Mycophenolic Acid

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Mycophenolic acid can lower blood cells that help your body fight infection. This can lead to serious conditions including herpes, shingles, hepatitis, blood or tissue infections, severe brain infection causing disability or death, or a viral infection causing kidney transplant failure. Call your doctor right away if you have:

• diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss;
• weakness on one side of your body, loss of muscle control;
• confusion, thinking problems, loss of interest in things that normally interest you;
• fever, night sweats, tiredness, painful mouth sores, flu symptoms;
• runny or stuffy nose, cough, sore throat, ear pain, headache;
• pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums);
• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• pain or burning when you urinate;
• swelling, warmth, redness, or oozing around a skin wound; or
• a new bump or lesion on your skin, or a mole that has changed in size or color.

Common side effects may include:

• indigestion, nausea, vomiting;
• diarrhea, constipation;
• sleep problems (insomnia); or
• pain after surgery.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Avoid taking an antacid together with mycophenolic acid.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Avoid activities that may increase your risk of bleeding or injury.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Mycophenolic acid can increase your risk of skin cancer. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using mycophenolic acid. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. You may still be able to receive a flu shot, but ask your doctor first.

Mycophenolic acid is an immunosuppressant. Your body may "reject" an organ transplant when the immune system treats the new organ as an invader. An immunosuppressant helps to prevent this rejection.

Mycophenolic acid is used to prevent your body from rejecting a kidney transplant. This medicine is usually given with cyclosporine and a steroid medicine.

Mycophenolic acid may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

This medicine can cause a miscarriage or birth defects, especially if used during the first 3 months of pregnancy. If you are a woman of child-bearing potential, you must use specific types of birth control to prevent pregnancy before, during, and shortly after treatment with mycophenolic acid.

Mycophenolic acid is sometimes given to pregnant women. Although this medicine can affect pregnancy or fertility, it is sometimes given to women who are unable to use other needed transplant medications.

Using mycophenolic acid may increase your risk of developing serious infections or other types of cancer, such as lymphoma or skin cancer. You must remain under the care of a doctor while you are using mycophenolic acid.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using mycophenolic acid. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

Avoid taking an antacid together with mycophenolic acid.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Mycophenolic acid can increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Mycophenolic acid can lower blood cells that help your body fight infection. This can lead to serious conditions including herpes, shingles, hepatitis, blood or tissue infections, severe brain infection causing disability or death, or a viral infection causing kidney transplant failure. Call your doctor right away if you have:

• diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss;

• weakness on one side of your body, loss of muscle control;

• confusion, thinking problems, loss of interest in things that normally interest you;

• fever, night sweats, tiredness, painful mouth sores, flu symptoms;

• runny or stuffy nose, cough, sore throat, ear pain, headache;

• pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums);

• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

• pain or burning when you urinate;

• swelling, warmth, redness, or oozing around a skin wound; or

• a new bump or lesion on your skin, or a mole that has changed in size or color.

Common side effects may include:

• indigestion, nausea, vomiting;

• diarrhea, constipation;

• sleep problems (insomnia); or

• pain after surgery.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.