Both azathioprine and mercaptopurine are produced by a number of manufacturers under different brand names. Azathioprine can be known as Imuran, Azafalk, and Azapress; while mercaptopurine can be known as Puri-nethol. Mercaptopurine is also sometimes called 6-mercaptopurine or 6-MP.

What is the difference between azathioprine and mercaptopurine?

Azathioprine has been used for IBD for over 30 years. Mercaptopurine is a newer drug and tends to be prescribed less frequently in the UK. A number of studies have found that these drugs can help to reduce symptoms and maintain remission in about six out 10 people with UC and seven out of 10 people with Crohn's.

Is azathioprine a mercaptopurine?

Mercaptopurine is in the thiopurine and antimetabolite family of medications.

Is azathioprine 6 a mercaptopurine?

Thiopurines (ie, azathioprine [AZA] and mercaptopurine, also known as 6-mercaptopurine, [6-MP]) exert a glucocorticoid-sparing effect for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who cannot maintain remission when glucocorticoids are tapered and withdrawn.

What is the relation between azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine as drugs?

Metabolism of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and azathioprine (AZA) is complex. Azathioprine is a prodrug that is non-enzymatically converted to 6-MP.

Starting Azathioprine or Mercaptopurine

35 related questions found

Is mercaptopurine anti inflammatory?

Mercaptopurine works to reduce inflammation in the body by targeting the immune system.

How long does it take for mercaptopurine to work?

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO WORK? Azathioprine and mercaptopurine are slow-acting. It may take three to six months before you notice benefits.

Is mercaptopurine a chemotherapy?

Mercaptopurine is a chemotherapy drug used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and acute promyelocytic leukaemia (a rare form of AML). It may sometimes be used to treat other cancers.

Is mercaptopurine a steroid?

This medication belongs to a class of drugs called immunomodulators. It helps to reduce irritation and swelling (inflammation) in the intestines. It also decreases the long-term need for steroids. For that reason, it is sometimes referred to as a "steroid-sparing" drug.

Is 50mg of azathioprine a lot?

The usual dose is 150-200 mg a day but the dose can vary depending on your weight and tolerance of the medication. Start with one 50 mg tablet daily usually in the morning with a meal. After one week, you should have your blood drawn.

Is 6-mercaptopurine the same as mercaptopurine?

Mercaptopurine is the generic name for the trade name drug Purinethol or Purixan. In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade name Purinethol®, Purixan® or other names 6-Mercaptopurine and 6-MP when referring to the generic drug name mercaptopurine.

What is mercaptopurine 50 mg used for?

6-mercaptopurine belongs to a group of medicines called cytotoxics (also called chemotherapy) and works by reducing the number of new blood cells your body makes. Mercaptopurine is used to treat cancer of the blood (leukaemia) in adults, adolescents and children.

Does mercaptopurine suppress immune system?

MERCAPTOPURINE, 6-MP (mer kap toe PYOOR een) is a chemotherapy drug. It interferes with the growth of cancer cells and can reduce immune system activity.

Is mercaptopurine an anti TNF?

There are several drug treatments available that can induce and maintain remission in Crohn's disease. These include immunosuppressant drugs (i.e., azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate) and anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy (i.e., infliximab, adalimumab , and certolizumab).

Is mercaptopurine an immunosuppressant?

Azathioprine and mercaptopurine are immunosuppressants. The immune system is important for fighting infections, but sometimes cells in the immune system attack the body's own tissues and trigger inflammation like that in Crohn's and Colitis.

Does mercaptopurine make you gain weight?

Swelling of the body, tiredness, bruising. High blood pressure which may cause headaches, dizziness, blurred vision. Belly pain. Increased appetite and weight gain.

What class drug is mercaptopurine?

Mercaptopurine is in a class of medications called purine antagonists. It works by stopping the growth of cancer cells.

Does mercaptopurine cause hair loss?

The most important things to know about 6-MP is that it may cause certain side effects, such as hair loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. It should also not be used within two weeks of receiving a live vaccination.

Does mercaptopurine cause joint pain?

In addition, an allergy to thiopurines (ie, 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine) can present with a severe, debilitating, acute-onset joint pain and high fever. In this case, the pain usually occurs 1 or 2 days after starting thiopurine as a new therapy, so it is clearly from the drug.

How common is hair loss with mercaptopurine?

Side effects included leukopenia (11.2%), abnormal liver function tests (3.8%), various infections, including pneumonia (3.1%), pancreatitis (2.5%), nausea (2.1%), headache (2.8%), fever (1.4%), hair loss (1%), and rash (0.7%).

Is 6 mercaptopurine an immunosuppressant?

Azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine for the treatment of active Crohn's disease. Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine are immunosuppressive drugs that are thought to reduce inflammation by blocking the immune system.

Can mercaptopurine cause liver damage?

Mercaptopurine can also lead to a distinctive acute, clinically apparent liver injury that usually presents with fatigue and jaundice and a cholestatic or mixed pattern of serum enzyme elevations 1 to 6 months after starting therapy, but sometimes later, particularly following an increase in dose.

Why is azathioprine bad for you?

Azathioprine may increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer, especially skin cancer and lymphoma (cancer that begins in the cells that fight infection). If you have had a kidney transplant, there may be a higher risk that you will develop cancer even if you do not take azathioprine.

How long can you stay on azathioprine?

How long will I be taking it? If tolerated, you will probably be on azathioprine for up to 5 years. Do not stop taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to, even if you feel well.

Can you stop azathioprine cold turkey?

If you stop taking it suddenly: If you're taking this drug for a kidney transplant and you stop taking it suddenly, you may experience transplant rejection and kidney failure. If you're taking this drug for rheumatoid arthritis and you stop taking it suddenly, your symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may come back again.