What is azathioprine?

If you’re a hypochondriac like me, there’s nothing quite as exciting as stumbling upon a new drug to worry about. So imagine my delight when I first heard the name “Azathioprine.” Sounds exotic, doesn’t it? Like something Indiana Jones might have spent a whole movie searching for. But what exactly is this mysterious medication?

Where did Azathioprine come from?

Like most drugs, Azathioprine came into existence through years of extensive research and experimentation. A team of scientists slaved away in some sterile laboratory (or so I like to imagine) until they finally struck gold – or rather, an odd compound made up of both purine and imidazole rings.

It wasn’t until 1957 that azathioprine was officially released on the market by pharmaceutical company Burroughs-Wellcome Co., under the brand name “Imuran.” From then on, people around the world could get their hands on this wondrous new drug…whatever it actually did.

What does Azathioprine do?

In short: no one really knows. Sure, we’ve all read those clinical studies touting azathioprine’s effectiveness at treating various autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. But let’s be real here we don’t know much about how drugs work. For example:

“The exact mechanism by which azathiorprenin suppresses immune response in unknown but are believed to involve metabolism within cells”

Isn’t that reassuring? It just works fast without us knowing anything! Next thing you’ll tell me is that doctors just pick medications out of a hat…

But seriously speaking:
Despite its cloudy origins and potential side effects (more on those later), many doctors continue prescribing azathioprine for patients with inflammatory bowel disease , systemic erythematous lupus(SLE), and other autoimmune disorders.

How does Azathioprine work?

Azathioprine belongs to a class of drugs called immunosuppressants. In short, it’s like the ultimate chill pill for your immune system, legally prescribed (unlike weed) by doctors worldwide. By suppressing the over-active immune system (humans have this we aren’t robots) that is often associated with inflammation and autoimmunity, azathioprine can help alleviate symptoms in patients who suffer from inflammatory diseases such as lupus.

What are the side effects of Azathioprine?

While medication manufacturers list a long string of “potential” side effects on their labels- I mean just LOOK at this list:

  • headache
  • nausea
  • fever/chills
  • rash

There are many possible adverse reactions. A few examples include:
Low white blood cell counts
Pancreatitis or liver complications
Increased risk of skin cancer.

Honestly – you’re better off just wrapping yourself up in bubble wrap and calling it a day….talk about stress-free living!

Of course some people also experience little to no negative impacts after taking azathiorprenin, so there’s always hope that you’ll be one of those folks.
But before starting any new drug regimen, please talk to your doctor – don’t take medical advice off weird articles written online! It could save you from becoming one with Google search instantly!

Pregnancy & Nursing while on Azathioprine

It should go without saying…but hey let me say it nonetheless here : Pregnant women/ women planning to become pregnant AND nursing mothers shouldn’t even think about popping azathiorprenin pills…please ask your obstetrician-gynecologist whether this is right for you BEFORE doing anything else !

This is because Acquiring fetus/milk needs all natural immunity defense mechanism . If anything at all, you should always make sure to seek medical guidance before taking any medications during these times.

Dosage of Azathioprine

Azo…what? :::scratching head:::. This organic nitrous compound is typically prescribed in tablet form. Commonly starting around 50-100mg per day and increasing from there as necessary. Dosages vary from person-to-person depending on their unique needs and specific diagnoses.
Please note again that it is extremely important to follow your doctor’s orders regarding dosages! You don’t want to end up swallowing an entire bottle – yikes!

Conclusion

In the end, azathioprine may not be as mystical or fascinating as its name suggests . But isn’t just great knowing what’s inside those little tiny pills we take for granted without a single thought? It might not exactly cure every ailments but when used correctly, azathiorpenin can help many people better manage various autoimmune disorders.. So whether you’re curious about “Imuran” tablets on your elderly mother’s nightstand or looking for answers about possible future medicines, this article hopefully provides at least some kind of insight into what makes azathiorprenin (and drugs like it) so effective(though we still have no idea how they work quite fully yet)

Random Posts