Myfortic (mycophenolate) is a medication used to prevent kidney, liver or heart transplant rejection, says MedlinePlus. Myfortic belongs to a group of medicines called immunosupressive agents. It disables your immune cells from attacking your new organ. This medication is available as a delayed-release tablet, and you will typically take 720mg twice a day.
Common Side Effects
In a controlled study of 213 patients receiving 1.44g of Myfortic per day, the National Library of Medicine found that 21.6 percent experienced anemia (low red blood cell counts), 19.2 percent had leukopenia (low white blood cell counts) and 38.0 percent developed constipation. Anemia can make you fatigued, while leukopenia can make you susceptible to infections. Additionally, the same study concluded that 29.1 percent had nausea, 23.5 percent developed diarrhea, 23.0 percent vomited, 22.5 percent had dyspepsia (indigestion) and 29.1 percent developed a urinary tract infection. Furthermore, 20.2 percent developed a cytomegalovirus (CMV infection), 23.5 percent had trouble sleeping and 23.9 percent had pain after surgery. Drugs.com says that Myfortic can also cause weight gain, joint or back pain, anxiety, blurry vision and headache. Call your doctor if these symptoms last for three to five days, as she may decrease your Myfortic dosage.
Serious Side Effects
Myfortic can cause such potentially life-threatening effects as trouble breathing, chest pain, hyperkalemia (high potassium levels), hypokalemia (low potassium levels) and pancreatitis. Symptoms of hyperkalemia include bradycardia (a slow heartbeat), muscle weakness and tingling sensations. Manifestations of hypokalemia include confusion, arrythmias (uneven heartbeats), leg pain and muscle weakness. Pancreatitis causes intense upper abdominal stomach pain that radiates to your back, nausea, vomiting and tachycardia (a fast heart rate). Myfortic can also cause such crippling effects as body aches, the flu, chills, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), painful urination, fainting, lack of coordination, memory problems, unsteadiness and speech problems.
MedlinePlus says that Myfortic also increases your risk for getting progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). This is a serious brain infection that leads to such symptoms as weakness, confusion, memory loss and unsteadiness. Myfortic can also increase your chances of getting other types of cancers such as skin cancer or lymphoma. Immediately phone your doctor when Myfortic causes these side effects.
Other Concerns
Do not take Myfortic if you are allergic to mycophenolate. You may develop such life-threatening side effects as hives, trouble breathing and swelling of your lips, face or tongue.
MedlinePlus indicates that you should not take Myfortic if you are pregnant. It may lead to miscarriage within the first trimester of your pregnancy and birth defects.
Avoid combining Myfortic with such drugs as amoxicillin, gancyclovir, probenacid, rifampin or salsalate. Combining these medications with Myfortic can cause the aforementioned effects.
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