Azathioprine and Hair Loss: What Users Say

• Sue...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2019

Azathioprine for Crohn's Disease "Was prescribed Imuran as part of combination therapy with Inflectra after a bad flare of Crohn's that landed me in the hospital for 2 weeks. I started taking 1 tablet a day, increased to 2 after a week, then 2 1/2 after another week. Once I got to the full dose, I started to notice some stomach upset, and after a week, I started vomiting profusely and was bedridden for 3 days. Also experienced hair loss. My GI told me to stop taking it for now. Sure hope he has another idea, as clearly I can’t tolerate Imuran. I felt immediately better after stopping the drug. Good luck to anyone battling this horrible disease!"

• Fil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 29, 2019

For Crohn's Disease "I have been taking azathioprine for about 9 years, and 5 years ago began experiencing joint pain, intense itching, and hair loss. My doctor dismisses all these problems as not being related to medication. I'm starting to think that it's time to seek another opinion. Just wondering if anyone else had the same symptoms?"

• B...
• March 31, 2017

For Ulcerative Colitis "Azathioprine was prescribed for my daughter as maintenance treatment for her UC. I can't tell anything about if it was working for her symptoms because her flare symptoms were controlled by other temporary meds such as Uceris and Cortifoam before she started taking it. After 2 weeks, she started having very rapid hair loss, developed pancytopenia, and stopped taking it. This is the long story. I don't want to scare anyone, it's great that this drug helps some people."

• BBa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 18, 2021

For Lupus "I've been taking azathioprine for over two months now (May 2021) for my lupus. First on a low dose, then it was raised after a few weeks of taking it. There has been no improvement for me, but there have been problems that were caused by azathioprine. There has been blood in my urine, stomach irritation, occasional nausea, fatigue (even though I'm often fatigued because of lupus & other medications), as well as hair loss. When I was first diagnosed with lupus in April 2020, my symptoms were getting worse & hair loss happened majorly. By mid-October 2020, I was hospitalized for over a month. I started to improve but still not my full self. Still aches & pains, but my hair was starting to grow back. However, taking azathioprine has caused me to lose my hair again but in noticeable areas. Azathioprine isn't working for me & causing me problems."

• Ven...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2022

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I lost all my hair, my bone marrow was suppressed to high heaven, and it gave me acid reflux, so I can’t even eat properly. This drug has made the last 2 weeks of my life a living nightmare. I’m on the road to recovery now, but it’s gonna take a week or two before I start feeling normal again. Screw this medicine."

• Rax...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 27, 2020

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I’ve been on azathioprine for about 8 years (21 years old, btw), and I wouldn’t say it’s amazing, but really it helps a lot, especially with the Humira. I stopped taking my azathioprine due to COVID-19 and actually got numerous abscesses and a fistula, which left me in the hospital for a week, and it was the worst feeling. Don’t read the side effects as a con, I’ve been on it 8 years and hair loss has not been an issue, neither has pancreatitis. The only issue I got was from not taking it, so guys look after yourselves, take azathioprine, and beat Crohn's."

• Weg...
• August 8, 2016

For Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis "I have Wegener's granulomatosis (aka granulomatosis with polyangiitis). Was on Imuran for two years, have to switch to Neoral now. Apparently, it's not working as it should be. Dreading the switch, however, because Imuran gave me few to no side effects. Have experienced hair loss after about a year, but could also have a different cause (I take lots of other medication and many non-drug-related causes have to be considered as well, e.g., hormones, stress,...). Also, a very cheap drug for me, but we have universal health care in Belgium, so don't know if this is also the case elsewhere."

• Mrs...
• June 8, 2015

Azathioprine for Crohn's Disease "I have been on this medicine for over a year, and it worked really well at first. Now my hair is thinning, and I'm having joint pain."