Graftcept

Graftcept belongs to a group of medicines called immunosuppressants. It is used with other medicines to prevent your body from rejecting an organ (such as a kidney, heart or liver) after a transplant. It works by supressing your body’s immune system, so that it does not attack the new organ. The amount of Graftcept you take and how often you take it depends on the type of transplant you have. Follow your doctor's instructions on this. You should take it on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Swallow it as a whole, do not crush, chew or break it. Take the medicine regularly to get the maximum benefit and keep taking it even if you feel well. If you stop taking it, you may increase the chances of rejecting your transplanted organ. The treatment will continue for as long as you need it to prevent rejection. The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, headache, high blood pressure and changes in the number of white blood cells. You may catch more infection than usual as medicine suppresses the immune system. There is also an increased risk of developing some cancers for this reason. To reduce your risk of skin cancer, limit your exposure to the sun and use sunscreen. There is a long list of potential side effects with this medicine. You should ask your doctor about them and what signs to look out for because some of them can be serious and need urgent medical attention. Graftcept can cause birth defects and abortion so do not take it if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding. You should talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you have any signs of infection or if you have any unexpected bruising or bleeding. You should also let your healthcare team know all other medicines you are taking as they may affect, or be affected by, this medicine. You will have regular tests to check for any changes in the number of your blood cells and the amount of sugar and cholesterol in your blood.

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Graftcept may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

Graftcept is an immunosuppressant. It reduces the action of body's own defence system (the immune system) and prevents rejection of the transplanted organ.