Can mycophenolate cause liver damage?

Asked by: Ms. Kaylin Spencer  |  Last update: October 15, 2023
Score: 4.4/5 (32 votes)

The liver injury due to mycophenolate is usually mild and self-limited, resolving by itself or responding rapidly to dose modification or discontinuation. Mycophenolate has not been linked to instances of acute liver failure or vanishing bile duct syndrome.

Can immunosuppressants cause liver problems?

Key Takeaways. It's important to get proper screening for hepatitis B before starting an immunosuppressant medication. These drugs can reactive “dormant” virus in your body, which can cause serious liver damage.

What are the most common side effects of mycophenolate?

More common
  • Black, tarry stools.
  • bladder pain.
  • bleeding gums.
  • bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet.
  • blood in the urine or stools.
  • bloody or cloudy urine.
  • blurred vision.
  • burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings.

What are the symptoms of mycophenolate toxicity?

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: fever, sore throat, chills, or cough; unusual bruising or bleeding; pain or burning during urination; frequent urination; wound or sore that is red, warm, or won't heal; drainage from a skin wound; general weakness, extreme tiredness, or ...

When should I stop mycophenolate?

Mycophenolate can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. If you develop symptoms of an infection while using this medication, you should stop it and contact your rheumatology provider.

MYCOPHENOLATE MOFETIL (Mycophenolic Acid): CellCept Uses-Side effects- Mechanism of Action

17 related questions found

What happens when I stop taking mycophenolate?

However, with CellCept, discontinuing it too fast, without a supervised tapering schedule from your doctor, – can result in an MG exacerbation or myasthenic crisis. Be sure to always follow your doctor's recommendation on discontinuing any of your MG medications.

What not to take with mycophenolate?

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about this. Use only the brand of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. Different brands may not work the same way. If you are also using antacids that contain aluminum or magnesium (eg, Maalox® or Mylanta®), do not use them at the same time as mycophenolate.

Is mycophenolate mofetil toxic to the liver?

Hepatotoxicity is a rare complication of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) therapy usually presenting with abnormal serum liver enzymes. Liver biochemistry usually improve spontaneously following withdrawal of MMF. Monitoring liver biochemistry is recommended before and during MMF therapy.

Why can't you touch mycophenolate?

Mycophenolate may be absorbed through the skin and cause unwanted effects over time. Wash hands well after coming into contact with mycophenolate.

Why can't you take mycophenolate with food?

Food affects how the body absorbs mycophenolate. To keep the blood levels of mycophenolate the same, you should always take mycophenolate the same way, either with food or without food. If you throw up after: less than 30 minutes: repeat the full mycophenolate dose (repeat the dose only once)

Is mycophenolate bad for the kidneys?

Mycophenolate has a number of uses. When it's prescribed as a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD), it should help control your condition and reduce damage to your joints and other organs such as your lungs, kidneys and blood vessels.

What are the disadvantages of mycophenolate mofetil?

This medicine may increase your risk of developing rare and serious virus infections, including shingles, herpes, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, polyomavirus associated nephropathy (PVAN), BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVAN), or SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection.

What is the success rate of mycophenolate?

After 3 to 6 months of mycophenolate treatment, 66 of 73 patients had stable (n = 22) or improved (n = 44) disease. After 9 to 12 months of treatment, 47 of 54 patients had stable (n = 14) or improved (n = 33) disease. Twenty-seven patients (35%) achieved disease remission at completion of the study.

What autoimmune disease kills liver?

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) can affect both children and adults and can lead to cirrhosis and acute liver failure. It is often asymptomatic, with no symptoms prior to liver failure. It may also be associated with nonspecific symptoms including fatigue, nausea, abdominal pains, or joint pains.

Why is my immune system attacking my liver?

Overview. Autoimmune hepatitis is liver inflammation that occurs when your body's immune system turns against liver cells. The exact cause of autoimmune hepatitis is unclear, but genetic and enviromental factors appear to interact over time in triggering the disease.

What drugs cause direct liver damage?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, and naproxen, may also cause drug-induced hepatitis. Other drugs that can lead to liver injury include: Amiodarone. Anabolic steroids.

How long is it safe to take CellCept?

Organ rejection can happen within days or weeks of the transplant. However, it can also happen several years after the transplant. For this reason, it's important to keep taking CellCept and other antirejection drugs for as long as your doctor prescribes them.

Can you come off mycophenolate?

Do not stop taking the mycophenolate unless instructed by your doctor, as you need to take it to keep control of your lung condition. Your doctor will decide the best dose for you to take, depending on your body weight. The dose will usually start off low, to make sure you do not suffer from side effects.

Does mycophenolate cause memory loss?

Tell your doctor if you experience vision problems, loss of coordination or memory loss, which could be signs Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), a potential complication of taking mycophenolate. If you become pregnant, tell your doctor immediately.

What is the risk of malignancy with mycophenolate?

Of the 1157 patients who fulfilled the study inclusion criteria, 6.4% of patients developed at least one malignancy over a median follow-up period of 3.1 years. The incidence of malignancy was similar between patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil (5.8%), azathioprine (4.6%), and neither drug (7.4%).

What happens if you drink alcohol while taking mycophenolate?

You should only drink alcohol in small amounts because alcohol and mycophenolate can both affect your liver. It's important not to drink more alcohol than the government recommended safe limits – these state that adults shouldn't drink more than 14 units per week.

What are the symptoms of steroids liver damage?

The liver injury generally arises within 1 to 4 months of starting therapy, but may be delayed to as long as 6 to 24 months (Case 1). The onset is usually insidious with development of nausea, fatigue and itching followed by dark urine and jaundice.

Does mycophenolate affect sleep?

See also Warning section. Constipation, nausea, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach upset, gas, tremor, dizziness, drowsiness, or trouble sleeping may occur.

Can you drink wine while taking mycophenolate?

Can I drink alcohol whilst taking mycophenolate mofetil? Alcohol can safely be consumed whilst taking MMF however it is advisable to keep alcohol consumption within recommended guidelines. The national guidelines for safe consumption advise that men and women should not drink more than 14 units a week.

Can you take prednisone and mycophenolate together?

Combined prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil therapy is a potentially effective treatment for retroperitoneal fibrosis that warrants evaluation in randomized trials.