CellCept

Pronunciation: MYE-koe-FEN-oh-late MOE-fe-til
Generic Name: Mycophenolate Mofetil
Brand Name: CellCept

CellCept weakens your immune system, which may decrease your ability to fight illness or infection. It may also increase the risk of certain types of cancer (eg, lymphoma). Use CellCept only under close medical supervision.

CellCept may cause birth defects or fetal death if taken during pregnancy. Women who may become pregnant must use an effective form of birth control while they are taking CellCept.

CellCept is used for:

Preventing organ rejection following kidney, liver, or heart transplants. CellCept is used in combination with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

CellCept is an immunosuppressant. It works by decreasing the activity of certain cells that make up part of the immune system to help reduce the risk of organ transplant rejection.

Do NOT use CellCept if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in CellCept or to mycophenolic acid


• you are taking azathioprine, cholestyramine, colestipol, or another medicine that contains mycophenolate or mycophenolic acid


• you are taking norfloxacin and metronidazole together


• you have a rare hereditary deficiency of hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl-transferase (HGPRT), such as Lesch-Nyhan syndrome or Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using CellCept:

Some medical conditions may interact with CellCept. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have immune system problems or have been taking another medicine that may suppress your immune system


• if you have stomach or intestinal problems (eg, ulcers), or kidney problems


• if you have a personal or family history of skin cancer, blood cancer (eg, lymphoma), or other blood problems


• if you are scheduled for a vaccination


• if you will be in close contact with a person who has shingles, another type of herpes infection, or cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with CellCept. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Acyclovir, azathioprine, ganciclovir, mycophenolic acid, or probenecid because they may increase the risk of CellCept's side effects


• Cholestyramine, colestipol, cyclosporine, norfloxacin along with metronidazole, or rifampin because they may decrease CellCept's effectiveness


• Live vaccines or oral contraceptives because their effectiveness may be decreased by CellCept

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if CellCept may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use CellCept:

Use CellCept as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• CellCept comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get CellCept refilled.


• Take CellCept by mouth on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating unless your doctor tells you otherwise.


• Swallow CellCept whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.


• Do not take an antacid that has aluminum or magnesium in it within 3 hours of taking CellCept.


• If you take a calcium-free phosphate binder (eg, sevelamer), take it 2 hours after taking CellCept.


• If you miss a dose of CellCept, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use CellCept.

Important safety information:

• CellCept may cause blurred vision, drowsiness, or dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use CellCept with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.


• Women who may become pregnant must have a negative pregnancy test within 1 week before starting CellCept.


• Women who may become pregnant must use 2 effective forms of birth control for 4 weeks before they start CellCept, during treatment, and for 6 weeks after they stop CellCept. Check with your doctor if you have any questions about effective birth control.


• Hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills) may not work as well while you are taking CellCept. Discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor.


• CellCept may increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer (eg, lymphoma, skin cancer). Avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths while you take CellCept. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time. Tell your doctor right away if you notice a change in the size or color of a mole or if you develop any new or unusual skin growths.


• CellCept may lower the ability of your body to fight infection and may increase the risk of severe or fatal infections. Avoid contact with people who have colds, shingles, other herpes infections, cytomegalovirus (CMV), or other infections. Tell your doctor right away if you notice signs of infection like fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.


• Some patients treated with CellCept have developed severe and sometimes fatal infections, such as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) or severe kidney problems associated with BK virus infection. Discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor.


• Tell your doctor right away if you notice symptoms of PML (eg, confusion or disorientation; depression; changes in thinking, strength, or vision; one-sided weakness; trouble walking or talking; loss of balance or coordination).


• Tell your doctor right away if you notice symptoms of kidney problems (eg, change in the amount of urine produced, difficult or painful urination, blood in the urine). In kidney transplant patients, BK virus infection may cause loss of the transplanted kidney. Discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor.


• Some patients treated with CellCept have developed a type of anemia called pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). Contact your doctor right away if you experience severe or persistent tiredness or weakness, sluggishness, or unusually pale skin.


• CellCept may reduce the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your blood. Avoid activities that may cause bruising or injury. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding. Tell your doctor if you have dark, tarry, or bloody stools.


• Diarrhea may occur with CellCept. If you develop diarrhea, check with your doctor or pharmacist about ways to lessen this effect. Do not stop CellCept without talking with your doctor.


• Do not change brands or doseforms (eg, tablets, suspension, injection) of CellCept without talking with your doctor.


• Do not receive a live vaccine (eg, measles, mumps) while you are using CellCept. Talk with your doctor before you receive any vaccine.


• Lab tests, including complete blood cell counts and kidney function, may be performed while you use CellCept. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.


• Use CellCept with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially infection, stomach or intestinal bleeding, and trouble breathing.


• Caution is advised when using CellCept in CHILDREN; they may be more sensitive to its effects.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: CellCept may cause birth defects or fetal death if you take it while you are pregnant. Do not become pregnant while you are taking CellCept. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. It is not known if CellCept is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking CellCept.

Possible side effects of CellCept:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Anxiety; back pain; constipation; cough; diarrhea; dizziness; headache; loss of appetite; mild stomach pain; mild tiredness or weakness; nausea; tremor; trouble sleeping; upset stomach; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blood in the urine; bloody or black stools; change in the amount of urine produced; chest pain or pounding in the chest; fainting; irregular heartbeat; mental or mood changes (eg, abnormal thinking); night sweats; numbness, tingling, or swelling of the arms, legs, hands, ankles, or feet; severe headache, dizziness, or blurred vision; severe vomiting or stomach pain; shortness of breath; sluggishness; swollen glands; symptoms of infection (eg, fever, chills, cough, sore throat); symptoms of urinary tract infection (eg, blood in the urine; difficult, frequent, or painful urination; lower stomach or back pain); unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual or persistent tiredness or weakness; unusual skin lumps or growths; unusual weight loss; unusually pale skin; vomiting blood that looks like coffee grounds; white patches in the mouth or throat; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: CellCept side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include diarrhea; nausea; vomiting.

Proper storage of CellCept:

Store CellCept at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) in a tightly closed container. Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep CellCept out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about CellCept, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• CellCept is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about CellCept. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More CellCept resources

• CellCept Side Effects (in more detail)
• CellCept Dosage
• CellCept Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• CellCept Drug Interactions
• CellCept Support Group
• 23 Reviews for CellCept - Add your own review/rating

• CellCept Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Mycophenolate Mofetil Prescribing Information (FDA)


• mycophenolate mofetil Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Cellcept Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Cellcept Consumer Overview

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