Drug Notes

Mycophenolate (By injection)

Mycophenolate Mofetil Hydrochloride (mye-koe-FEN-oh-late MOE-fe-til hye-droe-KLOR-ide)

Prevents your body from rejecting an organ after transplant by suppressing your immune system.

Brand Name(s):

Cellcept

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your dose and schedule. This medicine is given through a needle placed in a vein.
• A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.
• This medicine must be given slowly, so the needle will remain in place for at least 2 hours.
• If this medicine gets on your skin, wash the area with soap and water, and tell your caregiver. If you get the medicine in your eyes, nose, or mouth, rinse the area with large amounts of water, and tell your caregiver.
• You will receive this form of the medicine for a short time until your condition improves. Then you will be switched you to an oral form that works the same way. If you have any questions about this, talk to your doctor.
• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Some foods and medicines can affect how mycophenolate works. Tell your doctor if you are using acyclovir, azathioprine, cholestyramine, cyclosporine, metronidazole, norfloxacin, probenecid, rifampin, sevelamer, or valacyclovir. Tell your doctor if you are also using birth control pills or a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medicine for heartburn.
• This medicine may interfere with vaccines. Ask your doctor before you get a flu shot or any other vaccines.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. A woman should have a pregnancy test before using this medicine and during follow-up appointments.
• Birth control pills may not work as well when used with this medicine. Use a second form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant.
• Tell your doctor knows if you are breastfeeding or if you have kidney disease, bone marrow problems, high blood pressure, or stomach ulcers or other digestive problems.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Higher risk of skin cancer or lymphoma
  • Higher risk of infection (including shingles, polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN), progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), cytomegalovirus (CMV), BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVAN))
  • Reactivation of hepatitis B or C infection
  • Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA)
  • Stomach bleeding or ulcers
• This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often.
• This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Wear sunscreen. Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Change in how much or how often you urinate, painful urination, unusual swelling
• Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or other symptoms of infection
• Severe stomach pain, vomiting blood, bloody or black, tarry stools
• Skin lump or growth, brown or black patches on your skin, changes to a skin mole
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness
• Weakness on one side of the body, confusion, clumsiness, loss of interest in things, trouble thinking clearly

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 1/27/2017