Azathioprine

Also indexed as: Imuran®

Azathioprine is used to prevent organ rejection following kidney transplant and to treat severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis.

Safetychecker Summary for Azathioprine
(for details about the summarized interactions, read the full article)

Beneficial May be Beneficial: Depletion or interference—The medication may deplete or interfere with the absorption or function of the nutrient. Taking these nutrients may help replenish them.

Folic acid
Side effect reduction/prevention

None known
Supportive interaction

None known
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability

None known
Adverse interaction

None known

An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

Interaction with Herbs

Folic acid
People receiving dialysis for kidney failure often have low blood levels of folic acid. However, folic acid blood levels should return to normal following kidney transplant. A preliminary study of people taking azathioprine to prevent organ rejection revealed that blood levels of folic acid remained well below those of individuals not taking the drug. The highest blood folic acid level was observed in an individual who had not taken azathioprine for two years.1 Controlled studies are needed to determine whether people taking azathioprine should supplement with folic acid.

References:

1. Zazgornik J, Druml W, Balcke P, et al. Diminished serum folic acid levels in renal transplant recipients. Clin Nephrol 1982;18:306–10.