Prograf

Brand Names

Tacrolimus

What is Prograf

Prograf is a strong medication that lowers your body's immune system. The immune system can also fight or "reject" a transplanted organ, e.g. a liver or kidney. This is because the immune system treats the new organ as an invader. Prograf , together with other medicines is effective in preventing your body from rejecting a heart, liver or kidney transplant.

Side effects of Prograf

Prograf can cause the following side effects:

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat
• pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating
• pain in the lower back or side, blood in your urine, pain or burning when you urinate
• urinating less than usual or not at all
• dry cough, cough with mucus or blood, sweating, pale skin, shortness of breath,
• wheezing, gasping for breath, chest pain
tremors (shaking), confusion, changes in your mental state, vision changes, seizure (convulsions)
• high potassium (slow heart rate, weak pulse, muscle weakness, tingly feeling)
• low magnesium (jerky muscle movements, muscle weakness or limp feeling, slow reflexes)
• high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats)
• high blood sugar (increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss)

The warning signals may also be:

• nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation
• headache, weakness
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• swelling in your hands or feet

Indication

Prograf is a medicine that slows down the body's immune system and works as an anti-rejection medicine. Prograf injection is used together with other medicines to prevent the body from rejecting a transplanted organ. Prograf may be used with steroids, azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil. Prograf belongs to a class of medications known as immunosuppressive agents.

This is a very strong medicine. It can lead to serious health problems by causing side effects. It has an possibility to reduce the body's ability to fight infections.

Precautions

You should not take this medicine if you have the following conditions:

• kidney or liver disease
• high blood pressure
• liver disease
• high cholesterol or triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood)
• if you are using other drugs that weaken your immune system such as cancer medicine or steroids

Dosage forms

The dose should be determined by your doctor. Everyone’s case is different. It is not recommended to take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts then prescribed. You may receive an injection of Prograf shortly after your transplant. Prograf injection is given until you are ready to take the pill form of tacrolimus. The Prograf capsule is usually taken every 12 hours. You should take the medicine at the same time each day. It is recommended to take medical tests to be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects and consult the doctor constantly. You should keep Prograf at room temperature and protect from moisture and heat.