Discontinue use if jaundice occurs. Not recommended in patients w/ hypersensitivity to 6-MP. Increased risk of developing lymphoproliferative disorders & other malignancies, skin cancers (eg, melanoma & non-melanoma), sarcomas (eg, Kaposi's & non-Kaposi's) & uterine cervical cancer
in situ; EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders; macrophage activation syndrome. Patients w/ inherited deficiency of enzyme thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT), mutated NUDT15 gene; hypoxanthine-guanine-phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency (Lesch-Nyhan syndrome); mutagenicity. Bone marrow depression; varicella zoster virus, hepatitis B; progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Avoid use in patients developing chickenpox or herpes zoster. Perform CBC including platelets wkly during 1st 8 wk of therapy. Routinely monitor LFTs during treatment. Limit sun or UV exposure. Not to be co-administered w/ ribavirin. Not recommended w/ live organism vaccine at least 3 mth after treatment. Concomitant use w/ neuromuscular-acting agents eg, tubocurarine or succinylcholine; xanthine oxidase inhibitors eg, allopurinol, oxipurinol &/or thiopurinol; olsalazine, mesalazine or sulphasalazine. Renal &/or hepatic impairment. Not to be used during pregnancy & lactation. Overwt childn. Elderly.