RAPACAN (Sirolimus)

Product Highlights
Rapacan (Sirolimus) 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. Sirolimus works by preventing the defense cells from getting rid of the transplanted organ. Sirolimus is available only against a doctor's prescription.

Composition
1mg and 2mg tablets

Indication

Rapacan is used as a prophylaxis to prevent transplant rejection in organ transplantation and as a rescue therapy in patients with rejection episodes.

Remember to tell your doctor if you have any allergies to this or any other medicine, food, dyes, preservatives, etc.

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.

Sirolimus is usually used along with a corticosteroid (cortisone-like medicine) and other immunosuppressive agents. 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 sirolimus 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.

Grapefruits and grapefruit juice may increase the effects of sirolimus by increasing the amount of this medicine in your body. You should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are taking this medicine.

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.

Rapacan and Blood Level

To know what dose of Sirolimus works best for you the doctor will ask you to do blood level tests of sirolimus at scheduled intervals. 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 Sirolimus may be: swelling of legs, 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 medicines no longer required.