Cellcept

What you should know before using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatrics

For kidney transplants—This medicine has been tested in children 3 months and older and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

For heart or liver transplants—Studies of this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of mycophenolate in children with use in other age groups.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of mycophenolate in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require an adjustment of dosage in patients receiving mycophenolate.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Activated Charcoal
• Aluminum Carbonate, Basic
• Aluminum Hydroxide
• Aluminum Phosphate
• Azathioprine
• Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin Vaccine, Live
• Cholestyramine
• Colesevelam
• Colestipol
• Dihydroxyaluminum Aminoacetate
• Dihydroxyaluminum Sodium Carbonate
• Magaldrate
• Magnesium Carbonate
• Magnesium Hydroxide
• Magnesium Oxide
• Magnesium Trisilicate
• Measles Virus Vaccine, Live
• Mumps Virus Vaccine, Live
• Poliovirus Vaccine, Live
• Rotavirus Vaccine, Live
• Rubella Virus Vaccine, Live
• Smallpox Vaccine
• Typhoid Vaccine, Live
• Varicella Virus Vaccine
• Yellow Fever Vaccine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Delayed kidney function following kidney transplantation or
• Kidney problems, severe—Reduced elimination of mycophenolate and increased chance of developing fever and chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, painful or difficult urination.

• Digestive system disease, active—Risk of bleeding from the stomach.

• Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome or
• Lesch-Nyhan syndrome—This medicine should be avoided in patients with these conditions.

• Phenylketonuria (PKU)—The oral suspension may contain aspartame, which can make your condition worse.