Cellcept 250mg Capsule

Reviews How to Use Benefits Uses Side Effects

Product Info

Prescription required	Yes
Marketer	Roche Products India Pvt Ltd
Active Ingredient	Mycophenolate mofetil (250mg)
Storage	Store below 25°C
Chemical Class	Phthalide Derivative
Habit Forming	No
Therapeutic Class	ANTI NEOPLASTICS
Action Class	Immunosuppressant- Purine analogs
User Rating	4.3
User Reviews	507

FAQ

Is Cellcept 250mg a steroid or chemotherapy medicine? Can it cause hair loss?

Cellcept 250mg is neither a steroid nor a chemotherapy medicine. It is an immunosuppressant which means that it acts on your immune system to suppress or weaken it so that your body does not reject the donated organ of another person. Hair loss is a common side effect of Cellcept 250mg.

Can Cellcept 250mg cause cancer?

Cellcept 250mg may increase your chances of certain cancers like skin cancer and lymphoma (cancer of the lymph system). When outside, avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight, wear protective clothing, and apply sunscreen. Call your doctor if you experience a new skin sore or bump, a change in the size or color of a mole, a brown or black skin lesion (sore) with uneven edges or a sore whose one part does not look like the other, skin changes, sores that do not heal. Also, inform the doctor if you experience unexplained fever, tiredness that does not go away, weight loss, or pain or swelling in the neck, groin, or armpits.

What precautions should a female follow while taking Cellcept 250mg?

Do not take Cellcept 250mg if you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy. There is a high risk of miscarriage (loss of the pregnancy) during the first 3 months of pregnancy. It may even cause birth defects (problems that are present at birth) in the newborn. Therefore, it is advised that you should use two acceptable forms of birth control together for 4 weeks before you start taking Cellcept 250mg, during the treatment, and for 6 weeks after you stop taking Cellcept 250mg. It is important to use a second form of birth control along with birth control pills as Cellcept 250mg may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Your doctor will suggest the two birth control methods that\ suit you the best.

Why has my doctor given me Cellcept 250mg after I have had a kidney transplant?

Cellcept 250mg is an immunosuppressant. Cellcept 250mg has been prescribed to you to help your body accept the donor's kidney. It does so by working on the cells of your immune system, which fight with any foreign substance and reject its presence. This helps in making the transplanted organ more acceptable to your body.

Do I need any special tests while taking Cellcept 250mg?

Since Cellcept 250mg can affect blood count and affect the kidneys and liver, your doctor will ask you to have a blood test before you start the treatment. Once the treatment starts, your doctor will suggest you take regular blood tests to check for any changes in the blood. These blood tests will help monitor your response to the medicine and the development of any side effects.

What precautions should a male follow while taking Cellcept 250mg?

It is recommended that either the man or her partner should use reliable contraception during treatment and for 90 days after the treatment. Men should not donate semen during the therapy or for 90 days following discontinuation of Cellcept 250mg.

My doctor has asked me to stay away from a person who has chickenpox or shingles. Why?

Cellcept 250mg is an immunosuppressant, which means that it decreases the activity of the immune system. Since your immune system is already weak, if you come in contact with a patient of chickenpox or shingles, you may develop it too. This is the reason that your doctor has advised you to be cautious. Therefore, follow your doctor’s advice and contact your doctor immediately if you get chickenpox or shingles as you may require special treatment.

Cellcept 250mg Capsule Reviews

Cellcept 250mg belongs to a group of medicines called immunosuppressants. It is used with other medicines to prevent your body from rejecting an organ (such as a kidney, heart, or liver) after a transplant. It works by suppressing your body’s immune system so that it does not attack the new organ.

The amount of Cellcept 250mg you take and how often you take it depends on the type of transplant you have. Follow your doctor’s instructions on this. Take it on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal, unless your doctor suggest otherwise. Swallow it as a whole, do not crush, chew, or break it. Take the medicine regularly to get maximum benefit and keep taking it even when you feel well. The treatment will continue for as long as you need it to prevent rejection.

The most common side effects of this medicine include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, headache, high blood pressure, infections (viral, fungal, bacterial), and changes in the number of white blood cells amongst others. You may catch more infections than usual as medicine suppresses the immune system. There is also an increased risk of developing some cancers for this reason. To reduce your risk of skin cancer, limit your exposure to the sun and use sunscreen. There is a long list of potential side effects of this medicine. You should ask your doctor about them and what signs to look out for because some of them can be serious and need urgent medical attention.

Cellcept 250mg can cause birth defects and abortion so do not take it if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. You should talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you have any signs of infection or if you have any unexpected bruising or bleeding. You should also let your healthcare team know all other medicines you are taking as they may affect, or be affected by, this medicine. You will have regular tests to check for any changes in the number of your blood cells and the amount of sugar and cholesterol in your blood.

How Cellcept 250mg Capsule Works

Cellcept 250mg is an immunosuppressant. It reduces the action of the body's own defense system (the immune system) and prevents rejection of the transplanted organ.

How to Use Cellcept 250mg Capsule

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Cellcept 250mg is to be taken with food.

Benefits of Cellcept 250mg Capsule

In Prevention of organ rejection in transplant patients: Cellcept 250mg belongs to a group of medicines known as immunosuppressive agents. It lowers your immune response and reduces the chance of your body attacking the transplanted organ. Organ rejection happens when your immune system treats the new organ as an invader and attacks it. This medicine may be used in combination with other medicines to suppress the immune system and help your body accept the new organ.

Uses of Cellcept 250mg Capsule

Prevention of organ rejection in transplant patients

Cellcept 250mg Capsule Side Effects

Safety Tips

Pregnancy ^{CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR}

Cellcept 250mg is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.

Alcohol ^SAFE

Consuming alcohol with Cellcept 250mg does not cause any harmful side effects.

Driving ^SAFE

Cellcept 250mg does not usually affect your ability to drive.

Breast feeding ^UNSAFE

Cellcept 250mg is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby.

Liver ^{CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR}

There is limited information available on the use of Cellcept 250mg in patients with liver disease. Please consult your doctor.

Kidney ^CAUTION

Cellcept 250mg should be used with caution in patients with severe kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Cellcept 250mg may be needed. Please consult your doctor.

Quick Tips

It may take 6 to 12 weeks for Cellcept 250mg to start working. Keep taking it as prescribed.
Take it with food to minimize possible side effects like nausea and stomach pain.
It may cause birth defects so birth control is required in females with reproductive potential.
Protect yourself from direct sunlight by wearing protective clothing and applying a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF).
Your doctor has prescribed Cellcept 250mg to stop your body from rejecting a transplanted organ (e.g. kidney, heart or liver).
Your doctor may get regular blood tests done to monitor the levels of blood cells in your blood. Inform your doctor if you experience symptoms such as unexplained bruising or bleeding, sore throat, mouth ulcers, or fever.
It makes you more susceptible to getting infections. Avoid contact with people who have an infection. Consult your doctor immediately if you develop a sore throat, high temperature, any other signs of infections.

References

Krensky AM, Bennett WM, Vincenti F. Immunosuppressants, Tolerogens, and Immunostimulants. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. pp. 1014-15.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 943-45.
Ensley RD, Bristow MR, Olsen SL, et al. The use of mycophenolate mofetil (RS-61443) in human heart transplant recipients. Transplantation. 1993 Jul;56(1):75-82.
Lake DF, Briggs AD, Akporiaye ET. Immunopharmacology. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. pp. 973.
Mycophenolate mofetil [Prescribing Information]. Ahmedabad, India: Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited; 2023.
Mycophenolate mofetil. Basel, Switzerland: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.; 2021.
Mycophenolate mofetil. South San Francisco, California: Genentech USA, Inc.; 1995 [revised Feb. 2019].
Cell Cept. Mycophenolate mofetil.
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation. Mycophenolate mofetil.
Mycophenolate mofetil. Grenzach-Wyhlen, Germany: Roche Pharma AG; 2018.