MYCOPHENOLATE MOFETIL

(MYE koe FEN oh late MOE fe til) Brand: CellCept

What is the most significant information I must know about mycophenolate mofetil?

• Mycophenolate mofetil can harm an unborn child or reason birth defects, especially if used during the first trimester of pregnancy. Do not use if you are pregnant.

• If you are a woman of child-bearing potential, you will be required to use two forms of birth control to prevent pregnancy till and during your treatment with mycophenolate mofetil, and for at least 6 weeks after your treatment ends. You will also need to have a negative pregnancy test within 1 week till you start using this medication.

• Speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant while using mycophenolate mofetil.

• Although mycophenolate mofetil can reason harm to an unborn child, not treating the mother after a transplant could pose a greater risk to the mother's health. Mycophenolate mofetil is sometimes given to pregnant women who are unable to take another needed transplant medications. Your doctor will solve whether you must receive this medication.

• Using mycophenolate mofetil can create it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being near others who are ill. You may also have an heighten risk of cancer. Your blood will need to be tested on a weekly or monthly basis while using this medicine. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

• Do not open the mycophenolate mofetil capsule or crush or chew a tablet. Do not use a pill that has been accidentally broken. The medication from a crushed or broken pill can be dangerous if it gets in your eyes, mouth, or nose, or on your skin.

What is mycophenolate mofetil?

• Mycophenolate mofetil lowers your body's immune system. The immune system helps your body fight infections. The immune system can also fight or "reject" a transplanted organ such as a liver or kidney. This is because the immune system treats the new organ as an invader.

• Mycophenolate mofetil is used to prevent your body from rejecting a kidney, liver, or heart transplant. This medicine is generally given with cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral) and a steroid medication.

• Mycophenolate mofetil may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till using mycophenolate mofetil?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to mycophenolate mofetil, mycophenolic acid (Myfortic), or to an ingredient called Polysorbate 80.

• To create this medicine is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have any of these conditions:

· a stomach ulcer or another mess of your stomach or intestines;

· kidney disease;

· a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection; or

· Lesch-Nyhan and Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome.

• FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use mycophenolate mofetil if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn child, especially if used during the first trimester of pregnancy. Speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

• If you are a woman of child-bearing potential, you will be required to start using two forms of birth control 4 weeks till the start of your treatment with mycophenolate mofetil. You will also need to have a negative pregnancy test within 1 week till treatment.

• Unless you have been in menopause for at least 12 months in a row, you are considered to be of child-bearing potential. Adolescent girls who have entered puberty are also considered to be of child-bearing potential, even if not yet sexually active.

• Mycophenolate mofetil can create birth control pills smaller effective. Use two non-hormone forms of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy till and during your treatment with mycophenolate mofetil, and for at least 6 weeks after your treatment ends.

• It is not known whether mycophenolate mofetil passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

• The liquid form may contain phenylalanine. Conversation to your doctor till using this form of mycophenolate mofetil if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

How must I use mycophenolate mofetil?

• Use exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not use in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• The injection form of this medicine is injected into a vein through an IV. Mycophenolate mofetil should be given slowly, and the IV infusion can take at least 2 hours to complete.

• Mycophenolate mofetil injection is generally given within 24 hours after your transplant. You may be given the injection for up to 14 days till you switch to the oral (pill) form of mycophenolate mofetil. The oral form is generally given twice a day. Follow your doctor's instructions.

• Take oral mycophenolate mofetil on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour till or 2 hours after a meal.

• Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just till you measure a doze. Measure the liquid with a particular dose-measuring spoon or medication cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• Do not open the mycophenolate mofetil capsule or crush or chew a tablet. Do not use a pill that has been accidentally broken. The medication from a crushed or broken pill can be dangerous if it gets in your eyes, mouth, or nose, or on your skin. If this occurs, wash your skin with soap and water or rinse your eyes with water. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely handle and dispose of a broken tablet or capsule.

• Mycophenolate mofetil can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. This can create it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being near others who are ill. You may also have an heighten risk of determined forms of cancer. Your blood may need to be tested on a weekly or monthly basis. Visit your doctor regularly.

• If you need surgery, speak the surgeon onward of time that you are using mycophenolate mofetil. You may need to stop using the medication for a short time.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. The liquid medication may be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. Throw away any unused liquid that is older than 60 days.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Use the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not use extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose symptoms may include severe forms of some of the side effects listed in this medicine guide.

What must I avoid while using mycophenolate mofetil?

• Avoid being around people who are sick or have infections. Speak your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

• Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using mycophenolate mofetil. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from malady. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), oral polio, rotavirus, smallpox, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

• Avoid using antacids without your doctor's advice. Use only the type of antacid your doctor recommends. Some antacids can create it harder for your body to absorb mycophenolate mofetil.

• Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Mycophenolate mofetil can create you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

What are the possible side effects of mycophenolate mofetil?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

· pale skin, light bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, trouble breathing, quick heart rate;

· bloody, black, or tarry stools;

· coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

· painful or difficult urination;

· chest pain;

· feeling like you might pass out;

· problems with vision, speech, balance, or memory; or

· weakness in your legs, lack of coordination.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, or constipation;

· headache, mild weakness;

· swelling in your hands or feet;

· numbness or tingly feeling; or

· anxiety, sleep problems (insomnia).

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect mycophenolate mofetil?

• If you also take sevelamer (Renagel, Renvela), take it at least 2 hours after you take mycophenolate mofetil.

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· azathioprine (Imuran);

· cholestyramine (Questran);

· antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Ciloxan, Proquin), amoxicillin and clavulanate (Augmentin), metronidazole (Flagyl), norfloxacin (Noroxin), rifampin (Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane, Rifadin), or sulfa drugs (Bactrim, Septra, Sulfatrim, SMX-TMP);

· acyclovir (Zovirax), ganciclovir (Cytovene), valacyclovir (Valtrex), or valganciclovir (Valcyte);

· stomach medicines such as dexlansoprazole (Dexilant), esomeprazole (Nexium, Vimovo), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (AcipHex).

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with mycophenolate mofetil. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about mycophenolate mofetil.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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