Two medicines, side by side
Azathioprine vs prednisone
Azathioprine and prednisone are both labeled for organ transplant rejection. Drugs@FDA records approvals of azathioprine since 1968 and of prednisone since 1955. Pharmacies paid $0.124 per azathioprine 50 mg tablet and $0.0643 per prednisone 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, azathioprine is a purine antimetabolite and prednisone a corticosteroid.
Check it at the source: the azathioprine FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 8, 2025); the prednisone FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 22, 2025).
Highlights of the azathioprine record
Azathioprine (Imuran) · label of November 8, 2025
MALIGNANCY Chronic immunosuppression with IMURAN, a purine antimetabolite increases risk of malignancy in humans. Reports of malignancy include post-transplant lymphoma and hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Physicians using this drug should be very familiar with this risk as well as with the mutagenic potential to both men and women and with possible hematologic toxicities. Physicians should inform patients of the risk of malignancy with IMURAN.
Used for
From the label: indicationsIMURAN is indicated as an adjunct for the prevention of rejection in renal homotransplantation. It is also indicated for the management of active rheumatoid arthritis to reduce signs and symptoms. Renal Homotransplantation: IMURAN is indicated as an adjunct for the prevention of rejection in renal homotransplantation. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- March 20, 1968
- Generic labelers
- 17 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.124 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Highlights of the prednisone record
Prednisone (Meticorten) · label of April 22, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsPrednisone tablets and solutions are indicated in the following conditions: 1. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 21, 1955
- Generic labelers
- 45 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0643 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Azathioprine label of November 8, 2025, Prednisone label of April 22, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do azathioprine and prednisone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, azathioprine is a purine antimetabolite and prednisone a corticosteroid.
Only the azathioprine label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: azathioprine since 1995; prednisone since 1971 (Drugs@FDA).
| Azathioprine | Prednisone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Organ transplant rejection, Rheumatoid arthritis | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Anemia, Organ transplant rejection |
| Pharmacologic class | Purine Antimetabolite | Corticosteroid |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Maximum serum radioactivity occurs at 1 to 2 hours after oral 35 S-azathioprine and decays with a half-life of 5 hours. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | March 20, 1968 | February 21, 1955 |
| First generic approved | March 31, 1995 | December 23, 1971 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 17 labelers | 45 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.124 per tablet (Azathioprine 50 mg tablet) | $0.0643 per tablet (Prednisone 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | -15% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 89,586 | 499,950 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Azathioprine label, warningsIn a detailed case report, 4 documented lymphopenia, diminished IgG and IgM levels, CMV infection, and a decreased thymic shadow were noted in an infant born to a mother receiving 150 mg azathioprine and 30 mg prednisone daily throughout pregnancy.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to azathioprine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions