CellCept vs. Benlysta

CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil) and Benlysta (belimumab) are used together to treat systemic sclerosis.

CellCept is primarily used to prevent the body from rejecting a kidney, liver, or heart transplant. CellCept is usually given with cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral) and a steroid medication.

Benlysta is primarily used to treat adult patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

CellCept and Benlysta belong to different drug classes. CellCept is an immunosuppressive agent and Benlysta is a monoclonal antibody.

Side effects of CellCept and Benlysta that are similar include nausea, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain or upset, and trouble sleeping (insomnia).

Side effects of CellCept that are different from Benlysta include constipation, loss of appetite, gas, tremor, weakness, swelling in your hands or feet, numbness or tingly feeling, and anxiety.

Side effects of Benlysta that are different from CellCept include pain in your arms or legs, migraine, fever, depression, urinary tract infection (UTI), decreased white blood cell count (leukopenia), and cold symptoms such as stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, cough (bronchitis), and sore throat.

CellCept may interact with cholestyramine, antibiotics, antivirals, and other medicines that weaken the immune system.

Benlysta may interact with other drugs.

Side effects of CellCept include:

CellCept may cause side effects, including:

• constipation,
• nausea,
• headache,
• diarrhea,
• vomiting,
• stomach pain or upset,
• loss of appetite,
• gas,
• tremor,
• trouble sleeping (insomnia),
• weakness,
• swelling in your hands or feet,
• numbness or tingly feeling, or
• anxiety.

Tell your doctor if you experience unlikely but serious side effects of CellCept including:

• unusual tiredness,
• fast or irregular heartbeat,
• muscle weakness,
• easy bleeding or bruising,
• swelling of the feet or ankles,
• mental/mood changes,
• weakness on one side of the body, or
• unusual change in the amount of urine.

Common side effects of Benlysta include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• stomach pain,
• pain in your arms or legs,
• trouble sleeping (insomnia),
• headache (migraine),
• fever,
• depression,
• urinary tract infection,
• decreased white blood cell count (leukopenia), and
• cold symptoms such as stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, cough (bronchitis), and sore throat.

Tell your doctor if you have any serious side effects, including:

• mental/mood/behavior changes (such as new or worsening depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, or thoughts about hurting yourself or others),
• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling,
• wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing, or
• signs of cancer (such as fever, night sweats, unusual tiredness, unexplained weight loss, swollen glands, and unusual lumps or growths).

CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil) is an immunosuppressive agent used to prevent your body from rejecting a kidney, liver, or heart transplant. CellCept is usually given with cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral) and a steroid medication.

Benlysta (belimumab) is a monoclonal antibody indicated for the treatment of adult patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Benlysta has not been evaluated in patients with severe active lupus nephritis or severe active central nervous system lupus.

CellCept may interact with cholestyramine, antibiotics, acyclovir, ganciclovir, valacyclovir, or other medicines that weaken the immune system. Tell your doctor all medications you use.

Formal drug interaction studies have not been performed with Benlysta. Before you receive Benlysta, tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Benlysta will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant during your treatment with Benlysta. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Benlysta passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will receive Benlysta or breastfeed. You should not do both.

The dose of CellCept depends on the type of transplant performed.

The recommended dosage regimen for Benlysta is 10 mg/kg at 2-week intervals for the first 3 doses and at 4-week intervals thereafter.