Prograf
Prograf is a medicine that helps your body accept a transplanted organ (like a kidney, liver, or heart) by weakening your immune system.
Form
infuusiokonsentraatti, liuosta varten
Strength
5 mg/ml
Active Ingredient
Tacrolimus
Manufacturer
Astellas Pharma a/s
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide your dose based on your body weight, usually between 0.01 and 0.10 mg per kg of body weight per day, right after your organ transplant.
Method
This medicine is given as a slow drip (infusion) into a vein over 24 hours after being diluted. It is not given as a quick shot. This treatment usually lasts no longer than 7 days, after which your doctor will switch you to Prograf capsules.
Important
The maximum initial daily dose is 0.10 mg per kg of body weight per day.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •High blood sugar, diabetes, high potassium in blood.
- •Trouble sleeping.
- •Shaking, headache.
- •High blood pressure.
- •Abnormal liver function tests.
- •Diarrhea, feeling sick.
- •Kidney problems.
- •Low counts of blood cells (platelets, red or white blood cells), high white blood cell count, changes in red blood cells.
- •Changes in blood levels of magnesium, phosphate, potassium, calcium, sodium; fluid retention; high uric acid or fats in blood; decreased appetite; increased blood acidity.
- •Anxiety, confusion, disorientation, depression, mood changes, nightmares, hallucinations, mental disorders.
- •Seizures, changes in consciousness, tingling or numbness (sometimes painful) in hands and feet, dizziness, difficulty writing, nerve problems.
- •Increased light sensitivity, eye problems.
- •Ringing in the ears.
- •Reduced blood flow in heart vessels, fast heartbeat, bleeding, partial or complete blockage of blood vessels, low blood pressure.
- •Shortness of breath, lung changes, fluid around lungs, sore throat, cough, flu-like symptoms.
- •Stomach pain and diarrhea from inflammation or ulcers, stomach bleeding, mouth inflammation or ulcers, fluid in abdomen, vomiting, stomach discomfort, indigestion, constipation, gas, bloating, loose stools.
- •Changes in liver enzyme levels and function, yellow skin due to liver problems, liver tissue damage, liver inflammation.
- •Itching, rash, hair loss, acne, increased sweating.
- •Joint, limb, back, and foot pain, muscle spasms.
- •Kidney failure, reduced urine output, difficult or painful urination.
- •General weakness, fever, fluid retention, pain and discomfort, increased alkaline phosphatase in blood, weight gain, abnormal temperature sensation.
RARE
- •Changes in blood clotting, decrease in all blood cell types.
- •Dehydration.
- •Low protein or sugar in blood, high phosphate in blood.
- •Deep unconsciousness (coma), brain bleeding, stroke, paralysis, brain disorders, speech and language problems, memory problems.
- •Cloudy eye lens, hearing loss.
- •Irregular heartbeat, cardiac arrest, heart defect, heart muscle disease, enlarged heart muscle, strong heartbeat, abnormal EKG, abnormal heart rate and pulse.
- •Blood clot in a limb vein, shock.
- •Breathing difficulties, respiratory diseases, asthma.
- •Bowel blockage, high blood amylase levels, acid reflux, slow stomach emptying.
- •Dermatitis, burning sensation on skin in sunlight.
- •Joint problems.
- •No urine production, painful periods, abnormal menstrual bleeding.
- •Organ failure, flu-like symptoms, increased sensitivity to heat and cold, chest pressure, nervousness or unusual feeling, increased LDH enzyme in blood, weight loss.
- •Small skin bleeds due to clotted blood.
- •Increased muscle stiffness.
- •Deafness.
- •Fluid build-up around the heart.
- •Acute breathing difficulties.
- •Cyst formation in the pancreas.
- •Liver blood flow problems.
- •Increased body hair.
- •Thirst, falls, chest tightness, reduced movement, sores.
- •Muscle weakness.
- •Abnormal heart ultrasound (echocardiogram).
- •Liver failure, narrowing of bile ducts.
- •Painful urination with blood in urine.
- •Increased fatty tissue.
- •Severe stomach or gut rupture: strong stomach pain, possibly with chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
- •Transplanted organ not working properly.
- •Blurred vision.
- •Small blood vessel damage (TMA/HUS) with symptoms like low or no urine, extreme tiredness, yellow skin/eyes, unusual bruising or bleeding, signs of infection.
- •A condition where small blood vessels are damaged, with symptoms like fever, small red bruises under the skin, extreme tiredness, confusion, yellow skin/eyes, severe kidney failure, vision loss, and seizures.
- •Severe skin reaction (toxic epidermal necrolysis): skin and mucous membrane erosion and blistering, red swollen skin that may peel off large areas.
- •Blindness.
- •Severe skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome): unexplained widespread skin pain, facial swelling, severe blistering of skin, mouth, eyes, and genitals, hives, swollen tongue, red or purple rash that spreads, skin peeling.
- •Changes in heart rhythm (Torsades de pointes), possibly with chest pain, fainting, dizziness or nausea, palpitations, and breathing difficulties.
- •Infections from bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites, with prolonged diarrhea, fever, and sore throat.
- •Benign and malignant tumors, including skin cancers and a rare cancer called Kaposi's sarcoma, with skin lesions, new or changing moles, sores, or bumps.
- •Severe reduction in red blood cells (pure red cell aplasia), anemia due to red blood cell breakdown (hemolytic anemia) with tiredness, and fever with low white blood cells (febrile neutropenia), possibly with fatigue, apathy, unusual paleness, shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, chest pain, and cold hands and feet.
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to tacrolimus or macrolide antibiotics (like erythromycin, clarithromycin, or josamycin).
- Avoid herbal remedies, especially St. John's Wort, as they can affect how Prograf works.
- Your doctor will order regular tests (blood, urine, heart, eye, nerve) while you are taking Prograf to ensure the dose is right.
- Limit sun and UV light exposure by wearing protective clothing and sunscreen, as there's a risk of skin cancer.
- Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking Prograf.
Show 2 more warnings
- Do not breastfeed while taking Prograf, as the medicine passes into breast milk. If you are pregnant or planning to be, talk to your doctor.
- Prograf contains hydrogenated polyoxyethylated castor oil, which can cause severe allergic reactions in some people. Tell your doctor if you've had such a reaction before.