Mycophenolic Acid

Uses of Mycophenolic Acid

Mycophenolic acid is an immunosuppressant medication primarily used to prevent organ transplant rejection. It’s the active form of the prodrugs mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept) and mycophenolate sodium (Myfortic).

Main Uses of Mycophenolic Acid:

Organ Transplantation (most common use) Kidney, heart, liver transplants: Prevents rejection by suppressing the immune system. Usually combined with other drugs like cyclosporine or tacrolimus and corticosteroids.

Autoimmune Diseases (off-label uses) Used when first-line treatments are ineffective or not tolerated:

• Lupus nephritis (a kidney complication of lupus)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Pemphigus vulgaris
• Vasculitis
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (rarely)

Precautions and Warnings

Mycophenolic acid can cause a miscarriage or birth defects when used during pregnancy. Both men and women should use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy during and shortly after treatment with mycophenolic acid.

Using mycophenolic acid may increase your risk of cancer, serious infections, or kidney transplant failure.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to mycophenolic acid, mycophenolate mofetil, or mycophenolate sodium.

Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of mycophenolic acid. This medicine can affect your immune system, which may increase your risk of cancer, serious or fatal infections, or kidney transplant failure.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a stomach ulcer or problems with digestion;
• hepatitis B or C or other a viral infection (may become active or get worse while you are using mycophenolic acid); or
• a rare inherited enzyme deficiency such as Lesch-Nyhan syndrome or Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome.

This medicine can cause a miscarriage or birth defects, especially during the first 3 months of pregnancy. You will need to have a negative pregnancy test before and during treatment with this medicine. If you are able to get pregnant, you must use specific forms of birth control to prevent pregnancy while using mycophenolic acid, and for at least 6 weeks after your last dose.

Sexually active men and their partners should use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 90 days after the last dose.

Mycophenolic acid can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using an additional barrier form of birth control (condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, or contraceptive sponge) to prevent pregnancy.

You do not need to use additional birth control if you use an intrauterine device (IUD), if you have had a tubal ligation, or if your sexual partner has had a vasectomy.

This medicine comes with patient instructions about the most effective non-hormonal forms of birth control to use.

Dosage

In adults: 720 mg by mouth, twice daily (1440 mg total daily dose) on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after food intake.
In children: 5 years of age and older (who are at least 6 months post kidney transplant), 400 mg/m2 by mouth, twice daily (up to a maximum of 720 mg twice daily).

Side Effects

Side Effects

Common Side Effects:

• Upset stomach, nausea, vomiting;
• Diarrhea, constipation;
• Low blood cell counts, infections;
• Sleep problems (insomnia);
• Painful urination; or
• Pain after surgery.