Microplastics and Misinformation: What Science Really Says
November 12, 2025
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Brand Name :
Azasan, Imuran
Synonyms :
azothioprine
Class :
Anticancer & antimetabolites agent
Brand Name :
Azasan, Imuran
Synonyms :
azothioprine
Class :
Anticancer & antimetabolites agent
Dosage forms and strength Â
Tablet Â
50 mg Â
75 mg Â
100 mg Â
Take an initial dose of 50 to 100 mg daily orally for minimum 12 weeks
Administer a dose of 1.5 to 4 mg/kg daily for 10 days up to one year
Take a dose of 2.5 mg/kg orally once daily specifically in the morning for 3 months
Take a dose of 2 mg/kg orally daily starting immediately from the next day after administration of the IV loading dose
for >17 years old:
Take a dose of 2.5 mg/kg orally once daily specifically in the morning for 3 months
For >6 years old:
Take a dose of 2.5 to 3.5 mg/kg orally daily
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)Â
For >5 years old:
Take a dose of 2 to 3 mg/kg orally daily
Refer to adult dosingÂ
it may reduce the therapeutic effect of covid-19 vaccines 
may decrease the therapeutic effect of COVID-19 vaccine
may diminish the excretion rate of amantadine
human papillomavirus vaccine, nonavalentÂ
may diminish the pharmacodynamic antagonistic effect of each other when combined
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
adenovirus types and live oral
may decrease therapeutic effects of the vaccine and increase the risk of adverse effects, vaccines should be avoided until 3 months after immunosuppressive therapy completion
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
increases the risk of myelosuppression by decreasing the metabolism of azathioprine
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
may decrease therapeutic effects of the vaccine and increase the risk of adverse effects, vaccines should be avoided until 3 months after immunosuppressive therapy completion
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
combination should be avoided, may enhance the toxicity of the other by immunosuppressive effects
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
may diminish therapeutic effects of the vaccine
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
may enhance hepatotoxic effects of pexidartinib
pretomanid may enhance hepatotoxic effect, use alternate drug
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
may diminish therapeutic effects of the vaccine
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
smallpox (vaccinia) vaccine live
avoid vaccine during azathioprine therapy, may decrease effects of smallpox vaccine
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
interaction raises immunosuppressive effects and risk of infection
azathioprine exerts an antagonistic pharmacodynamic effect on the live rotavirus oral vaccine, leading to a reduction in its efficacy
when azathioprine is used in combination with diphtheria & tetanus toxoids, this leads to a reduction in the effects of diphtheria & tetanus toxoids through pharmacodynamic antagonism
pneumococcal vaccine polyvalentÂ
the activity of pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent is reduced due to pharmacodynamic antagonism
may diminish effects of antithrombin alfa by an unknown mechanism
may diminish effects of antithrombin III by an unknown mechanism
may diminish therapeutic effects of argatroban
may increase excessive immunosuppressive effects and raise the risk of infection
reduce therapeutic effects of bemiparin
may enhance the risk of neutropenia
reduce therapeutic effects of bivalirudin
may enhance the risk of neutropenia
reduce therapeutic effects of dalteparin
may reduce the immune response to dengue vaccine due to immunosuppressive effects
risk of severe infection due to immunosuppressive effects
combination may enhance the risk of neutropenia
reduce therapeutic effects of enoxaparin
risk of severe infection due to immunosuppressive effects
reduce therapeutic effects of fondaparinux
may enhance the risk of neutropenia
reduce therapeutic effects of heparin
may increase bone marrow suppression
may enhance the risk of immunosuppression and bone marrow suppression
may increase the risk of neutropenia
may increase the risk of neutropenia
risk of severe infection due to immunosuppressive effects
risk of severe infection due to immunosuppressive effects
risk of severe infection due to immunosuppressive effects
may increase the risk of blood disorders
may increase hepatotoxicity
may enhance the risk of neutropenia
risk of severe infection due to immunosuppressive effects
may enhance the risk of immunosuppression and bone marrow suppression
risk of severe infection due to immunosuppressive effects
risk of severe infection due to immunosuppressive effects
may enhance the risk of neutropenia poliovirus vaccine inactivated
decreases effects of sipuleucel-T
risk of severe infection due to immunosuppressive effects
decreases effects of warfarin
may have an increased myelosuppressive effect when combined with azathioprine
may have an increased myelosuppressive effect when combined with azathioprine
may have an increased myelosuppressive effect when combined with azathioprine
may have an increased myelosuppressive effect when combined with azathioprine
may have an increased myelosuppressive effect when combined with azathioprine
It may enhance the toxicity when combined with mipomersen
azathioprine has the potential to reduce the rate of excretion of idebenone, leading to an elevation in levels of serum
Combining tegafur with azathioprine can reduce tegafur’s metabolism
When domeperidone and azathioprine is used together, this leads to reduction in the domeperidone’s metabolism
tinidazole has the potential to reduce the rate of excretion of azathioprine, potentially leading to an elevation in level of serum
When azathioprine is used together with somatotropin, this leads to a rise in azathioprine’s metabolism
When azathioprine is used in combination with rabies vaccine, this leads to a reduction in the rabies vaccine effects through the process of pharmacodynamic antagonism
may diminish the pharmacodynamic antagonistic effect of each other when combined
measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine, live 
may diminish the pharmacodynamic antagonistic effect of each other when combined
measles mumps and rubella vaccine, live
may diminish the pharmacodynamic antagonistic effect of each other when combined
may diminish the pharmacodynamic antagonistic effect of each other when combined
smallpox (vaccinia) vaccine, live
may diminish the pharmacodynamic antagonistic effect of each other when combined
azathioprine leads to a reduction in the rate of excretion of eucalyptus oil which leads to increased level of serum
cefpirome leads to a reduction in the rate of excretion of azathioprine which leads to increased level of serum
azathioprine leads to a reduction in the rate of excretion of chromous sulfate, which leads to an increased level of serum
azathioprine leads to a reduction in the rate of excretion of pentaerythritol tetranitrate, which leads to an increased level of serum
azathioprine leads to a reduction in the rate of excretion of potassium acetate, which leads to an increased level of serum
azathioprine leads to a reduction in the rate of excretion of potassium perchlorate, which leads to an increased level of serum
the metabolism of ramosetron may be reduced when combined with azathioprine
the risk or intensity of negative effects can be heightened when azathioprine is combined with filgotinib
azathioprine may decrease the excretion rate of almasilate, leading to higher serum levels
when both drugs combine the risk of both drug increases the toxicity of other by synergism.
when both drugs are combined, there may be an increased risk or severity of adverse effects  
when both the drugs are combined, the risk or severity of adverse effects increases    
when both drugs are combined, there may be an increased risk or severity of adverse effects   
both the drugs increase the effect of immunosuppression risk of infection increases on administering both the drugs simultaneously
when both drugs are combined, there may be an increased risk or severity of adverse effects 
trimethoprim: they may increase the myelosuppressive effect of azathioprine
the risk of adverse effects can be increased
the rate of excretion of potassium nitrate may be reduced
azathioprine might lead to a reduction in the rate of excretion of telavancin, potentially leading to elevated levels of serum
Actions and spectrum:Â Â
Azathioprine is converted to its active metabolites such as 6-TGN and 6-MP. The metabolites of azathioprine mediate toxic and immunosuppressive effects.Â
Frequency defined:Â Â
>10%:Â Â Â
Nausea Â
Vomiting Â
Weight loss Â
Increased liver enzymes Â
Myelosuppression Â
Leukopenia Â
<1%Â Â Â
Lymphoma  Â
Frequency not defined:Â Â
Arthralgia Â
Diarrhea Â
Hepatotoxicity Â
Black Box Warning  Â
None Â
Contraindication/Caution:Â Â
Contraindication:Â Â
Hypersensitivity Â
Rheumatoid arthritis Â
Lactation Â
Pregnancy Warnings:Â
Pregnancy category: N/AÂ
Lactation: Excretion of the drug into the human breast milk is unknownÂ
Pregnancy categories:Â
Pharmacology:Â Â
Azathioprine is a purine analog and an immunosuppressive drug used in treatment rheumatoid arthritis and kidney transplant rejection. Â
Pharmacodynamics:Â Â
Azathioprine works by modulating to induce apoptosis of T cells and immunosuppressive functions.Â
Pharmacokinetics:Â Â
Absorption Â
Azathioprine is absorbed well after oral administration. Â
Distribution Â
It is distributed throughout the body.  Â
Metabolism Â
Azathioprine undergoes hepatic metabolism. Â
Elimination and excretion Â
Azathioprine is eliminated through urine.Â
Administration:Â Â
It is administered orally as oral dosage form. Â
Generic name: AzathioprineÂ
Pronunciation: AY-za-thye-oh-preen
What is the use of azathioprine?Â
Azathioprine is prescribed to help prevent the body from rejecting a transplanted kidney. It is classified as an immunosuppressant, meaning it works by weakening the immune system to reduce the likelihood of attacking the new organ.Â
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