How long till azathioprine works

Azathioprine and mercaptopurine How effective is it? How does it work? How do I take it? How long I will be on it? Many insurance companies require a prior authorization for this drug. This means your doctor will need to get approval from your insurance company before your insurance company will pay for the prescription. There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

Learn all about rheumatoid arthritis, from symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments, to its types, diet tips, and how it differs from osteoarthritis. Biological medications are a relatively new type of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. There may not be a cure for RA, but there are several things you can do to ease flare-ups. Learn about plant oils, heat and cold, assisted devices….

What you eat can affect your rheumatoid arthritis. Learn more about what foods can help to reduce the pain and swelling in your joints. Looking for options to complement your pharmaceutical treatments for rheumatoid arthritis?

Our writer shares 10 natural treatments for managing…. Some foods make swelling and inflammation worse, but there are plenty of tasty anti-inflammatory foods that can ease these symptoms. The kidneys filter waste from the blood and remove it from the body…. Rheumatoid arthritis often begins with minor symptoms, but over time, the symptoms can become more severe. Here are the symptoms to look out for.

Granulocytes are white blood cells with small granules, and granulocytosis occurs when there are too many in the blood. Learn about normal ranges and…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Azathioprine, Oral Tablet. Azathioprine oral tablet is available as brand-name drugs and as a generic drug. Brand names: Imuran, Azasan. Azathioprine comes in two forms: an oral tablet and an injectable solution.

Azathioprine oral tablet is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and to keep your immune system from attacking a new kidney after a transplant. Important warnings. What is azathioprine? Azathioprine side effects. Azathioprine may interact with other medications. Azathioprine warnings. The dose is usually one to two tablets each day taken once or on a twice-daily schedule. Your doctor may start you at a low dose, which will be increased over time until you feel better.

These should be taken with a meal to reduce upset stomach. The most common side effect is nausea and vomiting. This may improve over time, and can get better when the drug is taken after meals or in divided doses. Itchy rashes, a sore mouth or throat and mouth ulcers may occur.

Azathioprine may also irritate the liver. Azathioprine can lower your immune system and increase your risk of getting infections. Notify your doctor if you have signs or symptoms of an infection and avoid people with contagious diseases.

You'll have regular blood tests before and during your treatment. Depending on why you're taking it, you'll usually notice an improvement in your condition after a few weeks. Ask your doctor for urgent advice if you have been in contact with anyone who has chickenpox or shingles while taking azathioprine.

Use a sunscreen while taking azathioprine, as this medicine can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Tell your doctor before taking this medicine if you: have had an allergic reaction to azathioprine or any other medicines including mercaptopurine, a medicine for treating blood cancer have an infection or a high temperature, or generally feel unwell have any unusual bleeding or bruising have ever had any liver problems have ever had cancer have a condition that affects your bone marrow are due to have surgery involving muscle relaxants have Lesch Nyhan syndrome, or a rare inherited condition affecting your NUDT15 gene have ever been told that your body produces too little thiopurine methyltransferase TMT, an enzyme are pregnant or trying for a baby.

Swallow the tablets whole, with a drink of water. Do not chew them. Dosage Your dose depends on your body weight and why you need to take azathioprine. After a transplant The usual dose on the 1st day is up to 5mg for each kilogram you weigh. For other conditions The 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. Regular blood tests during treatment Taking azathioprine can sometimes affect your liver, kidneys or bone marrow.

What if I forget to take a dose? Check with your doctor or a pharmacist if you miss 2 doses or more. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. What if I take too much? Urgent advice: Contact your doctor or specialist for advice immediately if:. Common side effects These 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: feeling sick mild nausea headaches Serious side effects Some people can have serious side effects when taking azathioprine.

Stop taking your medicine and contact your specialist or a doctor immediately if: you feel tired all the time, dizzy or sick, or you are vomiting or have diarrhoea you have a high temperature with shivering or chills, cough or a sore throat you get a rash or notice any changes to your skin, such as blisters or peeling your joints or muscles are hurting your pee changes colour or you start peeing more or less than usual this can be a sign of kidney problems you feel confused, lightheaded or weak these can be signs of low blood pressure you're bleeding or bruising more easily than usual you notice lumps anywhere on your body you have severe stomach ache abdominal pain and back pain Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to azathioprine.

Information: You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. What to do about: feeling sick — stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food while you're taking this medicine. It might help to take azathioprine after you have had a meal or snack. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask a pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Azathioprine and pregnancy Azathioprine is not recommended in pregnancy by the manufacturer.

However, there is no strong evidence that it can harm your baby. Azathioprine and breastfeeding Small amounts of azathioprine may pass into your breast milk. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:. Tell your doctor or a pharmacist if you: take allopurinol a medicine mainly used for gout take ciclosporin or tacrolimus immunosuppressant medicines take warfarin used to prevent blood clots are having chemotherapy used to treat cancer are going to have any type of surgery — tell your doctor or anaesthetist that you take azathioprine beforehand have recently had or are due to have any vaccinations especially a "live" vaccine Children taking azathioprine must not have a "live" flu vaccine this usually applies to children aged 2 to 17 years.

Mixing azathioprine with herbal remedies and supplements There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with azathioprine.

Important For safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements. How does azathioprine work? How long does it take to work? Azathioprine starts to work gradually. Can I take it long term? Speak to your doctor if you're worried about any of this. Can I take other immunosuppressants with azathioprine?

Are there other treatments for inflammatory conditions? Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis medicines such as methotrexate, biological medicines made from proteins and other substances produced by the body and steroids painkillers, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs supportive treatments, including physiotherapy surgery, including joint replacement complementary therapies, including acupuncture Treatments for Crohn's disease steroids, such as prednisolone immunosuppressants such as methotrexate biological medicines such as adalimumab surgery to remove an inflamed section of bowel a liquid diet enteral nutrition , suitable for children and young adults.