ADVACAN (Everolimus)

Product Highlights:
Advacan (Everolimus) belongs to a group of medicines known as immunosuppressive agents. It is used to lower the body's natural immunity in patients who receive kidney transplants. When a patient receives an organ transplant, the body's defense cells will try to reject the transplanted organ. Everolimus works by preventing the defense cells from getting rid of the transplanted organ. Everolimus is available only against a doctor's prescription.

Composition: 0.5mg and 0.25mg tablets

Indication:
As a prophylaxis to prevent transplant rejection in organ transplantation and as a rescue therapy in patients with rejection episodes.

Dosage:
This medicine is to be taken only as directed by your doctor. The dosage of this medicine may be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's advice. Do not use more or less than the prescribed dosage. The exact amount of medicine you need has been carefully worked out. Using too much will increase the risk of side effects, while using too little may lead to rejection of your transplanted kidney.

Everolimus is usually used along with a corticosteroid (cortisone-like medicine) and other immunosuppressive agent. If you have any queries, do not hesitate to clarify with your doctor. To remember taking your medicine, try to get into the habit of taking it at the same time each day. This will help everolimus to function better by keeping a constant amount in the blood.

This medicine should be taken consistently with respect to meals. Absorption of this medicine may be changed if you change your diet. You should not change the type or amount of food you eat, before consulting your doctor.

Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. It might be advisable to take this medicine throughout your life, to prevent your body from rejecting the transplant.

Advacan and Blood Level:
To know what dose of everolimus works best for you, the doctor will ask you to do blood level test of everolimus on scheduled interval. Depending upon the level of drug in the blood, the doctor will fix the dose for you. So, please do the test as per your doctors’ advice, at the scheduled time.

Missed Dose:
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take double doses.

Side Effects:
The most common side effects observed with everolimus may be: increased cholesterol, increased creatinine, constipation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, fever, urinary tract infection, anemia, nausea, joint pain, and decreased platelets.
The less common side effects that may occur are: bacterial and viral infection, lymphocele, herpes zoster, herpes simplex, clot in veins, increased heart rate, inflammation of mucous lining of mouth, decreased platelets, leading to minor bleeding, decreased WBC in blood, abnormal healing, decreased potassium, pneumonia (inflammation of lungs), increased chances of carcinoma.

Note: If there are any signs of organ rejection like decreased urination, retention of fluid in the body, increased blood level of creatinine or blood urea, please contact your doctor immediately.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice any other effects other than those listed above, contact your doctor immediately.

Storage:

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Prevent freezing. Keep out of reach of children.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer required.