Prograf 5 mg

Prograf slows the body's immune system and is used as an antirejection medicine after an organ transplant. Prograf helps patients who have had a liver or kidney transplant protect their new organ and prevent it from being rejected by the body.

All antirejection medicines, including Prograf, suppress your body's immune system. As a result, they may increase your chances of getting infections and, while rare, some kinds of cancer, including skin and lymph gland cancer (lymphoma).
Because of an increased risk for skin cancer, limit exposure to sunlight and UV light by wearing protective clothing and using a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (≥SPF 15).
People taking Prograf may be at risk for developing reversible diabetes after receiving an organ transplant. Call your doctor if you experience frequent urination, or increased thirst or hunger.

Dosage and direction:
The daily dose of Prograf should be divided in two intakes separated by twelve hours. The capsules should be taken immediately after taking them out from the blister packs with full glass of water on an empty stomach, or at least one hour before or 2-3 hours after a meal. Fatty food decreases absorption of the medication. Correction of the dose is needed inpatients with serious liver impairment.

Precautions:
Risk of cancer and especially skin cancer and infectious diseases increases due to immune suppressing effect of Prograf. Avoid exposing yourself to direct sun rays. Blood cell count, kidney and liver unction should be monitored on a regular basis while taking this medication. Diabetes may develop especially in Hispanic or African-American patients. Do not take the medicine with a grapefruit juice. This medication can appear in breast milk and transfer through placenta which can be harmful to a baby. Breastfeeding should be stopped while on Prograf. Inform your doctor if you have kidney or liver diseases, high blood pressure, or if you have taken cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf) within the day before.

Contraindications:
The preparation cannot be administered in patients hypersensitive to tacrolimus, other macrolides, or or hydrogenated castor oil.

Side effect:
Side effects of Prograf are numerous and include arterial hypertension, hypotension, angina, arrhythmia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, change of liver transaminases activity, constipation, anemia, easy bruising and bleeding, changes in clotting, kidney disorders and failure, hyperglycemia, hyperpotessemia, diabetes, seizures, pain in joints, miastenia, tremor, headache, vision changes, dizziness, depression,  hallucinations, difficulty breathing, allergy, achne, photosensitivity, high risk of tumor formation, high body temperature, swelling of extremities, baldness. In case of bothersome and serious side effects seek immediate medical attention.

Missed dose:
Never take a double dose of this medication. If it is almost time of the next dose just skip the missed portion and continue to take the medicine according to the schedule.

Overdose:
In cases of accidental Prograf overdose the following symptoms were described: tremor, headache, nausea, vomiting, infection, rash, lethargy, increased urea nitrogen in blood and increased serum concentrations of creatinine and alanine transaminase (ALT).