Azathioprine is used as an immunosuppressant antimetabolite either alone or, more commonly, along with other agents (usually corticosteroids) and procedures which influence the immune response. The therapeutic effect could be evident only following weeks/months and can include a steroid sparing effect, thereby decreasing the toxicity associated with high dosage and prolonged application of corticosteroids.
Azathioprine, along with corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents as well as procedures, is used in order to enhance the survival of organ transplants, such as renal transplants, hepatic transplants, and cardiac transplants. The azathioprine 50 mg tablet also helps in reducing the corticosteroid needs of renal transplant recipients.
Azathioprine, either alone or more usually in combination with corticosteroids and other medications and procedures, has been used in a proportion of patients suffering from severe rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis and polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, auto-immune chronic active hepatitis, chronic refractory idiopathic, pemphigus vulgaris, polyarteritis nodosa, auto-immune haemolytic anaemia, and thrombocytopenic purpura.
Approval: The azathioprine tablet falls under the purine analogue and antimetabolite family of drugs. It works via 6-thioguanine in order to disrupt the making of RNA as well as DNA by cells. Azathioprine is a prodrug of 6-mercaptopurine, initially synthesized in the year of 1956 by William Lange, Gertrude Elion, and George Hitchings in an attempt in order to form a derivative of 6-mercaptopurine with a good therapeutic index. On 20 March 1968, azathioprine was approved by the FDA. In the year of 2017, it was the 335 most commonly prescribed drugs in the US, with over 800,000 prescriptions.
Dosage Form: Azathioprine comes in the form of tablets generically and under the brand name Imuran. The standard dose of azathioprine 50 mg is administered by mouth as instructed by a healthcare practitioner, usually once or twice in a day. Administer the pills of azathioprine with food in order to reduce stomach upset. The azathioprine's dosage is based on the patient's medical condition, weight, and response to treatment. Do not enhance the dose or use this medicine more often or for longer than prescribed.
Side Effects: Side effects of Azathioprine are usually mild and not life threatening. The commonly reported side effects may include bone-marrow suppression and vomiting.
Cost: The azathioprine cost in India may vary depending on the wholesaler or pharmacy and of course the brand you choose. The cost of azathioprine is around Rs. 448 for a supply of 25 tablets.
