Compare Prograf vs. Rapamune
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
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.
Prevents rejection of a transplanted organ.
Rapamune (sirolimus) is a reliable medicine that prevents rejection of an organ transplant but requires consistent monitoring.
Upsides
- 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.
- Rapamune (sirolimus) is good at preventing organ rejection.
- Causes less harm to the kidneys with long-term use than similar medicines.
- Fewer effects on blood sugar and blood pressure compared to other immunosuppressants.
- Conveniently taken once daily.
Downsides
- 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.
- You’ll need regular blood tests while taking Rapamune (sirolimus), especially when you first start the medicine.
- Can cause high lipids (fats like cholesterol and triglycerides), especially with lifelong use. You might need to take other medicines to control your lipids while on Rapamune (sirolimus).
- Raises your risk of infection and certain cancers.
Used for
- 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
- Prevention of kidney transplant rejection
- Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Extended release
- Injection
- Pill
- Liquid
Price
Lowest price
$491.50
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$136.10
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Side effects
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%
17possible side effects
- Swelling in arms and legs54%
- High triglycerides45%
- High blood pressure45%
- High cholesterol43%
- Higher blood creatinine (marker of poorer kidney function)39%
- Constipation36%
- Headache34%
- Stomach pain28%
- Urinary tract infection26%
- Diarrhea25%
- Nausea25%
- Joint pain25%
- Fever23%
- Low red blood cells23%
- Acne22%
- Low white blood cells14%
- Rash10%
Risks and risk factors
- 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
- Health problems in people with liver and lung transplants
- Cancer
- Taking Rapamune (sirolimus) for a long time
- Long exposure to sunlight
- UV light
- Serious infections
- Taking other immunosuppressants
- Age 60 or older
- Weak immune system
- High blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides)
- History of high cholesterol
- History of high triglycerides
- Drug interactions
- Taking multiple medicines