Azathioprine 50mg Tablet belongs to a group of medicines called immunosuppressants. It is used with other medicines to prevent your body from rejecting an organ (such as a kidney, heart, or liver) after a transplant. It is also used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Azathioprine 50mg Tablet works by weakening the body’s immune system, so it does not attack the new organ. The amount of medicine to be taken and how often you need to take it will depend on the type of transplant you have. Follow your doctor’s instructions on this. You should take it along with food. Take the medicine regularly to get the most benefit and keep taking it even if you feel well. If you stop taking it, you may increase the chances of rejecting your transplanted organ. It has many potential side effects. The most common are loss of appetite, nausea, and increased risk of bleeding. Because it suppresses your immune system, you may catch infections easily. There’s also an increased risk of developing some cancers for this reason. You should ask your doctor about side effects that may need urgent medical attention. Azathioprine 50mg Tablet can cause birth defects and miscarriages so do not take it if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. You should talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you have any signs of infection or if you have any unexpected bruising or bleeding. Your doctor also needs to know what other medicines you are taking as there are many which interact with this medicine and affect the way it works. You will have regular tests to check for any changes in the number of your blood cells.

• Increased bleeding tendency
• Nausea
• Infection
• Loss of appetite

If you miss a dose of Azathioprine 50mg Tablet, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.

• Q. Q. What is Azathioprine 50mg Tablet prescribed for? How does it work??
  Ans: Azathioprine 50mg Tablet is an immunosuppressant which means that it acts by suppressing the immune defense system of the body. Your immune defense system helps to protect you against infections. However, sometimes your immune defense system can become overactive and can cause illness. Azathioprine 50mg Tablet is used in combination with other medicines to treat the conditions caused due to this abnormal activity of the immune system. It is used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, like the kidney, heart or liver. It is also used to treat chronic active hepatitis, severe rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and acquired hemolytic anemia. It is also used to treat severe cases of specified skin diseases (pemphigus vulgaris, dermatomyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, pyoderma gangrenosa), especially when corticosteroids cannot be used.
• Q. Q. How long does Azathioprine 50mg Tablet take to start working??
  Ans: It may take about 3 to 12 weeks before you see any benefits. Continue the medication even if you do not notice any benefits. Talk to your doctor if you face any issues.
• Q. Q. What happens if I forget to take Azathioprine 50mg Tablet??
  Ans: If you miss a dose of Azathioprine 50mg Tablet, take it as soon as you remember. However, skip the missed dose if it is time for your next dose. Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed dose. inform your doctor if the dose is frequently missed.
• Q. Q. How long do I need to take Azathioprine 50mg Tablet??
  Ans: The duration varies from person to person as it is prescribed depending upon the patient’s medical condition.
• Q. Q. Is breastfeeding safe during Azathioprine 50mg Tablet treatment??
  Ans: No, breastfeeding should be avoided, while on Azathioprine 50mg Tablet, since it may harm the baby and cause serious side effects.
• Q. Q. I have just started taking Azathioprine 50mg Tablet. What are the long-term side effects? Is there anything I should be looking out for??
  Ans: Being an immunosuppressant, Azathioprine 50mg Tablet can increase the chances of severe infections, decrease in blood cell counts, and malignancy. You should inform your doctor immediately if you notice any infection or fever, unexpected bruising or bleeding, black tarry stools or blood in the urine or stools. Let your doctor know if you notice any new skin sore or lump, new marks on skin or any change in the marks which were previously present.
• Q. Q. Do I need any special tests while I am on Azathioprine 50mg Tablet??
  Ans: Azathioprine 50mg Tablet reduces the production of blood cells making you more vulnerable to infections and can sometimes affect the liver. These side effects can be monitored by regular blood tests. Therefore, during the first 8 weeks of the treatment your doctor may recommend weekly blood tests to monitor complete blood counts, including platelet counts. The frequency can later be reduced to monthly or at least once in 3 months time.
• Q. Q. Can Azathioprine 50mg Tablet cause cancer??
  Ans: Azathioprine 50mg Tablet may increase the chance of developing certain cancers like skin cancer, cancer of the lymph system (lymphoma), cancer of soft tissues (sarcomas), and cervical cancer. To prevent the risk of skin cancer, avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in your skin or any lumps or masses anywhere on your body.
• Q. Q. Can cyclosporine and Azathioprine 50mg Tablet be taken together??
  Ans: Yes, you can take cyclosporine and Azathioprine 50mg Tablet together as they do not interfere with each other’s working. However, you must take the two medicines strictly as per your doctor’s advice.

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