cellCEPT Oral Suspension

cellCEPT Oral Suspension 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 Oral Suspension 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 Oral Suspension 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.

Prevention of organ rejection in transplant patients

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Check the label for directions before use. Measure it with a measuring cup and take it by mouth. Shake well before use. cellCEPT Oral Suspension is to be taken with food.

cellCEPT Oral Suspension is an immunosuppressant. It reduces the action of the body’s own defense system (the immune system) and prevents rejection of the transplanted organ.

Q: What if you forget to take this medicine?
A:

Your doctor has prescribed cellCEPT Oral Suspension to stop your body from rejecting a transplanted organ (e.g. kidney, heart or liver).

It may take 6 to 12 weeks for cellCEPT Oral Suspension to start working. Keep taking it as prescribed.

It may cause birth defects so birth control is required in females with reproductive potential.

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.

Protect yourself from direct sunlight by wearing protective clothing and applying a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF).

Take it with food to minimize possible side effects like nausea and stomach pain.

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.

Q. Can cellCEPT Oral Suspension cause cancer?

cellCEPT Oral Suspension 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.

Q. Why has my doctor given me cellCEPT Oral Suspension after I have had a kidney transplant?

cellCEPT Oral Suspension is an immunosuppressant. cellCEPT Oral Suspension 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.

Q. Is cellCEPT Oral Suspension a steroid or chemotherapy medicine? Can it cause hair loss?

cellCEPT Oral Suspension 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 Oral Suspension.

Q. Do I need any special tests while taking cellCEPT Oral Suspension?

Since cellCEPT Oral Suspension 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.

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

cellCEPT Oral Suspension 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.

Q. What precautions should a female follow while taking cellCEPT Oral Suspension?

Do not take cellCEPT Oral Suspension 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 Oral Suspension, during the treatment, and for 6 weeks after you stop taking cellCEPT Oral Suspension. It is important to use a second form of birth control along with birth control pills as cellCEPT Oral Suspension may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Your doctor will suggest the two birth control methods that suit you the best.

Q. What precautions should a male follow while taking cellCEPT Oral Suspension?

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 Oral Suspension.

In Prevention of organ rejection in transplant patients

cellCEPT Oral Suspension 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.

Bacterial infection

Fungal infection

Viral infection

Anemia (low number of red blood cells)

Decreased white blood cell count (lymphocytes)

Increased glucose level in blood

Increased potassium level in blood

Decreased potassium level in blood

Decreased phosphate level in blood

Confusion

Depression

Anxiety

Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping)

Dizziness

Paresthesia (tingling or pricking sensation)

Tremors

Fast heart rate

Flatulence

Headache

High blood pressure

Cough

Breathlessness

Constipation

Diarrhea

Indigestion

Abdominal pain

Nausea

Vomiting

Blood in urine

Weakness

Edema (swelling)

Fever

Rash

Alcohol:SAFE

Consuming alcohol with cellCEPT Oral Suspension does not cause any harmful side effects.

Pregnancy:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

cellCEPT Oral Suspension 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.

Breast feeding:UNSAFE

cellCEPT Oral Suspension is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby.

Driving:SAFE

cellCEPT Oral Suspension does not usually affect your ability to drive.

Kidney:CAUTION

cellCEPT Oral Suspension should be used with caution in patients with severe kidney disease. Dose adjustment of cellCEPT Oral Suspension may be needed. Please consult your doctor.

Liver:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

There is limited information available on the use of cellCEPT Oral Suspension in patients with liver disease. Please consult your doctor.

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