INDICATIONS
Imuran can be used in order to avoid rejection of your transplanted kidney. It is one of the number of medicines referred to as immunosuppressive agents. Azathioprine will lower your bodys natural immunity in patients who receive transplants to stop rejection of the new kidney. It is also employed to relieve joint and swelling for patients with rheumatism.
INSTRUCTIONS
Use this medicine exactly as directed from your doctor. Do not take more of it, or a reduced amount of it, than your doctor ordered. Taking too much could raise the potential for uncomfortable side effects, and taking too little will not likely help your complaint.
This medicine is sometimes given in addition to other medicines. If you are using several medicines together, be sure to discover how to take them in daytime. Ask your doctor that may help you plan a method to remember to take your medicines with the right times.
Do not stop investing in this medicine without first checking with your physician.
Imuran sometimes causes queasiness. Taking this medicine after meals or at bed time may lessen stomach upset. Talk to your physician if you have questions or continue to have problems with queasiness.
If you miss a dose with this medicine, take it at the earliest opportunity. However, whether it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and get back on your normal dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
DOSAGE
The dose of the medicine changes for different patients. Follow your medical professional's orders or even the directions for the label. The following information includes merely the average doses of this medicine. If your dose differs, don't change it unless a medical expert notifys you to do so.
The volume of medicine that you just take depends about the strength with the medicine. Also, the amount of doses you adopt daily, enough time allowed between doses, and the length of time you're taking the medicine depend for the problem for which you are choosing the medicine.
For oral dosage form (tablets):
For kidney transplant rejection:
For rheumatoid arthritis:
STORAGE
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, faraway from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out from the reach of youngsters.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine will no longer needed.
Ask your doctor how you should dispose of any medicine you tend not to use.
Along featuring its needed effects, medication might cause some unwanted side effects. Although not these unwanted side effects may occur, should they do occur they could need medical attention.
Check with your physician immediately if any with the following negative effects occur:
More common
Rare
Incidence mysterious
Some negative effects may occur have a tendency to tend not to need medical help. These side effects may go away during treatment as the body adjusts towards the medicine. Also, your wellbeing care professional could possibly share with you ways in order to avoid or reduce a few of these negative effects. Check using your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or when you have questions about them:
More common
Nausea or vomiting (mild)
swollen joints
Incidence mysterious
Hair loss or thinning in the hair
Other side effects not listed might also occur in some patients. If you notice every other effects, check along with your health care professional.
Call your doctor for health advice about negative effects.
If you will be using this medicine for some time, it's very important that your doctor check you at regular visits for just about any problems or negative effects that could be caused by this medicine. Blood tests are usually necesary to check on for unwanted side effects.
Using this medicine while you're pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of contraceptive to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you've got become pregnant when using this medicine, tell your medical professional right away.
Do not make use of this medicine if you're also taking mercaptopurine (Purinethol®). Using these medicines together might lead to serious unwanted side effects.
If you are employing azathioprine for arthritis, make certain your physician knows if you received chlorambucil (Leukeran®), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®, Neosar®), or melphalan (Alkeran®) to deal with your arthritis in the past. Using azathioprine after these medicines may enhance your risk for unwanted side effects. Talk to a medical expert when you have questions on this.
This medicine may raise your chance of getting certain types of cancer, especially in the skin, lymph system (lymphoma), or blood (leukemia). Talk to a medical expert when you have concerns concerning this risk.
Use sunscreen or sunblock lotions using a sun-protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 regularly when you are outdoors. Wear protective clothing and hats, and turn into out of sunlight between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
While you are receiving care with azathioprine, and when you stop treatment from it, usually do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Azathioprine may lower your body's resistance along with the vaccine may well not act as well or you might get the infection the vaccine is meant to avoid. In addition, you ought not be around other persons moving into all your family members who receive live virus vaccines while there is an opportunity they might pass the virus on to you. Some examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, influenza (nasal flu vaccine), poliovirus (oral form), rotavirus, and rubella. Do not get close to them and usually do not stay inside the same room using them for too long. If you might have questions regarding this, talk to your physician.
Azathioprine can temporarily lower the amount of white blood cells with your blood, increasing the chance of getting infection. It can also lower the quantity of platelets, that are essential for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, specially when your blood count is low, to lessen the risk of infection or bleeding:
Check with your physician without delay in case you have many of such symptoms while you are using this medicine: severe queasiness; diarrhea; fever; rash; a general sense of discomfort or illness; muscle or joint pain; lightheadedness or dizziness; or unusual tiredness or weakness. These could be symptoms of the serious reaction towards the medicine in your bowel (intestine).
Do not take other medicines unless they've been discussed with your physician. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamins.
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