Imuran

Azathioprine, the active ingredient in Imuran, is an immunosuppressant presented as an oral formulation for systemic use. It is employed to reduce immune‑mediated damage in conditions such as organ transplant rejection, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease, helping to maintain graft function and control chronic inflammation.

GNH USA supplies Imuran as a licensed, GDP‑compliant international pharmaceutical supplier serving hospitals, transplant centres, oncology centres, pharmacies and clinics worldwide.

Azathioprine acts as an immunosuppressive agent across several disease categories, primarily targeting abnormal immune activation.

- Organ transplant rejection: helps prevent graft rejection by suppressing lymphocyte proliferation. - Rheumatoid arthritis: reduces joint inflammation and slows disease progression. - Inflammatory bowel disease: controls symptoms and induces remission in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Azathioprine may cause a range of adverse reactions, from mild to severe, which should be monitored during therapy.

Common Side Effects: - Nausea: mild to moderate gastrointestinal upset. - Fatigue: general feeling of tiredness. - Elevated liver enzymes: mild hepatic irritation. - Decreased white blood cell count: mild bone‑marrow suppression.

Serious or Rare Side Effects: - Severe bone‑marrow suppression: risk of pancytopenia. - Hepatotoxicity: potential for serious liver injury. - Increased infection risk: opportunistic infections due to immune suppression.

Before initiating azathioprine therapy, several safety considerations are recommended.

- Monitor blood counts: perform regular CBC to detect bone‑marrow suppression. - Assess liver function: periodic liver enzyme tests are advised. - Screen for TPMT deficiency: test for thiopurine methyltransferase activity to reduce toxicity risk. - Avoid live vaccines: immunosuppression may diminish vaccine efficacy. - Store at ambient temperature: keep below 25°C in the original container, protect from moisture.

Azathioprine interacts with several medications that can alter its efficacy or safety.

Major Interactions (Avoid): - Allopurinol: may increase azathioprine toxicity; concurrent use is contraindicated. - Warfarin: can enhance anticoagulant effect, increasing bleeding risk.

Moderate Interactions (Monitor Closely): - Ribavirin: may potentiate bone‑marrow suppression. - ACE inhibitors: potential additive effect on renal function. - NSAIDs: may increase risk of gastrointestinal irritation.