Mycophenolate

This information from Lexicomp^® explains what you need to know about this medication, including what it’s used for, how to take it, its side effects, and when to call your healthcare provider.

Brand Names: US

CellCept; CellCept Intravenous; Myfortic; Myhibbin

Brand Names: Canada

ACH-Mycophenolate; APO-Mycophenolate; APO-Mycophenolic Acid; CellCept; CellCept IV; JAMP-Mycophenolate; JAMP-Mycophenolic Acid; MAR-Mycophenolate Mofetil; MAR-Mycophenolic Acid; Myfortic; SANDOZ Mycophenolate Mofetil; TEVA-Mycophenolate

What is this drug used for?

• It is used to keep the body from harming the organ after an organ transplant.
• It may be given to your child for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

What do I need to tell the doctor BEFORE my child takes this drug?

• If your child is allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell the doctor about the allergy and what signs your child had.
• If your child has Lesch-Nyhan or Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome or a rare inherited deficiency of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl-transferase (HGPRT).
• If your child is taking any of these drugs: Azathioprine, cholestyramine, colesevelam, colestipol, norfloxacin with metronidazole, or sevelamer.
• If your child is taking another drug that has the same drug in it.
• If your child is able to get pregnant and is not using 2 kinds of birth control.

If your child is breast-feeding a baby:

• Talk with the doctor if your child is breast-feeding a baby or plans to breast-feed a baby.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug.

Tell the doctor and pharmacist about all of your child’s drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe to give this drug with all of your child’s other drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug your child takes without checking with the doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while my child takes this drug?

• Tell all of your child’s health care providers that your child is taking this drug. This includes your child’s doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Have your child avoid tasks or actions that call for alertness until you see how this drug affects your child. These are things like riding a bike, playing sports, or using items such as scissors, lawnmowers, electric scooters, toy cars, or motorized vehicles.
• Have your child’s blood work and other lab tests checked as you have been told by the doctor.
• If your child has high blood sugar (diabetes), you will need to watch your child’s blood sugar closely.
• Talk with the doctor before your child gets any vaccines. Use of some vaccines with this drug may either raise the chance of very bad infection or make the vaccine not work as well.
• Your child may bleed more easily. Make sure your child is careful and avoids injury. Be sure your child has a soft toothbrush.
• There is a chance of skin cancer. Have your child avoid lots of sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen and dress your child in clothing and eyewear that protects your child from the sun.
• Hepatitis B or C testing may be done. A hepatitis B or C infection may get worse while taking this drug.
• Bleeding, holes, and ulcers in the GI (gastrointestinal) tract have happened with this drug. Sometimes, people have had to go to the hospital. Talk with the doctor.
• This drug may cause diarrhea. If your child gets diarrhea, talk with the doctor about ways to lower this effect. Do not stop giving this drug to your child without talking with the doctor.
• If your child has phenylketonuria (PKU), talk with your child’s doctor. Some products have phenylalanine.
• Your child may need to avoid donating blood while taking this drug and for some time after. Talk with the doctor.
• Your child may need to avoid donating sperm while taking this drug and for some time after. If you have questions, talk with the doctor.

If your child is or may be sexually active:

• Have your child use birth control while taking this drug and for 6 weeks after the last dose. Birth control pills and other hormone-based birth control may not work as well to prevent pregnancy. If your child uses hormone-based birth control, be sure your child uses some other kind of birth control also, like a condom, during this time. If your child gets pregnant, call the doctor right away.
• If your child has a sex partner who may become pregnant, birth control must be used while taking this drug and for at least 90 days after the last dose. If your child’s partner gets pregnant, call the doctor right away.

What are some side effects that I need to call my child’s doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your child’s doctor or get medical help right away if your child has any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling sleepy, unusual thirst or hunger, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit.
• Signs of electrolyte problems like mood changes; confusion; muscle pain, cramps, or spasms; weakness; shakiness; change in balance; an abnormal heartbeat; seizures; loss of appetite; or severe upset stomach or throwing up.
• Signs of high or low blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
• Signs of kidney problems like unable to pass urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine, or a big weight gain.
• Signs of skin infection like oozing, heat, swelling, redness, or pain.
• Chest pain or pressure.
• Fast, slow, or abnormal heartbeat.
• Any unexplained bruising or bleeding.
• Throwing up blood or throw up that looks like coffee grounds.
• Black, tarry, or bloody stools.
• A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
• Muscle cramps.
• Swelling.
• Pale skin.
• White patches in mouth.
• Vaginal itching or discharge.
• Yellow skin or eyes.
• A health problem called acute inflammatory syndrome (AIS) has happened with this drug. Sometimes, people have had to go to the hospital. Most of the time, signs happened within weeks to months after starting this drug or after a dose increase. Call the doctor right away if your child has fever, joint pain or stiffness, or muscle pain.
• A severe brain problem called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) may happen with this drug. It may cause disability or death. Tell the doctor right away if your child has signs like confusion, memory problems, depression, change in the way your child acts, change in strength on 1 side is greater than the other, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, or change in eyesight.
• Some people treated with this drug have had very bad kidney problems caused by a certain viral infection (BK virus). In people who have had a kidney transplant, BK virus infection may cause loss of the kidney. Call the doctor right away if your child has signs of kidney problems like change in the amount of urine passed, trouble passing urine, pain when passing urine, or blood in the urine.
• Some people have had lung problems with this drug. Sometimes, this has been deadly. Call your child’s doctor right away if your child has signs of lung problems like shortness of breath or other trouble breathing, cough that is new or worse, or fever.

What are some other side effects of this drug?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your child’s doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother your child or do not go away:

All products:

• Constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, upset stomach, throwing up, or decreased appetite.
• Back pain.
• Gas.
• Headache.
• Feeling dizzy, tired, or weak.
• Shakiness.
• Trouble sleeping.

Injection:

• Irritation where the shot is given.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your child’s doctor. Call your child’s doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to your national health agency.

How is this drug best given?

Give this drug as ordered by your child’s doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

All oral products:

• Give on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals unless the doctor has told you otherwise.
• Keep giving this drug to your child as you have been told by your child’s doctor or other health care provider, even if your child feels well.
• Give this drug at the same time of day.
• If your child is taking an antacid that has aluminum or magnesium, give the antacid at least 2 hours after your child takes this drug.

All tablet products:

• Have your child swallow whole. Do not let your child chew, break, or crush.
• If your child has trouble swallowing, talk with the doctor.

Capsules:

• Have your child swallow whole. Do not let your child chew, open, or crush.
• If your child has trouble swallowing, talk with the doctor.
• If the capsule is opened or broken, do not touch the contents. If the contents are touched or they get in the eyes, wash hands or eyes right away.

All suspension products:

• Shake well before use.
• Measure liquid doses carefully. Use the measuring device that comes with this drug.
• Do not mix with any other liquid drugs.
• Wear gloves when preparing and giving a dose.
• If this drug gets on your child’s skin, wash it off right away with soap and water.
• If this drug gets in the eyes, rinse with cool water.
• If this drug is spilled, wipe it up using wet paper towels. Wipe the outside of the bottle after you have put the cap back on.
• This drug may be given through certain sizes of feeding tubes. Some sizes of feeding tubes must not be used to give this drug. Use as you have been told. Flush the feeding tube after this drug is given. If you are not sure if you can use with a feeding tube, talk with the doctor.

Injection:

• It is given as an infusion into a vein over a period of time.

What do I do if my child misses a dose?

Delayed-release tablets:

• Give a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your child’s next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your child’s normal time.
• Do not give 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

All other oral products:

• Give a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is less than 2 hours until your child’s next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your child’s normal time.
• Do not give 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

Injection:

• Call your child’s doctor to find out what to do.

How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

Powder for suspension:

• Store at room temperature or in a refrigerator after the suspension is mixed. Do not freeze.
• Throw away any unused part 60 days after this drug was mixed. Talk with your pharmacist if you are not sure when this is.

Liquid (suspension):

• Store at room temperature. Do not freeze.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.

All other oral products:

• Store at room temperature protected from light. Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.

Injection:

• If you need to store this drug at home, talk with your child’s doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.

All products:

• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

General drug facts

• If your child’s symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your child’s doctor.
• Do not share your child’s drug with others and do not give anyone else’s drug to your child.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your child’s doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider’s examination and assessment of a patient’s specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms.

Last Reviewed Date

2024-06-21

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