Ortikos vs. Azasan

Ortikos (budesonide) and Azasan (azathioprine) are used to treat Crohn's disease.

Ortikos is specifically used to treat mild to moderate active Crohn's disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon, in patients 8 years and older; and for maintenance of clinical remission of mild to moderate Crohn's disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon for up to 3 months in adults.

Azasan is also used to prevent the body from rejecting a transplanted kidney, and to treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Ortikos and Azasan belong to different drug classes. Ortikos is a corticosteroid and Azasan is an immunosuppressive antimetabolite.

Side effects of Ortikos and Azasan that are similar include nausea and vomiting.

Side effects of Ortikos that are different from Azasan include headache, respiratory infection, back pain, indigestion/heartburn, dizziness, abdominal pain, gas (flatulence), fatigue, and pain.

Side effects of Azasan that are different from Ortikos include stomach/intestinal symptoms (such as upset stomach, diarrhea, or loss of appetite), hair loss, and skin rash.

Both Ortikos and Azasan may interact with cyclosporine.

Ortikos may also interact with CYP3A4 Inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, grapefruit juice, itraconazole, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, and erythromycin).

Azasan may also interact with allopurinol, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, blood thinners, olsalazine, sulfasalazine, sulfamethoxasole, trimethoprim, and ACE inhibitors.

Common side effects of Ortikos include:

• headache,
• respiratory infection,
• nausea,
• back pain,
• indigestion/heartburn,
• dizziness,
• abdominal pain,
• gas (flatulence),
• vomiting,
• fatigue, and
• pain

Common side effects of Azasan include:

• stomach/intestinal symptoms (such as upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite),
• hair loss, or
• skin rash

Ortikos (budesonide) is a corticosteroid indicated for treatment of mild to moderate active Crohn's disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon, in patients 8 years and older; and maintenance of clinical remission of mild to moderate Crohn' disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon for up to 3 months in adults.

Azasan (azathioprine) is an immunosuppressive antimetabolite that lowers the body's immune system used to prevent the body from rejecting a transplanted kidney. Azasan is also used to treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Azasan is available in generic form.

Ortikos may interact with CYP3A4 Inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, grapefruit juice, itraconazole, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, erythromycin, and cyclosporine). Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Ortikos; it may harm a fetus.

Azasan may interact with allopurinol, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, blood thinners, cyclosporine, olsalazine, sulfasalazine, sulfamethoxasole, trimethoprim, or ACE inhibitors. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Azasan is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm a fetus. Men and women should use two forms of birth control (e.g., condoms, birth control pill) while taking this medication. Azasan can decrease the effectiveness of intrauterine devices (IUDs).

The recommended adult dosage of Ortikos for mild to moderate active Crohn's disease is 9 mg once daily for up to 8 weeks; repeat 8-week treatment courses recurring episodes of active disease. The recommended dosage of Ortikos for pediatric patients 8 to 17 years who weigh more than 25 kg is 9 mg once daily for up to 8 weeks, followed by 6 mg once daily in the morning for 2 weeks.

The dose of Azasan required to prevent rejection and minimize toxicity varies. The initial dose is usually 3 to 5 mg/kg daily, beginning at the time of transplant. It is usually given as a single daily dose on the day of, and in some cases 1 to 3 days before, transplantation.