Understanding the potential side effects of Imuran is an important part of your care after transplant. The side effects with Imuran are the same for adults and children, and most are dose-related and respond well to a lowered dose. Your transplant team will monitor you closely for complications, but you need to be aware of potential complications so you can alert your team early and be treated promptly. The most common side effect of Imuran is bone-marrow suppression. After a transplant, even seemingly insignificant signs of illness should be reported to your transplant team immediately.
Early detection is the key to effective treatment.
Avoiding people who are ill and washing your hands often and carefully can help prevent infections. In addition, you should check regularly for any signs of malignancy for example through self breast exams and self testicular exams and by checking your skin for any changes. Imuran and other immunosuppressive drugs can make skin more sensitive to the sun and therefore to skin cancer. To check for this, your transplant team will have routine lab tests done to monitor your liver function. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea occur rarely.