questionsHow does azathioprine work? Azathioprine is a type of medicine called an immunosuppressant. These medicines work by suppressing or "calming" your immune system. This means your immune system becomes weaker. If you take azathioprine for an inflammatory or autoimmune condition, it slows down the production of new cells in your body’s immune system. This helps reduce the inflammation that causes swollen and stiff joints in rheumatoid arthritis or damage to your bowel in Crohn's disease. After a transplant, your body will try to attack the new organ as it sees it as "foreign". By suppressing your immune system, azathioprine helps stop your body rejecting a new organ. Azathioprine is not a painkiller, but as a result of reducing the inflammation caused by conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, you may have less pain. How long does it take to work? Azathioprine starts to work gradually. For inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, it can take up to 12 weeks of taking the "right" adjusted dose before you notice any benefits. For some skin conditions it can take several months or more. It's important to keep taking azathioprine. You may not feel any different at first, however azathioprine is likely to be working. If you take it after a transplant you will not notice any benefits from the medicine itself. However, as the transplanted organ begins to work, you will usually begin to feel a lot better. Azathioprine will help to keep your new organ working properly. Can I take it long term? Many people will take this medicine for a long time. If you have had an organ transplant, you'll probably take it for the rest of your life. You will have regular blood tests while taking azathioprine. These blood tests will ensure that any concerns or problems are found quickly. Taking azathioprine for a long time can increase your chance of getting certain types of cancer, including skin cancer. For this reason, avoid strong sunlight and use a sunscreen (SPF 30 or more), and wear clothes that cover your arms and legs. Speak to your doctor if you're worried about any of this. Can I take other immunosuppressants with azathioprine? After an organ transplant you will usually need a combination of medicines that suppress your immune system. This combination will be adjusted gradually in the months after your operation. This depends on how well your new organ is working and whether you have any side effects from the medicines. If you need more than 1 kind of immunosuppressant therapy or medicine, there's risk that your immune system can become too weak. For this reason, your doctor will prescribe the lowest level of therapy or lowest dose of medicine that works for you. Are there other treatments for inflammatory conditions? There are several different treatments that can help the symptoms of inflammatory conditions. These include medicines, other types of therapy and even surgery. Your doctor will be able to recommend the best treatment for you, based on your condition and your symptoms. Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis
Treatments for Crohn's disease
Can I drink alcohol with it? Alcohol does not affect the way azathioprine works. However, both azathioprine and alcohol can affect your liver. For this reason it is even more important to stick to the national guidelines of drinking no more than 14 units a week for men and women. A standard glass of wine (175ml) is 2 units of alcohol. A pint of lager or beer is 2 to 3 units of alcohol. Is there any food or drink I need to avoid? Apart from limiting alcohol, you can eat and drink normally. Will it affect my fertility? There's no clear evidence to suggest that taking azathioprine will reduce fertility in either men or women. However, speak to your doctor if you are pregnant or trying for a baby. Can I drive or ride a bike? Some people can feel weak, dizzy or lightheaded when taking azathioprine. If you get any symptoms that affect your ability to concentrate, do not drive or cycle until you feel better. Which prescribed medication would the nurse administer to clients receiving induction therapy to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ?Preventing Rejection
After your transplant surgery you will be prescribed medications that may include: Tacrolimus (Prograf) or cyclosporine (Neoral, Gengraf) Prednisone. Mycophenolate (CellCept, Myfortic) or azathioprine (Imuran)
What effect of lorazepam does the nurse consider therapeutic?Therapeutic Effects: Sedation. Decreased anxiety. Decreased seizures.
Which medication is derived from a natural source and may be prescribed for treatment of osteoporosis?Calcitonin. Calcitonin is a hormone naturally produced in the thyroid. When given to patients with osteoporosis, calcitonin produces modest increases in bone mass because it slows the rate at which osteoclasts absorb bone.
When teaching a client about digoxin which symptom will the nurse include as a reason to withold the digoxin?Signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity are bradycardia (heart rate less than 60), nausea, vomiting, visual changes (halos), and arrhythmias.
|