Compare CellCept vs. Prograf
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Prevents rejection of a transplanted organ.
CellCept (mycophenolate) is good at preventing organ transplant rejection, but you’ll need regular blood tests to make sure you don't develop any serious side effects.
Prevents rejection of a transplanted organ.
Prograf (tacrolimus) is a good medicine that prevents rejection of an organ transplant, but you will need to be on it lifelong.
Upsides
- CellCept (mycophenolate) is a first-choice medication for preventing organ rejection since it doesn't hurt the kidneys or liver like its alternatives.
- With CellCept (mycophenolate), you might be able to take a lower dose of your other anti-rejection medications.
- Prevents your body from rejecting a transplanted organ.
- Available as an extended-release pill, so it can be taken just once daily.
- Less cosmetic side-effects than other anti-rejection medicine like cyclosporine.
Downsides
- You might need to take other medications to control your blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol while on CellCept (mycophenolate).
- You can’t get certain vaccines while taking CellCept (mycophenolate).
- You can’t breastfeed while on this medication.
- Regular blood tests are required for monitoring while on Prograf (tacrolimus).
- Can cause a lot of side-effects, such as high blood sugar, high blood pressure, mental status changes, and kidney damage, especially with lifelong use.
- Increases your risk of infection and certain cancers.
Used for
- Prevention of heart transplant rejection
- Prevention of kidney transplant rejection
- Prevention of liver transplant rejection
- Graft-versus-host disease
- Prevention of heart transplant rejection
- Prevention of liver transplant rejection
- Prevention of kidney transplant rejection
- Lung transplant rejection
- Bowel transplant rejection
- Graft-versus-host disease
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Liquid
- Suspension
- Pill
- Extended release
- Injection
Price
Lowest price
$23.61
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$341.86
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Side effects
40possible side effects
- High blood pressure78%
- Swelling in arms and legs64%
- Headache54%
- Nausea54%
- Fever47%
- High blood sugar47%
- Diarrhea45%
- Lack of energy43%
- Low red blood cells43%
- High white blood cells41%
- High cholesterol41%
- Constipation41%
- Trouble sleeping41%
- Higher blood creatinine (marker of kidney function)39%
- Lung infection37%
- Shortness of breath37%
- Back pain35%
- Higher blood urea nitrogen (marker of kidney function)35%
- Stomach pain34%
- Vomiting34%
- Low blood pressure33%
- Low blood potassium32%
- Increased cough31%
- Low white blood cells30%
- Lung problems30%
- Dizziness28%
- Anxiety28%
- Swelling27%
- Infection26%
- Chest pain26%
- Heart problems26%
- Sinus inflammation26%
- Low platelets24%
- Tremor24%
- Higher blood lactate dehydrogenase (marker of damaged cells)23%
- Abnormal kidney function22%
- Rash22%
- Burning or tingling in hands, arms, legs, or feet21%
- Fast heart rate20%
- Very low neutrophil (type of white blood cell) count3%
13possible side effects
- High blood pressure62%
- Kidney Function Abnormal56%
- Anemia50%
- Low white blood cells48%
- Viral infection32%
- Diabetes Mellitus26%
- Infection24%
- High blood sugar23%
- High cholesterol18%
- Bronchitis17%
- Urinary Tract Infection16%
- Fluid around the heart15%
- Tremor15%
Risks and risk factors
- Harm to fetus
- Sexually active women of childbearing age
- Serious infections
- Taking other immunosuppressants
- Age 60 or older
- Weak immune system
- Blood disorders
- Cancer
- Taking CellCept (mycophenolate) for a long time
- Prolonged exposure to sunlight
- UV light
- Serious infections
- Taking other immunosuppressant drugs
- Age 60 or older
- Weak immune system
- Cancer
- Taking Prograf (tacrolimus) for a long time
- Heart problems
- History of heart problems
- Taking drugs that interact with Prograf (tacrolimus)
- High Prograf (tacrolimus) blood levels
- Kidney damage
- Poor kidney function
- Taking other drugs that can damage the kidneys
- Taking drugs that interact with Prograf (tacrolimus)
- Diabetes
- African-American descent
- Hispanic descent
- Increased risk of death in female liver transplant patients taking extended-release Prograf (tacrolimus)
- Females using Astagraf XL
- Liver transplantation