Aretha Tablet
Product Info
| Prescription required | Yes |
| Marketer | Eris Lifesciences Ltd |
| Active Ingredient | Azathioprine (50mg) |
| Storage | Store below 30°C |
| Chemical Class | Nucleoside Analog, and Purines |
| Habit Forming | No |
| Therapeutic Class | ANTI NEOPLASTICS |
| Action Class | Immunosuppressant- Purine analogs |
| User Rating | 4.2 |
| User Reviews | 475 |
FAQ
Is breastfeeding safe during Aretha treatment?
No, breastfeeding should be avoided, while on Aretha, since it may harm the baby and cause serious side effects.
What is Aretha prescribed for? How does it work?
Aretha is an immunosuppressant which means that it acts by suppressing the immune defense system of the body. Your immune defense system helps to protect you against infections. However, sometimes your immune defense system can become overactive and can cause illness. Aretha is used in combination with other medicines to treat the conditions caused due to this abnormal activity of the immune system. It is used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, like the kidney, heart or liver. It is also used to treat chronic active hepatitis, severe rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and acquired hemolytic anemia. It is also used to treat severe cases of specified skin diseases (pemphigus vulgaris, dermatomyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, pyoderma gangrenosa), especially when corticosteroids cannot be used.
Can Aretha cause cancer?
Aretha may increase the chance of developing certain cancers like skin cancer, cancer of the lymph system (lymphoma), cancer of soft tissues (sarcomas), and cervical cancer. To prevent the risk of skin cancer, avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in your skin or any lumps or masses anywhere on your body.
Can cyclosporine and Aretha be taken together?
Yes, you can take cyclosporine and Aretha together as they do not interfere with each other’s working. However, you must take the two medicines strictly as per your doctor’s advice.
How long do I need to take Aretha?
The duration varies from person to person as it is prescribed depending upon the patient’s medical condition.
I have just started taking Aretha. What are the long-term side effects? Is there anything I should be looking out for?
Being an immunosuppressant, Aretha can increase the chances of severe infections, decrease in blood cell counts, and malignancy. You should inform your doctor immediately if you notice any infection or fever, unexpected bruising or bleeding, black tarry stools or blood in the urine or stools. Let your doctor know if you notice any new skin sore or lump, new marks on skin or any change in the marks which were previously present.
What happens if I forget to take Aretha?
If you miss a dose of Aretha, take it as soon as you remember. However, skip the missed dose if it is time for your next dose. Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed dose. inform your doctor if the dose is frequently missed.
Do I need any special tests while I am on Aretha?
Aretha reduces the production of blood cells making you more vulnerable to infections and can sometimes affect the liver. These side effects can be monitored by regular blood tests. Therefore, during the first 8 weeks of the treatment your doctor may recommend weekly blood tests to monitor complete blood counts, including platelet counts. The frequency can later be reduced to monthly or at least once in 3 months time.
How long does Aretha take to start working?
It may take about 3 to 12 weeks before you see any benefits. Continue the medication even if you do not notice any benefits. Talk to your doctor if you face any issues.
What if you forget to take Aretha?
If you miss a dose of Aretha, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.
Aretha Tablet Reviews
Aretha belongs to a group of medicines called immunosuppressants. It is used with other medicines to prevent your body from rejecting an organ (such as a kidney, heart, or liver) after a transplant. It is also used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Aretha works by weakening the body’s immune system, so it does not attack the new organ. The amount of medicine to be taken and how often you need to take it will depend on the type of transplant you have. Follow your doctor’s instructions on this. You should take it along with food. Take the medicine regularly to get the most benefit and keep taking it even if you feel well. If you stop taking it, you may increase the chances of rejecting your transplanted organ.
It has many potential side effects. The most common are loss of appetite, nausea, and increased risk of bleeding. Because it suppresses your immune system, you may catch infections easily. There’s also an increased risk of developing some cancers for this reason. You should ask your doctor about side effects that may need urgent medical attention.
Aretha can cause birth defects and miscarriages so do not take it if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. You should talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you have any signs of infection or if you have any unexpected bruising or bleeding. Your doctor also needs to know what other medicines you are taking as there are many which interact with this medicine and affect the way it works. You will have regular tests to check for any changes in the number of your blood cells.
Aretha works by weakening the body’s immune system, so it does not attack the new organ. The amount of medicine to be taken and how often you need to take it will depend on the type of transplant you have. Follow your doctor’s instructions on this. You should take it along with food. Take the medicine regularly to get the most benefit and keep taking it even if you feel well. If you stop taking it, you may increase the chances of rejecting your transplanted organ.
It has many potential side effects. The most common are loss of appetite, nausea, and increased risk of bleeding. Because it suppresses your immune system, you may catch infections easily. There’s also an increased risk of developing some cancers for this reason. You should ask your doctor about side effects that may need urgent medical attention.
Aretha can cause birth defects and miscarriages so do not take it if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. You should talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you have any signs of infection or if you have any unexpected bruising or bleeding. Your doctor also needs to know what other medicines you are taking as there are many which interact with this medicine and affect the way it works. You will have regular tests to check for any changes in the number of your blood cells.
How Aretha Tablet Works
Aretha is an immunosuppressant. It reduces the action of body's own defense system (the immune system) and prevents rejection of the transplanted organ. It also blocks the action of certain chemical messengers that are responsible for inflammation, swelling, and redness associated with certain joint diseases.
How to Use Aretha Tablet
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Aretha is to be taken with food.
Benefits of Aretha Tablet
- In Treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis: Aretha works by blocking the action of some chemicals which cause inflammation. It can help reduce pain, stiffness, and swelling in your joints and slow down the progression of bone and joint damage. This will help you do normal daily activities more easily and thus improve your quality of life. This medicine should be taken at the same time each day to get maximum benefits. Keep taking it even if you feel well because it is preventing future harm as well as improving your symptoms.
- In Prevention of organ rejection in transplant patients: Aretha is an immunosuppressive agent that lowers your immune response and reduces the chance of your body attacking the transplanted organ. Organ rejection happens when your immune system treats the new organ as an invader and attacks it. This medicine may be used in combination with other medicines to suppress the immune system and help your body accept the new organ.
Uses of Aretha Tablet
- Prevention of organ rejection in transplant patients
- Treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis
Aretha Tablet Side Effects
Safety Tips
Pregnancy
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Aretha is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.
Breast feeding
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Aretha is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.
Alcohol
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Aretha. Please consult your doctor.
Liver
CAUTION
Aretha should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Aretha may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Use of Aretha is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease. Regular monitoring of liver function tests is advisable while you are taking this medicine.
Kidney
CAUTION
Aretha should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Aretha may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Use of Aretha is not recommended in patients with serious kidney disease.
Driving
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether Aretha alters the ability to drive. Do not drive if you experience any symptoms that affect your ability to concentrate and react.
Quick Tips
- Aretha also relieves joint pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.
- Your doctor has prescribed Aretha to stop the body from rejecting a transplanted organ (e.g. kidney, heart or liver).
- Avoid contact with people who have cold, flu or other contagious illness. Notify your doctor if you have any signs of infection such as a fever or sore throat.
- Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to conceive or breastfeeding.
- You may have to take additional medications along with Aretha for better relief of symptoms.
References
- Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. p. 113-15.
- Azathioprine [Product Information]. Parsippany, NJ: Ascend Laboratories, LLC; 2021.
- Azathioprine. San Diego, California: Prometheus Laboratories Inc.; 2014.
- Chaves RG, Lamounier JA. Breastfeeding and maternal medications. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2004;80(5 Suppl):S189-S198.
- Krensky AM, Bennett WM, Vincenti F. Immunosuppressants, Tolerogens, and Immunostimulants. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. pp. 1013-14.
- Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals: NHS Trust. Azathioprine - General Information; 2012.
- Mohammadi O, Kassim TA. Azathioprine. [Updated 2023 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
- Furst DE, Ulrich RW, Varkey-Altamirano C. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs, Nonopioids Analgesics, & Drugs Used in Gout. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. pp. 629-30.