ACTIONS/USES:  Immunosuppressant. 

It is used to fight rejection in patients with an organ transplant and in rheumatoid arthritis when other treatment has not worked.  For pulmonary fibrosis, it is used to decrease inflammation in the lung to decrease the scarring or damage to the lung. 

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS

1. Nausea and/or vomiting
2. Anemia and low blood cell counts
3. Increased risk of infections.
4. Increased risk of cancer.
5. May cause skin rashes, hair loss, or joint pain.
6. May cause reversible lung fibrosis.

 ***Your doctor will monitor your blood counts more frequently while you are
taking  this medicine.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

• This medicine can be taken with food as a single dose or in divided doses.
•  It is important to drink extra fluid while you are taking this medicine.
•  Report any signs of mouth sores, bleeding, bruising, skin rashes, yellow
   eyes or skin, itching, or clay-colored stools to your doctor immediately.
•  Report any signs of infection like fever to your doctor immediately.
•  Avoid crowds, people with infections, or anyone who has received the oral
   polio vaccine recently.
•  You should not stop taking this medicine without contacting your doctor first.
•  You should avoid becoming pregnant while taking this medicine and for 4
   months after stopping this medicine.  Notify your doctor immediately if you
   know or think you may be pregnant.