Tacrolimus

Description

Tacrolimus is an immuno-suppressant which is used in kidney, liver, and heart transplant patients. It should be used under the supervision of a qualified physician. Close monitoring of blood pressure is necessary while receiving this medicine.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Tacrolimus

  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Swelling of feet or lower legs
  • Blurred vision
  • Sweating
  • Weight loss
  • Acid or sour stomach
  • Loss of strength
  • Body pain
  • Scaly skin

Uses of Tacrolimus

What is it prescribed for?

  • Organ Transplant - Rejection Prophylaxis
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The effect of this medication can be observed in 0.5 to 6 hours.
  • Duration of effect
    The effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 2 to 4 days for an immediate release tablet and 3 to 5 days for an extended release tablet.
  • 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 pregnant women unless necessary. The benefits and risks should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    This medicine is known to excreted in breast milk. It is not recommended in breastfeeding women unless necessary. The benefits and risks should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.

Allergy

Not recommended in patients with known allergy to Tacrolimus.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine is not recommended for pregnant women unless necessary. The benefits and risks should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.

Breast-feeding

This medicine is known to excreted in breast milk. It is not recommended in breastfeeding women unless necessary. The benefits and risks should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
General warnings

Malignancy

This medicine may increase the risk of lymphoma and other malignancies. Doctors should inform patients about these risks and advise the patient to [revent exposure of the sunlight by wearing protective clothes.

Serious infections

The chances of occurring infections are more in the patients receiving this medicine. Hold the treatment and start with the broad-spectrum antibiotics if there are any signs and symptoms of fever. Close monitoring of the body temperature and the blood cell count is necessary.

Liver impairment

This medicine is not recommended in the patients with a history of liver impairment. The concentration of this medicine may increase in these patients. The baseline of the liver function tests should be obtained before starting the treatment.

Kidney impairment

This medicine is not recommended in the patients with a history kidney impairment. Close monitoring of kidney function is necessary. The dose should be adjusted based on the creatine clearance (CrCl).

Hypertension

Use with caution in hypertensive patients. Appropriate antihypertensives should be administered to control the blood pressure. Do not use medicine that may increase the potassium levels.

Hyperkalemia

This medicine may increase the levels of potassium in the body and may increase the risk of arrhythmia. Close monitoring of potassium levels is necessary. Medicines that can increase the potassium levels like ACE inhibitors and potassium-sparing diuretics should be avoided.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of Tacrolimus, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed dose.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
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

Amlodipine

Carbamazepine

Live vaccines

Neomycin

Disease interactions

Diabetes Mellitus

This medicine may cause a condition called post-transplant insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Insulin should be administered in these patients. Close monitoring of glucose levels is necessary.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Tacrolimus under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. Do not take in larger amounts than advised. It is advised to take this medicine at the same time every day. Consult the doctor if you experience any undesirable effects. Do not stop taking the medicine without consulting your doctor.
Miscelleneous

Can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
It works by decreasing the body's immune system activity and helps in preventing body's rejection action of transplanted organs.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Calcineurin inhibitors

Schedule

Schedule H

[Internet]. 2017 [cited 5 May 2017]. Available from:

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/23205

Tacrolimus: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 5 May 2017]. Available from:

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601117.html

DailyMed - tacrolimus capsule [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 5 May 2017]. Available from:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=bd447ffa-9196-4c3c-accf-5adf29b84665

Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 5 May 2017]. Available from:

https://www.tga.gov.au/prescribing-medicines-pregnancy-database#searchname

[Internet]. 2017 [cited 5 May 2017]. Available from:

https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/f?./temp/~zoAykC:1

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Information on this page was last updated on 16 Nov 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.