Is mycophenolate a chemo drug?

Asked by: Laurel Abbott  |  Last update: September 28, 2023
Score: 4.6/5 (5 votes)

No, mycophenolate (CellCept) is not chemotherapy. Medications known as chemotherapy work by stopping the growth of fast growing cancer cells. Mycophenolate (CellCept) works on lymphocytes (white blood cells) to lower the activity of your immune system.

Is mycophenolate used in cancer?

Mycophenolate mofetil is an immunosuppressant drug that is typically used to prevent organ rejection in transplant recipients. However, mycophenolate mofetil may also help chemotherapy with temozolomide work better by making tumor cells more sensitive to the drug.

What drug category is mycophenolate?

The drug mycophenolate is in a class of medications called immunosuppressive agents. It works by weakening the body's immune system so it will not attack and reject a transplanted organ.

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.

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.

Is Mycophenolate the Better Immunosuppressive Drug?

19 related questions found

What is the warning for mycophenolate?

Mycophenolate may cause pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). This is a very rare condition where the body no longer makes red blood cells and the patient has severe anemia. Check with your doctor right away if you have a fever and sore throat, pale skin, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

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.

Does mycophenolate make you tired?

you should know that mycophenolate may make you drowsy, confused, dizzy, lightheaded, or cause uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body.

Does mycophenolate cause hair loss?

You will need to limit your exposure to sunlight and UV light, by wearing clothing that covers exposed skin and using a high factor sunscreen. Mycophenolate may cause hair loss or thinning.

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)

What drugs should not be taken with mycophenolate?

Certain products may make it harder for your body to absorb mycophenolate if they are taken at the same time. Do not take this medication at the same time as antacids containing aluminum and/or magnesium, cholestyramine, colestipol, or calcium-free phosphate binders (such as aluminum products, lanthanum, sevelamer).

How safe is mycophenolate?

Mycophenolate can affect the blood count and can sometimes cause liver or kidney problems. As a precaution, your doctor will arrange for you to have a blood test before you start treatment and regular blood tests while you're taking mycophenolate.

Why is mycophenolate prescribed?

Mycophenolate belongs to a group of medicines known as immunosuppressive agents. It is used with other medicines (eg, cyclosporine, steroid medicine) to lower the body's natural immunity in patients who receive organ transplants (eg, kidney, heart, or liver).

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%).

Is CellCept similar to chemotherapy?

Is mycophenolate (CellCept) chemotherapy? No, mycophenolate (CellCept) is not chemotherapy. Medications known as chemotherapy work by stopping the growth of fast growing cancer cells. Mycophenolate (CellCept) works on lymphocytes (white blood cells) to lower the activity of your immune system.

Can mycophenolate cause liver damage?

A small number of cases of clinically apparent liver injury have been reported in patients on mycophenolate. The onset of injury is usually during the first month of therapy and the pattern of serum enzyme elevations is hepatocellular or mixed. The liver injury is usually mild and self-limiting.

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.

Does mycophenolate make you depressed?

Commonly reported side effects of mycophenolate mofetil include: asthma, herpes simplex infection, infection, metabolic acidosis, oral candidiasis, pleural effusion, respiratory tract infection, systemic cytomegalovirus disease, urinary tract infection, viremia, abdominal pain, acne vulgaris, anemia, anxiety, asthenia, ...

When is the best time to take mycophenolate?

It is best to take this medicine on an empty stomach, either 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Mycophenolate capsules, delayed-release tablets, and tablets should be swallowed whole. Do not break, crush, cut, open, or chew them.

Does mycophenolate affect your teeth?

Mycophenolate may cause swelling and growth of the gums (gingival hyperplasia). Brush and floss your teeth daily, and see your dentist regularly.

Does mycophenolate affect blood pressure?

MMF has become the most common used calcineurin inhibitor after kidney transplantation in the many countries. Many studies have revealed that this long-term treatment of immunosuppressive agent could induce hypertension, therefore increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases [2].

Can mycophenolate cause heart problems?

Although fast and irregular heart beat was identified as a serious but very rare side effect of MMF, its incidence remains very low and rarely reported.

Does mycophenolate help lungs?

What is mycophenolate? If left untreated, inflammation in the lungs may develop into permanent scarring or pulmonary fibrosis. Mycophenolate helps to control the inflammation and protects your lungs from ongoing damage, but it may not improve your symptoms (breathlessness and a cough).

What happens if you stop taking mycophenolate?

Do not stop taking this medicine without checking first with your doctor. Doing so may cause rejection of your transplanted organ. Your doctor will decide how long you should take this medicine. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor.

Is mycophenolate well tolerated?

Mycophenolate mofetil is generally well tolerated with fewer side effects compared to other immune suppressing medications.