TNF Blockers/Azathioprine; Mercaptopurine Interactions
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
How this interaction occurs is not known.
What might happen:
Taking these medicines together may increase your risk of developing a rare, but usually fatal, cancer called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL).
What you should do about this interaction:
Make sure your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together. Discuss the risks and benefits of therapy with your doctor. Report any usual symptoms to your doctor right away, especially abdominal pain, persistent fevers, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
- 1.USFood and Drug Administration. FDA Drug Safety Communication: Safety Review update on reports of Hepatosplenic T-Cell Lymphoma in adolescents and young adults receiving tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, azathioprine and/or mercaptopurine. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-com munication-update-tumor-necrosis-factor-tnf-blockers-and-risk-pediatric April 14, 2011.
- 2.Remicade (infliximab) US prescribing information. Janssen Biotech, Inc. May, 2020.
- 3.Humira (adalimumab) US prescribing information. Abbott Laboratories December, 2018.
- 4.Mackey AC, Green L, Liang LC, Dinndorf P, Avigan M. Hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma associated with infliximab use in young patients treated for inflammatory bowel disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2007 Feb; 44(2):265-7.
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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.