CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil) A Medical Guide to CellCept, Uses & CellCept Side Effects
CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil) is a medication used to decrease the immune systems responses to a transplanted organ so as to prevent the body from rejecting the new implanted organ.
Your immune system is very important to fighting off infections. However, CellCept works to even lower your immune system that is why it is called an immunosuppressant. The generic name for CellCept is mycophenolate mofetil.
Uses:
- It prevents the body from rejecting certain transplanted organ from your body. An example would be kidney, liver and heart transplant. It is usually given with a steroid medication and a cyclosporine drug.
Other uses:
- There are no other approved uses for this drug; however there may be other future uses for it.
Celebrex Side Effects:
Minor side effects are:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Swelling of limbs
- Sleep problems
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
More Serious Side Effects:
Flu symptoms, bleeding, easy bruising, increased vital signs, painful urination, changes in vision, allergic reactions, chills or fever, dizziness and weakness should be observed closely as these signs can be very dangerous.
Withdrawals:
Discontinuing the medication abruptly can cause pain and other illnesses. Better wean yourself first before terminating with the drug. Talk to your doctor before you stop using this medicine.
Dosage/ How to Take the Medicine:
- Tablet CellCept tablets should be taken at least one hour before meals or two hours after meals. Do not crush tablet and swallow it completely with a full glass of water. Liquid Shake the drug first before getting a dose and use measuring cups for exact dosage. I.V. In transplant cases, the medicine should be given 24 hours after surgery. It should be given in a 2-hour IV infusion for 14 days before you can switch to the pill form.
What to avoid / Drug Interactions:
Avoid exposing yourself to sick and people with diseases. Live vaccines will not work, thus should be avoided. Do not use antacids as it may interrupt with CellCept absorption. And lastly, always wear sun block before going out in the sun as the medication can increase your risk of having skin cancer. Pregnant women should consult their doctors first since the medication can be harmful to the baby.
The following drugs should be avoided while taking this medication:
- Azathioprine
- Metronidazole
- Probenecid
- Norflaxacin
- Valganciclovir
- Ganciclovir
- Cholestyramine
- Ciprofloxacin
- Rifapin
- Vaccines
- Sevelamer
- And certain birth control pills
CellCept is FDA pregnancy category D rated. It can be harmful to an unborn baby. Those who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant must talk to their doctors first. This drug also can pass into breast milk and can harm your nursing baby. This medication is most dangerous for an unborn baby during the first trimester. Do not use this drug until you talk to your doctor.
To prevent CellCept overdose, you must not miss any appointments to your doctor. This medication also contains phenylalanine so PKU patients must be properly educated.