Azathioprine FAQ

Very Sick Golden Retriever-HELP!?

April 23/09 my dog was diagnosed with Anemia and colitis(sp). His RBC was at 27% and his Blood platelets were at 97. He was immediately put on 40mg of Apo-prednisone twice daily, 1.5 tablets of Azathioprine daily, 2 tablets of apo-metronidazole twice daily and tylocine (sp) sprinkled over his food daily. He improved immediately, showing increased activity, joy for life and just acting like himself again. Four days later his RBC and Blood platelet levels were in normal ranges. Rare to see is what our vet said. His x-rays showed that he was clear of any big tumors suggesting his anemia was primary. On Monday May 4/09 his RBC and Blood platelets were still in normal ranges and all we were worrying about was the heavy breathing and restlessness. We were told these were side effects of the steroids he's been given. Since Monday he has decreased in energy dramatically to the point where he is so weak he is unable to walk a couple feet or stand even. He has lost his appatite and has diarrhea again. He looks like he has lost an incredibly large amount of weight but has remained the same since Monday. I believe this is called muscle wasting is the only thing I could come up with. He is breathing so heavy he has a hard time sleeping and that is all he is trying to do these past two days. He is going to the vet tomorrow but I am curious if anyone knows if this can be side effects of the steroids or something else? I am VERY concerned. The vet thought that with his quick recovery after a couple days he would make it through okay but now I'm not so sure. Is there any advice for me... I am so worried and need help on what to do.

im currently on prednisilone...and azathioprine... and pentasa and omeprazole... in total im sure these meds have affected my cycle...as its only like 2...or even three days.... when and if i come off of these,will my cycle go back to its usual 5 days?

i'm taking azathioprine and it says take with or after food. why is this and what would happen if i didn't take it with food? i do take it with food i was just curious.

I've already been treated with steroids, danazol, azathioprine, and I've already been splenectomized without any favourable results.

I have Crohn's Disease, but I've been feeling very good as of late (now in week 9 of being on medication). I don't drink very often (and haven't since I started taking medication). But when I do drink, it's maybe a beer or two once or maybe twice a month at most. Maybe even less. I'm willing to risk a bit of pain as that is probably the biggest problem I'd encounter. I'm wondering if it is okay to have a drink or two here and there so long as I'm on this medication and feeling okay. The medications are: 1) Budesonide 3mg, Entocort 3mg (1 pill a day, and will be stopping this medication after this month) 2) Azathioprine (Imuran) 50mg (3 pills a day)

Azathioprine news

The Origin of Clinical Organ Transplantation Revisited - Journal of American Medical Association (subscription)

The Origin of Clinical Organ Transplantation Revisited Journal of American Medical Association (subscription), IL The drug 6-mercaptopurine and its imidizole derivative azathioprine had been synthesized and shown to be immunosuppressive by Elion and Hitchings in a search for antileukemic agents.