Drug Interaction:
Immunosuppressant drugs include-
Azathioprine, Tacrolimus (FK 506 ), Mycophenolate Mofetil, Cyclosporine, Muromonab -CD3,
Interacting drugs-summary
Azathropine +
ACE inhib
concurrent use may induce severe leukopenia
Allopurinol
allopurinol may increase the pharmacologic and toxic effects of azathioprine
Methotrexate
plasma levels of the 6-MP metabolite may be increased
+ Azathiprine
Anticaogulants
azathioprine may decrease the action of the anticoagul
Cyclosporine
cyclosporine plasma levels may be decreased
Non deplorarising neuromuscular blockers
pharmacologic actions of the neuromuscular blockers may be decreased or reversed
Indication:
U.S FDA APPROVED DRUGS FROM 01-01-08 TO 31-12-08
Drug name Indication Date of Approval
264. Azathioprine 25mg tablets 19-12-08
(Addl.stgth)
Immunosuppressant drugs include-
Azathioprine, Tacrolimus (FK 506 ), Mycophenolate Mofetil, Cyclosporine, Muromonab -CD3,
Renal hemotransplantation, adjunct for prevention of rejection in renal hemotransplantation, rheumatoid arthiritis.
New drugs approved For Marketing by Drug Controller General of India(DCGI )
during the period January 1988 to November 2014
(Ref- IDMA Annual Publication 2015)
Name of Drug Indication Date of Approval
Azithioprine 25mg tablets 19-12-2008
( Addl.stgth)
Patient Information:
1. If GI upset occurs, administer in divided doses or take with food.
2. Notify physician if any of the following occurs; unusual bleeding, or bruising, fever, sore throat, mouth sores, signs of infection, abdominal pain, pale stools, or darkened urine.
3. Inform patients of the necessity of periodic blood counts.
4. May cause nausea, vomiting, skin rash, fever, arthalgias, and diarrhea. Inform physician if these become bothersome.
5. Avoid patients of the potential risks of therapy during pregnancy and breast feeding.
6.Allergies-
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual oe allergic reaction to azathioprine.
Aso tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods,
presrvatives, or dyes
7.Pregnancy-
Use of azathipoprine is not recommended during pregnancy. It may cause side effects
if either the male or the female is using it at any time of conception. The use of birth
control methods is recommended. If you have questions about this check with your
doctor.
8.Breast -feeding-
Azothioprine passes into breast milk. Because this medicine may cause serious side
effects, breast-feeding is not generally recommended
9.Children-
This medicine has not been tested in children and in effective doses, has not been
shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.
10.Elderly-
Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore
it may not be known whether they work excactly the same way they do in younger
adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of azothioprine
in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause
different side effects than it does in younger adults.
11.Other medicines -
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two
different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. in such
cases your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary.
When you taking or receiving azathioprine it is especially important that your doctor
know if you taking any of the following-
Allopurinol (eg.Zyloprim ) - may interfere with removal of azothiprine from the body,
the effects of azathioprine ( including toxicity) may be increased
Chlorambucil (eg.Leukeran) or
Corticosteroids ( cortisone -like medicine) or
Cyclophosphamide (eg.Cytoxan ) or
Cyclosporine (eg.Sandimmune) or
Mercaptopurine (eg. Purinethol) or
Muromonab -CD3- (monoclonal antibody) (eg. Orthoclone OKT3)- there may be
increased risk of infection and cancer because azothioprine reduces the bodys
ability to fight them
12.Other medical problems-
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of azothiprine. Make sure that you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems especially-
Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
Herpes zoster (shingles) - risk of severe disease affecting other parts of the body
Gout- Allopurinol (used to treat Gout) may increase wanted and unwanted effects of
azathioprine
Infection - Azathioprin decrease your bodys ability to fight infection
Kidney disease- or
Liver disease - effects of azothioprin may be increased because of slower removal
from the body
Pancreatitis- (inflammation of the pancreas) azathioprine can cause pancreatitis