Prograf, generically sold as tacrolimus, is a medication prescribed following a liver, kidney or heart transplant. According to Drugs.com, it is used to lower your immune system and prevent your body from rejecting the new organ. Prograf is available as an injection or capsule that must be taken every 12 hours. Avoid grapefruit juice-containing beverages or products while taking Prograf because this combination can lead to potentially life-threatening side effects.
Diabetes Mellitus
Prograf users may develop diabetes mellitus (condition of elevated blood sugar levels). According to RxList.com, diabetes can develop within one to two years of organ transplant. Symptoms of diabetes mellitis include increased hunger, thirst and frequent urination. Attain help if you develop these problems.
Serious Complications
According to Drugs.com, Prograf can lead to such threatening complications as decreased urination, back pain, bloody urine, tremors and fever. It can also cause body aches, fatigue, tachycardia (fast heartbeat) and muscle weakness. Shortness of breath, numbness or tingling and chills are other serious side effects that require urgent attention.
Nephrotoxicity and Neurotoxicity
Prograf can potentially damage your kidneys or affect your neurological (of the brain and spinal cord) system, according to Drugs.com. Prograf can cause nephrotoxicity (kidney damage) when given in high dosages, according to RxList.com. In fact, 52 percent of kidney transplant patients, 40 percent of liver transplant patients and 59 percent of heart transplant patients in a randomized trial study in the United States and Europe developed nephrotoxicity with Prograf, according to RxList.com. Your doctor can measure your creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels to determine whether your kidneys are functioning properly.
Neurotoxicity may also occur with overwhelming doses of Prograf. Typical features of neurotoxicity involve tremors, headache and changes in your sensations and mental status. In some instances, you can acquire posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). PRES characteristics include headaches, visual problems and high blood pressure.
Allergic Reaction
You may be sensitive to Prograf's components and develop an allergic reaction. You may have trouble breathing or develop hives, according to Drugs.com. In some circumstances, you may get puffiness of your lips, throat or face.
Other Side Effects
Prograf can affect your mind and cause agitation, anxiety, nervousness, an elevated mood or hallucinations, according to RxList.com. It can affect your movements and evoke paralysis and nerve pain. In some situations, Prograf can cause diarrhea, indigestion, flatulence (gas) and arrhythmias (changes in your heartbeat). Stomach pain, hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) and hypomagnesemia (low magnesium levels) are also side effects of Prograf.
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