Prograf
Prograf is a medicine that helps your body accept a transplanted organ by weakening your immune system.
Form
kapseli, kova
Strength
5 mg
Active Ingredient
Tacrolimus
Manufacturer
Astellas Pharma a/s
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide your starting dose based on your weight; typically, it's 0.075-0.30 mg per kg of body weight per day after a transplant.
Method
Take capsules whole with water, twice a day (morning and evening), on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2-3 hours after food.
Important
Your doctor will adjust your dose based on blood tests to ensure it's safe and effective; always follow your doctor's specific instructions for your maximum daily dose.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Severe stomach pain, possibly with chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
- •The transplanted organ not working well.
- •Blurred vision.
- •High blood sugar, diabetes, high potassium in the blood.
- •Difficulty sleeping.
- •Tremors, headache.
- •High blood pressure.
- •Abnormal liver test results.
- •Diarrhea, nausea.
- •Kidney problems.
- •Changes in blood cell counts (low platelets, red or white blood cells, high white blood cells).
- •Changes in blood electrolyte levels (low magnesium, phosphate, potassium, calcium, sodium), fluid retention, high uric acid or fats in blood, poor appetite, increased blood acidity.
- •Anxiety, confusion, disorientation, depression, mood changes, nightmares, hallucinations, mental disorders.
- •Seizures, changes in consciousness, tingling or numbness in hands/feet (sometimes painful), dizziness, writing problems, nervous system disorders.
- •Increased sensitivity to light, eye problems.
- •Ringing in the ears.
- •Reduced blood flow in heart vessels, fast heartbeat.
- •Bleeding, partial or complete blood vessel blockage, low blood pressure.
- •Shortness of breath, lung changes, fluid around lungs, sore throat, cough, flu-like symptoms.
- •Stomach inflammation/ulcers causing pain and diarrhea, stomach bleeding, mouth sores/ulcers, fluid in abdomen, vomiting, abdominal pain, indigestion, constipation, gas, swelling, loose stools, stomach discomfort.
- •Liver enzyme and function problems, yellow skin due to liver issues, liver tissue damage, liver inflammation.
- •Itching, rash, hair loss, acne, sweating.
- •Joint, limb, back, and foot pain, muscle spasms.
- •Kidney failure, low urine output, impaired or painful urination.
- •General weakness, fever, fluid retention in body, pain and discomfort, increased alkaline phosphatase in blood, weight gain, abnormal temperature sensation.
RARE
- •Blood vessel damage (thrombotic microangiopathy), including hemolytic uremic syndrome, with symptoms like low urine, severe tiredness, yellow skin/eyes, unusual bruising or bleeding, and signs of infection.
- •Changes in blood clotting, decrease in all types of blood cells.
- •Dehydration.
- •Low protein or sugar in blood, high phosphate in blood.
- •Coma, brain bleeding, stroke, paralysis, brain disease, speech/language problems, memory problems.
- •Clouding of the eye lens (cataract).
- •Hearing loss.
- •Irregular heartbeat, cardiac arrest, weak heart, heart muscle disease, enlarged heart muscle, stronger heartbeats, abnormal ECG, abnormal heart rate/pulse.
- •Blood clot in a leg or arm vein, shock.
- •Breathing difficulties, airway disease, asthma.
- •Blocked intestine, high amylase in blood, acid reflux, slow stomach emptying.
- •Eczema, burning sensation in the sun.
- •Joint diseases.
- •Inability to urinate, painful periods, abnormal menstrual bleeding.
- •Organ failure, flu-like symptoms, increased sensitivity to heat and cold, chest pressure, nervousness or abnormal sensations, increased lactate dehydrogenase in blood, weight loss.
- •Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP): small blood vessel damage with fever, skin bruises (red pinprick dots), severe tiredness, confusion, yellow skin/eyes, acute kidney failure (low urine), vision loss, and seizures.
- •Toxic epidermal necrolysis: severe skin reaction with skin/mucosa erosion and blistering, red swollen skin that may peel off large areas.
- •Blindness.
- •Small skin bleeding due to blood clots.
- •Increased muscle tension.
- •Deafness.
- •Fluid accumulation around the heart.
- •Acute shortness of breath.
- •Cyst formation in the pancreas.
- •Liver circulation problems.
- •Increased body hair.
- •Thirst, falls, tight feeling in chest, reduced mobility, ulcers.
- •Stevens-Johnson syndrome: widespread unexplained skin pain, facial swelling, severe blistering of skin, mouth, eyes, genitals, hives, tongue swelling, red/purple rash that spreads; skin peeling.
- •Torsades de pointes (heart rhythm disorder): changes in heartbeat that may include chest pain, fainting, dizziness, nausea, palpitations, and breathing difficulties.
- •Opportunistic infections (caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites): prolonged diarrhea, fever, and sore throat.
- •Benign and malignant tumors, including skin cancers and Kaposi's sarcoma (a rare cancer), with symptoms like new or changing skin spots, sores, or bumps.
- •Severe decrease in red blood cells (pure red cell aplasia, hemolytic anemia) and fever with low white blood cells (febrile neutropenia), with symptoms like tiredness, lack of energy, pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, chest pain, and cold hands/feet.
- •Agranulocytosis (severe decrease in white blood cells) with mouth sores, fever, and infections; may cause sudden fever, chills, or sore throat.
- •Allergic and anaphylactic reactions: sudden itchy rash (hives), swelling of hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, mouth, and throat (may cause difficulty swallowing/breathing), feeling faint.
- •Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES): headache, confusion, mood changes, seizures, and vision problems.
- •Optic neuropathy (optic nerve disorder): vision problems like blurred vision, changes in color vision, difficulty seeing clearly, or narrowed field of vision.
- •Muscle weakness.
- •Abnormal echocardiogram results.
- •Liver failure, narrowing of bile ducts.
- •Painful urination with blood in urine.
- •Increased fatty tissue.
Important Warnings
- Avoid St. John's Wort and other herbal products, as they can affect Prograf.
- Inform your doctor if you have liver problems, as this can affect your Prograf dose.
- Contact your doctor if you experience severe stomach pain, chills, fever, nausea, or vomiting.
- If you have diarrhea for more than one day, tell your doctor, as your Prograf dose might need to change.
- Limit sun and UV light exposure; wear protective clothing and sunscreen, as there's a risk of skin cancer.
Show 7 more warnings
- Tell your doctor before getting any vaccinations.
- Prograf may increase your risk of developing lymphoma, a type of cancer; talk to your doctor about this.
- Do not take Prograf with ciclosporin.
- Do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit while taking Prograf.
- Do not breastfeed while taking Prograf, as the medicine passes into breast milk.
- Do not drive or operate machinery if you feel dizzy, sleepy, or have vision problems after taking Prograf.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you experience signs of infection like fever, cough, sore throat, or general weakness.