Azathioprine Uses

Azathioprine is used to prevent organ rejection in kidney transplant patients. This medicine is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. 

There may be other uses of azathioprine, such as to treat inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease), multiple sclerosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Your healthcare professionals can give you further azathioprine drug information.

Azathioprine Mechanism of Action

Azathioprine affects the body’s immune system. It reduces immune system activity and prevents the immune system from attacking the transplanted organ after kidney transplants. It also prevents the immune system from attacking the joints in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Azathioprine Doses

Azathioprine is available as an oral tablet in doses of 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg, and 100 mg. The dose of this medicine depends on the patient’s body weight and other factors. In general, the dose after organ transplantation is 1-3 mg/kg of body weight/day, which is usually 50 mg to 150 mg per day. The azathioprine dose for rheumatoid arthritis is usually 1 mg/kg of body weight/day given either as a single dose or in two divided doses every day.