Advagraf Description

Patients receiving an organ transplant, including liver, heart, kidney, or lung, will be required to take an immunosuppressant drug in order to stop their immune system from rejecting it. Advagraf is an anti-rejection medication that you will take for the rest of your life to increase your chance of a successful transplantation. One of the more common transplants is a donated kidney from a living member of your family which greatly raises your success rate, although you will still need to take Advagraf or another immunosuppressant drug.

How Does Advagraf Work?

The active ingredient in Advagraf is called Tacrolimus, and when taken as directed it will concentrate on your white blood cells (T cells) in order to block the action of calcineurin, a substance found in white blood cells. This results in the T cells being unable to produce lymphokines, a substance that T cells produce when a foreign intruder is detected. With this action blocked by Advagraf, your immune system cannot effectively attack the transplanted organ, limb, or tissue. However, there is no guarantee that any transplant will be 100% successful.

Conditions Treated by Advagraf

Liver transplants can be performed with an entire liver donated from a non-living donor, or a portion of a liver from a living donor. The surgery for the donor takes about 5 hours and they will remain in hospital for about 1 week. Usually the right lobe of the liver is removed for transplantation. The liver will regenerate itself so the donor and recipient will each have a full-sized liver in a short time.

To reduce the chance of tissue rejection after a liver transplant, Advagraf and other immunosuppressants may be prescribed. With your immune system lowered, you are also at risk for other infections so it’s important to try and avoid crowded or enclosed areas where there are airborne germs.

Before You Receive an Advagraf Rx

Express any concerns to your physician about any risks of taking Advagraf if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast feeding. Discuss other medical conditions and allergies with your doctor and list all current OTC and Rx drugs you take or use, including herbal remedies and vitamin or dietary supplements to determine if Advagraf is safe for you to take.

Advagraf Precautions and Proper Use

Avoid eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while taking Advagraf as this could increase the amount of Tacrolimus in your body which could increase the risk of dangerous side effects. Do not share this medication with anyone and keep it out of children’s reach. Do not stop, start, or alter the dosage of any medications without first discussing it with your doctor.

It is important that you keep all doctor appointments to be certain things are going well. If you begin to experience flu-like symptoms, fatigue, weight gain, or pain at the transplant site, seek medical help right away.

Possible Side Effects of Advagraf

• Constipation/diarrhea
• Nausea/vomiting
• Upset stomach
• Heartburn

Drugs Similar to Advagraf

• Prograf
• Cellcept
• Rapamune