What are the side effects of azathioprin?
Azathioprine is a general name of a drug used to treat individuals with autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Immunosuppressants, drugs work to slow down the body's immune system, which can be useful in conditions where there is a failure in this system, but also creates many side effects of azathioprine. Since it slows down the immune system, individuals who take it can find out that they are more susceptible to colds and infections, as well as evolving certain types of cancer.
The drug causes a reduction in the number of white blood cells produced by the immune system. These white blood cells are what struggles with infections in a healthy body, and in a person who has been endangered by autoimmune disorder, these cells instead turn on healthy cells and tissues. This results in one of the main side effects of azathioprin, which is the inability to fight infections, namely those that affect the gastrointestinal system of the body.
with a gastrointestinal system compromised, an individual mayt sensitive to seizures of vomiting and diarrhea. It may also feel naughty. These side effects are usually temporary, and when the individual is taken off the drug, the immune system will return to its previous strength and will be able to resist these infections.
other side effects of azathioprin are less common, but more serious. The individual may feel lethargic and tired, or suffer from pain in a particular part of the stomach. Skin conditions such as a rash or yellow shade may also occur. Body pain and loss of appetite can cause the individual to feel as if he descend with the flu, and a trip to a medical facility is often to determine whether it is flu or side effects of the drug.
In rare cases, patients developed the toxicity of the liver as one of the side effects of azathioprine. Others have shown susceptibility to development of skin or blood cancer. These side effects are rare.
For some, the dose change may remove the side effects of azathioprin. In other cases, it must be completely stopped to remove serious side effects. Since it can be transferred from the mother to their unborn child or a child through breast milk, the drug usually does not give up pregnant or nursing mothers because of the negative impacts it can have on the child. Azathioprin can also be prescribed for individuals who recently had organ transplantation. A temporarily threat to the immune system with a drug can help discourage the body's ability to reject the new organ.