Food and drug interactions are not unusual. Pharmaceutical labels list the potential ones. Sometimes, you also read about possible negative interactions. In that case, there is no firm scientific evidence indicating a risk of ingesting two substances together. Yet, someone believes a warning is warranted. Azathioprine and caffeine fit the latter scenario, where alerts exist without a clear explanation as to why. To be safe, check with your doctor before combining both substances.
About Azathioprine
Azathioprine is an immunosuppressant, a drug that lowers your immune system’s activity to keep it from attacking your own tissues. Doctors prescribe the drug in combination with others to keep people’s bodies from rejecting kidney transplants. You may also have to take the medicine if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. The autoimmune disease is marked by a self-attack against your joints.
About Caffeine
Caffeine appears naturally in certain teas, kola nuts and coffee. Manufacturers also add the substance to some sodas and pharmaceutical products such and cold and diet drugs. As a stimulant, caffeine causes an energy spike. In some cases, the chemical stimulus is too strong; it interferes with heart health, sleep patterns and emotions.
Azathioprine and Caffeine
There are no known adverse interactions between azathioprine and caffeine, according to the site Drugs.com. Regardless, one online medicine seller and the information site Canada.com raise concerns about mixing the drug with the stimulant. The former recommends that you tell your physician if you regularly drink caffeinated products, as they may affect the way your medicine works. The latter instructs you to do the same on the premise that caffeine can affect the action of many medications. It is worth noting that azathioprine’s pharmaceutical label does not mention caffeine.
Listed Interactions
Canada.com lists 20 medicinal products that interact with azathioprine: ACE inhibitors, echinacea, allopurinol, corticosteroids, live vaccines, warfarin, co-trimoxazole, cyclophosphamide, leflunomide, mercaptopurine, mesalazine, natalizumab, olsalazine, pancuronium, pimecrolimus, ribavirin, roflumilast, succinylcholine, sulfasalazine and tacrolimus. The list of drugs that interact with caffeine is more than four times longer. It includes 11 major, 32 moderate and 40 minor interactions. Aspirin is in the minor category while adenosine poses the risk of a moderate interaction. A major adverse reaction can occur if you mix caffeine and zanaflex.
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