HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Is dividing the azathioprine (Imuran) tablets allowed and safe?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/7/2007 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

Have you also read in the leaflet, that it's not recommended to divide the standard azathioprine (aka Imuran) tablets/pills and you shouldn't swallow tablets with damaged surface.

I'm writing this because I did read about it, and I was getting divide halves of Imuran. It's astonished me. Is it safe? And what's the danger of swallowing the divided pills?

Has your doctor told you about it anything, or maybe have you read about it in leaflet?

Cheers

Posted 9/7/2007 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
No I hadn't heard or read that -- we cut the 50mg in half as my husband is on the 75 mg dosage presently. I'd like to see more responses on this before bothering the doctor about it. (Guess I didn't pay attention to the "fine print" regarding that medication....have to go pull out the sheet of info we have on that.)
Posted 9/7/2007 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
Well, so it's weird that the leaflet mentions it. confused
Posted 9/7/2007 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
I cut it in half as well. HTey don't make a 25mg pill. Weird.
Posted 9/7/2007 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
I cut mine is half also as I am on 75 mg.  My doc was the one who told me to cut them in half.

Posted 9/7/2007 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
I Was told to cut mine in half also as I'm on 125mg (hmm... feels like a large dose now, reading everyone else's!)
Posted 9/7/2007 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
I've been cutting mine in half.  I'm at 125 mg.  It might have something to do also with other people or kids getting ahold of the small particles from cutting them (though I use a pill cutter that keeps everything contained within it.)

Posted 9/7/2007 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on 125mg and have 100mg and 25mg pills. My doctor says its fine to cut the 50's in half if I run out of 25's.

I'm not very good at cutting them in half so I just ask the pharmacist for 25s when I get close to running out.
Posted 9/7/2007 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor and pharmacist also told me to break them in half to get the right dose, so that leaflet doesn't make any sense. They've even got a break line on the tablet.

There is no coating on my azathioprine tabs. Is there one on yours?
Posted 9/7/2007 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
I was wondering the same thing - my AZ tablets are scored... Are the Imuran tablets different???
Posted 9/7/2007 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
me too. I always cut mine in half. I haven't heard anything that said I shouldn't.
Posted 9/8/2007 9:57 AM (GMT 0)

kb5 said...
I cut it in half as well. HTey don't make a 25mg pill. Weird.

Really? I get 25 mg tablets though. Maybe in Europe there are different doses of them.

Posted 9/9/2007 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
I have read my imuran information and it says it is fine to cut them. It comes in tablet form, not capsule. And in the US you can't get them in 25 mgs. I take 125 mgs.
Posted 9/13/2007 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
this is what the pharmicist told me a long time ago, if a pill has a score line, or if it will crumble in your hand, you can cut it. Don't ever cut ones that are coated though
Posted 9/15/2007 4:38 PM (GMT 0)

summerstorm said...
this is what the pharmicist told me a long time ago, if a pill has a score line, or if it will crumble in your hand, you can cut it. Don't ever cut ones that are coated though

Hm, mine are coated... They're manufactured bu the gsk - an English firm. Available in yellow 50-mg tablets and the orange 25-mg tablets, with a thin coat (if divided, you can see some sort of its fragments, you know).
Posted 9/30/2011 7:23 AM (GMT 0)
I know this is a little late, but for anyone reading this post for the first time. ASK YOUR PHARMACIST about the safety of cutting the pills in half. Believe it or not, your doctor WILL NOT read the small print either. My son is a pharmacist and I often ask him about the safety of drugs and how to use them. He always knows more than the doctor does about the drug itself.
Posted 9/30/2011 12:15 PM (GMT 0)
Imuran, (azathioprine) must reach a "therapeutic level" in your blood which is usually measured by a test ordered by a your doc.
How the drug is delivered to your system is secondary. I've divided my azathioprine taps with no problems.
The goal is to get a therapeutic benefit from the lowest dose possible.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply