Azathioprine belongs to the group of medications known as immunosuppressive agents. It is used to prevent the rejection of kidney transplants and to treat severe Rheumatoid Arthritis that is not responding to conventional treatment. Azathioprine prevents rejection of kidney transplant and reduces the inflammation and pain in rheumatoid arthritis by suppressing the body's natural defense, or immune system.

Mylan Azathioprine may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of Mylan Azathioprine may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of Mylan Azathioprine may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested Mylan Azathioprine for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking Mylan Azathioprine, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking Mylan Azathioprine without consulting your doctor.

Do not give Mylan Azathioprine to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take Mylan Azathioprine if their doctor has not prescribed it.

Azathioprine is available in tablet and injectable form.

When used to prevent kidney transplant rejection, azathioprine is usually started on the day of transplant with an intravenous (into the vein) injection. The initial dose is based on body weight at 3 to 5 mg per kilogram of body weight daily. After the transplant, tablets are used. The dose is then generally reduced to a maintenance dose of 1 mg to 3 mg per kilogram of body weight per day.

For treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, azathioprine is usually given at a dose of approximately 1 mg per kilogram of body weight (50 mg to 100 mg) per day by mouth, in a single daily dose or on a twice-daily schedule. After 6 to 8 weeks, your doctor may increase your dose by 0.5 mg per kilogram daily if needed. Additional increases may be prescribed by your doctor every 4 weeks up to the maximum daily dose of 2.5 mg per kilogram per day.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take Mylan Azathioprine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose and you are taking the pills once a day, do not take the missed dose at all, but go back to your regular dosing schedule.

If you are taking pills more than once a day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Mylan Azathioprine at room temperature, protect it from light, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Mylan Azathioprine. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Mylan Azathioprine with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Mylan Azathioprine. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• hair loss
• nausea
• tiredness

Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• feeling dizzy or faint when rising from a sitting or lying position
• feeling tired, dizzy, or generally unwell
• Fever or chills
• nausea
• new marks or change in marks on your skin
• signs of clotting problems (e.g., unusual nosebleeds, bruising, blood in urine, coughing blood, bleeding gums, cuts that don’t stop bleeding)
• signs of infection (symptoms may include fever or chills, severe Diarrhea, shortness of breath, prolonged dizziness, headache, stiff neck, weight loss, or listlessness)
• symptoms of a lung infection (e.g., shortness of breath, cough, chest pain)
• symptoms of a urinary tract infection (e.g., pain when urinating, urinating more often than usual, low back or flank pain, strong odour)
• vomiting

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• muscle or bone pain
• severe skin reaction such as redness or blisters on skin or peeling skin
• severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain
• dizziness or faintness especially when you stand up
• signs of kidney problems (e.g., increased urination at night, decreased urine production, blood in the urine, change of urine colour)
• signs of a Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction), e.g.:
• difficulty breathing
• Hives
• swelling of the face, mouth, throat, or tongue

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Mylan Azathioprine.

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Mylan Azathioprine.

Do not use azathioprine if you are allergic to azathioprine or any ingredients of the medication.

There may be an interaction between azathioprine and any of the following:

• 5-ASA medications (e.g., Mesalamine, Olsalazine, Sulfasalazine)
• Adalimumab
• Allopurinol
• angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (e.g., Enalapril, Ramipril)
• Baricitinib
• certolizumab
• Cladribine
• cotrimoxazole
• Cyclophosphamide
• Denosumab
• echinacea
• Etanercept
• Febuxostat
• Fingolimod
• Golimumab
• Infliximab
• Leflunomide
• Mercaptopurine
• Natalizumab
• Nivolumab
• Ocrelizumab
• Pimecrolimus
• ribavirin
• Roflumilast
• siponimod
• sulfamethoxazole
• Tacrolimus
• Tofacitinib
• Trastuzumab
• Trimethoprim
• upadacitinib
• vaccines
• Warfarin

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Mylan Azathioprine. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking.

Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Mylan Azathioprine. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.