Certican
Certican is a medicine that helps your body's immune system not reject a transplanted organ (kidney, heart, or liver).
Form
dispergoituva tabletti
Strength
0.25 mg
Active Ingredient
Everolimus
Manufacturer
Novartis Finland Oy
How to Use
Dosage
For kidney or heart transplants, the usual starting dose is 1.5 mg per day; for liver transplants, it's 2.0 mg per day.
Method
Take the tablet by mouth, split into two doses, one in the morning and one in the evening. Place the tablet in about 25 ml of water in a plastic cup, let it dissolve for 2 minutes, shake, and drink. Immediately rinse the cup with another 25 ml of water and drink that too.
Important
For kidney or heart transplants, up to 1.5 mg per day; for liver transplants, up to 2.0 mg per day, divided into two doses.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Infections (viral, bacterial, fungal), including lung infections (pneumonia), throat infections, flu, and urinary tract infections.
- •Anemia (low red blood cells), low white blood cells (increased infection risk), low platelets (bleeding/bruising).
- •High blood fat levels (cholesterol, triglycerides).
- •Onset of diabetes (high blood sugar).
- •Low blood potassium.
- •Anxiety, difficulty sleeping, headache.
- •Fluid buildup around the heart (can weaken heart pumping).
- •High blood pressure.
- •Blood clots in veins (venous thrombosis).
- •Fluid buildup in lungs/chest (shortness of breath).
- •Cough, shortness of breath.
- •Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain.
- •Generalized pain, fever, fluid retention in tissues.
- •Abnormal wound healing, blood poisoning (sepsis), wound infections.
- •Cancer and benign tumors, skin cancer.
- •Kidney damage with low platelets and red blood cells, sometimes with rash (thrombocytopenic purpura / hemolytic uremic syndrome).
- •Red blood cell breakdown.
- •Rapid heart rate, nosebleeds.
- •Blood clots in kidney blood vessels (risk of transplant loss within 30 days).
- •Bleeding disorders, cysts containing lymph fluid.
- •Mouth or throat pain, pancreatitis, mouth ulcers, acne.
- •Hives (urticaria) and other allergic reactions (face/throat swelling - angioedema).
- •Rashes, joint pain, muscle pain.
- •Protein in urine, kidney disorders, impotence.
- •Surgical scar hernia, abnormal liver function tests.
- •Menstrual disorders (absent or heavy periods).
RARE
- •Lymphoma (cancer in lymph tissue or lymphoproliferative disorder after transplantation).
- •Low testosterone levels.
- •Lung inflammation, liver inflammation.
- •Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes).
- •Ovarian cysts.
- •Abnormal protein buildup in lungs (persistent dry cough, fatigue, breathing difficulty).
- •Vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels).
- •Lymphedema (swelling, pressure, pain, limited movement due to fluid buildup in soft tissues).
- •Severe rashes with swelling.
- •Low blood iron.
Important Warnings
- Certican weakens your immune system, making you more likely to get infections. If you have fever, feel sick, cough, or have burning when you pee, contact your doctor.
- Get urgent medical help if you feel confused, have trouble speaking, lose memory, have a headache, vision problems, or seizures. These can be signs of a very serious condition.
- Certican can make wounds heal slower, especially after surgery or if you have wounds that are not healing well.
- Certican can increase your risk of certain cancers, like skin cancer and lymphoma. Protect your skin from the sun and UV light by wearing protective clothes and high SPF sunscreen.
- Your doctor will regularly check your kidney function, and blood fat and sugar levels. Make sure to attend your check-ups.
Show 6 more warnings
- If you have liver problems, tell your doctor. Your Certican dose might need to be changed.
- If you get breathing issues like a cough, difficulty breathing, or wheezing, contact your doctor right away.
- Certican can affect men's ability to have children. Talk to your doctor if you plan to start a family.
- Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking Certican, as they can change how the medicine works.
- Do not use Certican if you are pregnant or might become pregnant. Use effective birth control during treatment and for 8 weeks after. Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine.
- Certican contains lactose. If you have trouble with certain sugars (lactose intolerance), talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.