Good luck! Imuran weakens your body's immune system, to help keep it from "rejecting" a transplanted organ such as a kidney. Other medicines can also affect the way azathioprine works.Children taking azathioprine must not have a "live" flu vaccine (this usually applies to children aged 2 to 17 years). Always check with your doctor or pharmacist first before starting any new medication while you are taking azathioprine. Drugs & Medications Imuran. ... nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. Do not stop taking it unless you are directed to do so. Available for Android and iOS devices. Version: 7.01.The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. For some skin conditions it can take several months or more.It's important to keep taking azathioprine. As is everything in medicine, it is a risk-benefit ratio to decide on using a particular medication or not. Azathioprine can lower your immune system and increase your risk of getting infections. How the drug is delivered to your system is secondary. It is important to remember that not everyone experiences all of these side effects. Organ rejection happens when the immune system treats the new organ as an invader and attacks it. It also can reduce new MRI lesion formation in patients with MS. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.These side effects are more likely when you first start taking azathioprine or when your dose is increased. Ask your doctor about skin symptoms to watch for.kidney disease, or a kidney transplant (if you are using Imuran for rheumatoid arthritis);You should not breast-feed while you are using Imuran.Your doctor will perform blood tests to make sure you do not have conditions that would prevent you from safely using Imuran.Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. You may have to wait a few months to see an improvement.Taking azathioprine can sometimes affect your liver, kidneys or bone marrow.You will have blood tests to check your liver function, kidney function and blood count before you start taking this medicine.From week 1 to week 8 of your treatment you'll have blood tests every week. The drug can be used to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis in people who are not responding well to other treatments.Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness informationThe Neurological Institute is a leader in treating and researching the most complex neurological disorders and advancing innovations in neurology. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.Things to remember when you fill your prescription.WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. For rheumatoid arthritis, this medicine is taken on a daily basis.It may take up to 8 weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. You may take this medication with food to reduce nausea and abdominal symptoms.Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose and how often to take it. That being said, it is given for serious disease which, if untreated, have their own complications and issues. A pint of lager or beer is 2 to 3 units of alcohol.Apart from limiting alcohol, you can eat and drink normally.There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking azathioprine will reduce fertility in either men or women.However, azathioprine can affect your unborn baby. You should call your healthcare provider if any of the following reactions occur:If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember and then continue to follow your regular dosing schedule.Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these warning signs of infection:Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 01/23/2015. 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