Azathioprine Drug Profile

Boxed warning

Chronic immunosuppression increases risk of malignancy (lymphoma, skin cancer)
TPMT deficiency causes severe myelosuppression

Clinical alerts

Boxed warning

2 boxed warnings

Narrow therapeutic index

Small dose changes can cause toxicity or loss of effect

Hepatotoxic

Monitor liver function

Mechanism of action

Prodrug of 6-mercaptopurine; inhibits purine synthesis and T-cell proliferation

Recorded indications

From the drug index — may include conditions studied rather than approved indications

·Atopic Dermatitis
·Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis
·End Stage Renal Disease
·Crohn Disease
·Infliximab

Interactions

No curated interaction pairs are recorded for Azathioprine. This is not a statement that none exist — check a full interaction reference before combining.

Common adverse effects

Nausea
Vomiting
Myelosuppression
Hepatotoxicity
Infection

Food, alcohol & herbal

Food

Take with food to reduce GI upset

Alcohol · moderate

Additive hepatotoxicity

Herbal

Echinacea (moderate) — May counteract immunosuppression

Pharmacokinetics

Half-life: 5 hours
Protein binding: 30%
Metabolised by: TPMT, XO

Pregnancy & lactation

Not recorded for Azathioprine. Absence here means this database does not hold a category — not that the drug is safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Sources

Assembled from: drug index, curated drug database.