Azathioprine

Updated June 2024

What is Azathioprine?

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Azathioprine (brand names: Azapin®, Imazan, Imuran®, Thioprine®) is a medicine used to treat immune and inflammatory diseases such as vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE/lupus), polymyositis (muscle inflammation), rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic and autoimmune conditions.

Azathioprine is also used to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs and to treat inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis.

Azathioprine is an immunosuppressive medicine, which means that it works by reducing the activity of the immune system. In conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, it helps reduce inflammation, pain and swelling. It also limits damage to the joints and helps to prevent long-term disability.

Because azathioprine acts to reduce the damage to the joints, rather than just relieve the pain, it belongs to the group of medicines called disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).