TACROGRAF (Tacrolimus)

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

Composition
Tacrograf is available in different strength capsules: 0.5mg, 0.25mg, 1mg, 2mg, 3mg and 5mg

Indication

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

Dosage

Tacrograf is most often taken on an empty stomach approximately two hours before or after meals. However, you may prefer to take Tacrograf with food. This might reduce any stomach upset or make it easier for you to remember to take your medication.

Your doctor will recommend what dose to take and how often to take it. Your doctor may adjust your dose until finding what works best for you. Never change your dose on your own. Taking too much may increase the chance of side effects while taking too little may lead to rejection of your transplanted organ. Never stop taking Tacrograf even if you are feeling well. However, if you feel poorly on Tacrograf discuss this with your doctor.

If the doctor has advised you to take Tacrograf twice daily, you should take the medicine as recommended and at a fixed timing. For example, if you take your first dose at 8:00 am you should take your second dose at 8:00 pm. Do not vary the timings.

Do not change the way you take it without telling your doctor since this could affect the dose you need to take.

Missed Dose: If you miss a dose of Tacrograf and remember it within 12 hours, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Go back to your regular dosing schedule and check with your doctor. Do not take double doses.

Tacrograf and Blood Level

To know what dose of Tacrograf works best for you the doctor will ask you to undergo blood level tests of Tacrograf 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 doctor’s advice at the scheduled time.

Food and Tacrograf

Absorption of this medicine may be changed if you change your diet. This medicine should be taken consistently with respect to meals. You should not change the type or amount of food you eat unless you discuss it with your health care professional. Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice with the drug as it may affect the absorption of Tacrograf.

Tacrograf Interaction with Other Drugs

Some medicines and alcohol can affect how well Tacrograf works. After you start taking Tacrograf be sure to tell your doctor the names of all the medicines you are taking. This includes other prescription medicines and non-prescription medicines, natural or herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, and vitamins. That is the only way that your doctor can help prevent drug interactions that could be serious.

Side Effects

During Tacrolimus treatment you may experience any of the following side effects.
The most common Tacrograf side effects for kidney transplant patients are infection, headache, tremors (shaking of the body), diarrhea, constipation, nausea, high blood pressure, changes in the amount of urine, and trouble sleeping.

Less common Tacrograf side effects are abdominal pain (stomach pain), numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, loss of appetite, indigestion or "upset stomach", vomiting, urinary tract infections, fever, pain, swelling of the hands, ankles or legs, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, cough, leg cramps, heart "fluttering", palpitations or chest pain, unusual weakness or tiredness, dizziness, confusion, changes in mood or emotions, itchy skin, skin rash, and diabetes.

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.

Storage

• Keep out of the reach of children , Store away from heat and direct light
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed and keep the discarded medicine out of reach of children.