Digestive Health Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment Mercaptopurine (Purinethol, 6-MP) Side Effects Ask your healthcare provider about effects during and after taking this drug By Amber J. Tresca Amber J. Tresca Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 23, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH LinkedIn Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Mercaptopurine is a drug known as a purine antagonist. It is used to treat conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, two forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and acute lymphocytic leukemia, a blood and bone marrow cancer. It may be used for the treatment of other conditions as well. Purinethol, the brand name for mercaptopurine, which also goes by 6-MP, is typically taken once a day, and it could be given either in a tablet or an injection. Read on to learn of this drug's side effects. Nehru Sulejmanovski / EyeEm/Gety Images The Most Important Things to Know About 6-MP 6-MP shouldn't be taken within two weeks of getting a live vaccine.A lowered white blood cell count is a potential side effect.A healthcare provider should do periodic blood tests to monitor liver function.Women should use birth control to avoid pregnancy while taking 6-MP.Breastfeeding is usually not recommended while taking 6-MP. Important Information About 6-MP The most important things to know about 6-MP is that it may cause certain side effects, such as hair loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. It should also not be used within two weeks of receiving a live vaccination. If you're unsure if a vaccination you received was live, check with your healthcare provider. The hair loss can be very distressing, but it should reverse when the drug is stopped, and hair will begin to grow back normally. One study showed that 1% of people taking 6-MP to treat IBD experienced hair loss. More common was a lowered white blood cell count, which was found in about 11% of patients. Of more urgent concern are side effects such as bleeding, bruising, or sores; dizziness or loss of consciousness; mouth pain; and joint pains. Some of these can also occur as signs of IBD, so it's important to keep your healthcare provider informed of any problems you're experiencing. 6-MP can also cause abnormal liver function tests, and in one study, this occurred in about 4% of patients taking it to treat IBD. For this reason, a healthcare provider should do periodic blood tests to monitor liver function. In some cases, a high level of certain substances in the blood (aminotransferases) may mean that the dosage of the drug needs to be lowered, or that the drug needs to be discontinued. It's recommended that women use birth control while taking 6-MP to avoid pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking 6-MP, tell your healthcare provider. There could be risks to the fetus, but, under doctor's orders, the drug may be continued since stopping it may have more harmful consequences for the mother. Breastfeeding while taking 6-MP is not recommended. Less Common Side Effects of 6-MP Check with your healthcare provider if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome: Darkening of the skinDiarrheaHeadacheLoss of appetiteSkin rash and itchingWeakness Always Notify a Healthcare Provider of These Side Effects More common: Unusual tiredness or weaknessYellow eyes or skin Less Common: Joint painLoss of appetiteNausea and vomitingSwelling of the feet or lower legs Rare: Sores in the mouth and on the lips Notify a Healthcare Provider Immediately About These Side Effects Less common: Black, tarry stools Blood in urine or stools Cough or hoarseness Fever or chills Lower back or side pain Painful or difficult urination Pinpoint red spots on skin Unusual bleeding or bruising Other Important Points Because of the way medicines act on the body, there is a chance that they might cause other unwanted effects months or years after the medicine is used. These delayed effects may include certain types of cancer which should be discussed with a healthcare provider. The drug may still produce side effects after stopping treatment. During this time, check with your healthcare provider if any of the following side effects occur: Black, tarry stoolsBlood in the urine or stoolsCough or hoarsenessFever or chillsLower-back or side painPainful or difficult urinationPinpoint red spots on skinUnusual bleeding or bruisingYellow eyes or skin Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other reactions, check with your healthcare provider. This information is meant only as a guideline. Always consult a healthcare provider or pharmacist for complete information about prescription medications. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! We're providing tips on how to take better care of your gut. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Shaye OA, Yadegari M, Abreu MT, et al. Hepatotoxicity of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and Azathioprine (AZA) in adult IBD patients. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007 Nov;102:2488-2494. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01515.x Mahadevan U. Fertility and pregnancy in the patient with inflammatory bowel disease. Gut. 2006;55(8):1198–1206. doi:10.1136/gut.2005.078097 Glazier KD, Palance AL, Griffel LH, Das KM. The ten-year single-center experience with 6-mercaptopurine in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2005 Jan;39:21-26.