Get Informed: Cellcept

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Patient Comments About
Cellcept

Active Ingredient(s)

Mycophenolate

What does it do?

Cellcept

This product is used to prevent organ transplant rejection. It works by suppressing the immune system, specifically the B- and T-cells.

Last Text Update:
 2010-Jul-31 4:27 PM
Last Data Update:
 2010-Jul-30 9:13 PM

Other Names

  • Cellcept
  • Mycophenolate
  • Mycophenolate Mofetil

How Safe Is It?

Your Risk Rating
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Average Risk Rating
0:
Pregnancy Category
D

Black Box Warning

This product has a black box warning relating to prescribers needing to be familiar with complete prescribing information, the increased risk of infection due to immunosuppression, and risks of fetal harm or death.

Facts & Figures

Date Approved
03 May 1995
Est US Patients*
1,653,000
Generic Available
Yes
OTC Available
No

User Age Distribution*

21

< 21

57

21-39

14

40-59

9

60+

Age (Years)

* Estimated number of US people currently taking Cellcept or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.

Other Resources

Recent alerts for Cellcept

Cellcept Safety Report

0:

The iGuard risk rating for Cellcept is on hold. It means that we're waiting for more patients taking this medication to join iGuard before we can provide a more accurate safety assessment of this product.

Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings

  • Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Cellcept interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.

What is Cellcept used for?

iGuard is currently tracking more than 12,200 patients that use Cellcept (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.

Disease / Condition % Average Severity
Lupus 35% mild 5 severe
Transplant Anti-Rejection 29% mild 7 severe
CIDP 12% mild 7 severe
Sarcoidosis 6% mild 8 severe
Rheumatoid Arthritis 6% mild 5 severe
Multiple Sclerosis 6% mild 8 severe
Wegener's Granulomatosis 6% mild 8 severe
Vasculitis 6% mild 8 severe
Other 6% mild 5 severe

How well does Cellcept work?

iGuard regularly polls our more than 12,200 users taking Cellcept (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iGuard.org.

Average Satisfaction Score

(out of 10)

Average Effectiveness Score

(out of 10)

67 72
88%
of patients are confident that the good things about Cellcept outweigh the bad things.
11%
of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Cellcept.

Common Side Effects of Cellcept

iGuard regularly polls our more than 12,200 users taking Cellcept (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.

36%

36% of patients experience side-effects on Cellcept

5%

5% of patients experience significant side-effects on Cellcept


Most Common Side Effects...

  • 15% Abdo Pain/Cramps
  • 10% Fatigue
  • 5% Nausea/Vomiting
  • 5% Mood/Behavior Changes
  • 5% Diarrhea
  • 5% Tremor
  • = 10%

Global Patient Feedback for Cellcept (Mycophenolate) ( Post a comment )

Comments, Questions, and Answers
Show Newest | Oldest first
English comments | Global comments

Question/Comment:

I am taking mycophenolate mofetil 3000mg per day, for Birdshot Retinochoroidopathy a rare auto immune disease effecting the eyes. I have been taking it since Jan. 2007 and now have low potassium. Does this drug cause low potassium?

57 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-04-11 07:37:36

iGuard Answer/Reply:

Over 10% of f patients who take mycophenolate experience low potassium levels. They also experience other electrolyte imbalances, such as increased potassium levels, increased and decreased calcium levels, and low magnesium. It is important to keep your regular doctor's appointments so that your potassium and other electrolytes can be monitored by bloodwork. Your doctor may adjust your dose of mycophenolate or add supplements to help with your electrolytes.

Posted: 2010-04-13 23:21:44

Question/Comment:

I experienced severe side effects from taking 2000mg a day for Myasthenia Gravis. (Severe swelling of the lower legs, ankles and feet along with severe muscle aches and a general feeling of lethargy and weakness).

I was taken off the drug 30 days ago and while the swelling has gotten better, the muscle aches and weakness persist.

If you experience any of these side effects, see your doctor promptly. They are dangerous!

70 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-01-24 15:29:07

Question/Comment:

i've been taking cellcept since 1996 for a bi-lateral lung transplant. my dose is 1000mg. twice a day and my hair was falling out too. i found that a b vitamin supplement to be effective for the hair loss and also the condition of my hair got better when on the b vitamin supplement. try it and see if it works for you.

47 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-12-02 00:52:12

Question/Comment:

My grandson has recently started taking Cellcept for scladerma, he is 7 years old. He is very irritable and cries at the drop of a hat. Does anyone know how this medication affects other children. Do these side effects go away?

Worried Grandmother

62 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-10-14 23:39:36

iGuard Answer/Reply:

CellCept has a long list of side effects including neck and pelvic pain, headache, fever, swelling and general malaise (not feeling well). These could be contributing factors to your grandson's well being as well as many other side effects that may be caused by CellCept. In general, some of the side effects above may lessen with time but every patient will react differently. The best action is to speak with his doctors if his irritability and crying continues or worsens.

Posted: 2009-10-29 23:46:53

Question/Comment:

I had a kidney transplant over seven years ago. Now I'm having shakyness, insomina and tireness. NOT DEPRESS!!. I still itch where my transplant was did. I'm on predisone also, want to get off of it but my doctors are not agreeing with me. Funny thing, right after my transplant, the next month it was not a protocol after that. So I'm been trying to get rid of it.

46 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-09-24 00:19:23

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DISCLAIMER: iGuard is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. iGuard cannot and does not take into consideration every possible interaction or account for individual responses to medicine. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have before making any changes to your treatment. The use of the iGuard site and its content is at your own risk. The iGuard site and the information contained in it is intended for users in the United States and information in other countries may be different.

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