Comparing Mercaptopurine vs Prednisone

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
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Mercaptopurine

Prednisone

Prescribed for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. May also be prescribed off label for Crohn's Disease - Maintenance, Autoimmune Hepatitis, Crohn's Disease - Acute, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Intestinal... View more

Prednisone effectively controls inflammation and an overactive immune system but may not be suitable for everybody. Long-term use is limited by potentially severe side effects such as adrenal... View more

Prescription only

Pricing and Coupons

* Prices are without insurance

Quantity	25 tablet
Dosage	50 mg
Per Unit^*	$2.84
Cost^*	$70.89

View all mercaptopurine prices

Quantity	10 tablet
Dosage	10 mg
Per Unit^*	$1.07
Cost^*	$10.70

View all prednisone prices

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Generic Availability

Yes (this medicine)

Dosage Form(s) Available

Oral tablet

Oral solution
Oral tablet

Brand Names

Purinethol, Purixan Rayos

Half Life

The half-life of a drug is the time taken for the plasma concentration of a drug to reduce to half its original value.

2 hours

36 hours

CSA Schedule**

View glossary of terms.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Pregnancy Category

Category D Positive evidence of risk

See the full Pregnancy Warnings document.

Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

Excluding First Trimester

Category D Positive evidence of risk

First Trimester

See the full Pregnancy Warnings document.

Drug Interactions

A total of 229 drugs are known to interact with mercaptopurine:

43 major drug interactions (125 brand and generic names)
170 moderate drug interactions (509 brand and generic names)
16 minor drug interactions (48 brand and generic names)

A total of 517 drugs are known to interact with prednisone:

61 major drug interactions (174 brand and generic names)
417 moderate drug interactions (1624 brand and generic names)
39 minor drug interactions (219 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions

You may experience reduced absorption of mercaptopurine in the presence of food. Take... View more

No known alcohol/food interactions. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Disease Interactions

First Approval Date

September 11, 1953

February 21, 1955

WADA Class

View World Anti-Doping Agency classifications.

N/A

S9 - Glucocorticoids

More Information

Patient resources

Professional Resources

Related Treatment Guide

** The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer