Mycophenolate Mofetil
Description
Mycophenolate Mofetil is a potent immunosuppressive agent. It is used along with other medicines to prevent the body from rejecting an organ transplant.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Mycophenolate Mofetil
- Constipation
- Stomach pain or swelling
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Trouble with sleeping
- Pain in the arms, legs and the back
- Uncontrolled shaking of arms or legs
- Headache
- Persistent diarrhea
- Swelling of face, lips, eyelids, tongue, hands and feet
- Severe difficulty in breathing
- Chest pain
- Dizziness and fainting
- Black or tarry stools
- Bloody or coffee colored vomit
- Yellowing of skin and eyes
Uses of Mycophenolate Mofetil
What is it prescribed for?
- Prevention of organ transplant rejection
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time required for this medicine to show its effect is subject to variations based on the intended use and route of administration.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which this medicine remains effective is subject to variations based on the intended use and route of administration.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendencies were reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary and the potential benefits heavily outweigh the risks involved. The risks are significantly higher in the first trimester. Your doctor will determine the best course of treatment based on your clinical condition.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. If the use of this medicine is absolutely necessary, then your doctor may ask you to discontinue breastfeeding.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to mycophenolate or any other inactive ingredients present along with it.
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women since the risk of miscarriage or birth defects is significantly high. Contact your doctor immediately if you suspect a pregnancy while taking this medicine. Appropriate means of birth control should be adopted while taking this medicine.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary and the potential benefits heavily outweigh the risks involved. The risks are significantly higher in the first trimester. Your doctor will determine the best course of treatment based on your clinical condition.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. If the use of this medicine is absolutely necessary, then your doctor may ask you to discontinue breastfeeding.
General warnings
Lesch-Nyhan/Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients suffering from this rare genetic disorder caused by the deficiency of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) enzyme.
Women of childbearing age
Women of childbearing age should take appropriate precautionary measures to avoid pregnancy while taking this medicine. It is advised to undergo a serum/urine pregnancy test prior to taking this medicine.
Live vaccine
Vaccination with live and attenuated strains of microorganisms should be avoided while taking this medicine since the risk of severe infections is significantly high.
Intravenous injection
Intravenous route of administration should be used for patients unable to take the oral form. The intravenous form should be administered as a slow infusion over a period of 2 hours.
Skin Cancer
Patients should avoid direct exposure to sunlight or sunlamps while taking this medicine due to the increased risk of skin cancer. Appropriate precautionary measures such as protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen should be taken while stepping out.
Infections
Use of this medicine suppresses the immune system of patients and increases the risk of infections and sepsis.
Blood cell count
Use of this medicine may affect the count of blood cells and cause associated complications. It should be used with extreme caution in patients having blood cell disorders such as anemia, neutropenia, etc. Symptoms like fever, chills, diarrhea, unexpected bruising and bleeding should be reported to the doctor on priority. Close monitoring of complete blood cell count may be necessary based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Gastrointestinal disturbances
Use of this medicine may cause ulcers and bleed in the gastrointestinal tract. This risk is especially higher in patients with a previous history of gastrointestinal diseases. It is advised that you should inform the doctor about all your medical conditions before receiving this medicine.
Other medicines
Report the use of all medicines including vaccinations, herbs, and supplements to the doctor before receiving Mycophenolate Mofetil to rule out chances of a possible interaction.
Other variants
The effect of mycophenolate mofetil is different from mycophenolic acid and hence patients or healthcare providers should stick to the medicine prescribed by the doctor.
Missed Dose
The likelihood of missing an injectable dose is less since it is normally administered in a clinical setup. Take the missed oral dose as soon as you remember it. If it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, then it is advisable to skip the missed dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Contact your doctor if an overdose of this medicine is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Omeprazole
Sevelamer
Ethinyl Estradiol
Leflunomide
Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid
Live vaccines
Adalimumab
Aluminium Hydroxide/Magnesium Hydroxide/Calcium carbonate
Disease interactions
Peptic ulcer disease
This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from peptic ulcer disease due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Your doctor will schedule the uptake of medicines in such a way that adverse effects are minimized.
Kidney Disease
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with kidney diseases. Appropriate dose adjustments should be done based on the level of creatinine clearance. Use of this medicine is not recommended in patients with a severe renal disease.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Mycophenolate Mofetil exactly as prescribed by the doctor. It is strongly advised to take this medicine under the supervision of a doctor with frequent monitoring of blood cell count and status of the transplant acceptance by the immune system. Avoid inhalation or contact with the skin. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop signs or symptoms of an infection.
Miscelleneous
How it works
This medicine works by suppressing the immune system which is primarily responsible for organ rejection after a transplant has been completed.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Selective immunosuppressants
Schedule
Schedule H
[Internet]. 2017 [cited 9 August 2017]. Available from:
[Internet]. 2017 [cited 9 August 2017]. Available from:
[Internet]. 2017 [cited 9 August 2017]. Available from:
DailyMed - Mycophenolate mofetil - Mycophenolate mofetil tablet, film coated Mycophenolate mofetil - mycophenolate mofetil capsule [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 9 August 2017]. Available from:
mycophenolate mofetil [Internet]. Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 9 August 2017]. Available from:
Mycophenolate: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 9 August 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 11 Aug 2017
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.