MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL

Department of Pharmacy

Department of Nursing

Critical Care

Generic Name: Azathioprine
Trade Name: Imuran
Actions: Antimetabolite

Immunosupressant
Indications: Adjunct for prevention of rejection in Allotransplantation

Rheumatoid arthritis
Administration Guidelines:
Usual Dose and Route LOADING DOSE: 3 - 5 mg/kg/day IV administered over 30 - 60 minutes

MAINTENANCE DOSE: 1 - 2 mg/kg/day IV administered over 30 - 60 minutes
reconstitute each 100 mg vial with 10 ml of sterile water for injection for a final Maximum concentration of 2 mg/ml

Standard Concentration: Add each dose to Dextrose in water 100 ml
Maximum Concentration: 2 mg / ml
Special Considerations: - Daily dose should be administered at 1800 (6pm) so that dosage adjustments can be made according to morning laboratory results

- Dosage should be reduced for wbc < 4000 cells/mm3 and/or held for wbc < 3000 cells/mm3

- Azathioprine metabolism is competitively inhibited by allopurinol and dosage reduction is required.
Precautions and Side Effects: - Leukopenia, Thrombocytopenia, Pancytopenia

- Hepatotoxicity

- Pancreatitis

- Alopecia

 

revised 07/07