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Side Effects of Prednisone and Azathioprine
Both prednisone and azathioprine have side effects. Because high doses of prednisone are often needed to control autoimmune hepatitis, managing side effects is very important. However, most side effects appear only after a long period of time. Some possible side effects of prednisone are:
- Weight gain
- Anxiety and confusion
- Thinning of the bones, a condition called osteoporosis
- Thinning of the hair and skin
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
Azathioprine can lower white blood cell counts and sometimes causes nausea and poor appetite. Rare side effects are allergic reaction, liver damage, and pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas gland with severe stomach pain.
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References:
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
April 2008
digestive.niddk.nih.gov
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