CellCept vs. Prednisone
Are CellCept and Prednisone the Same Thing?
CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil) and prednisone are used to prevent the body from rejecting an organ transplant.
CellCept is usually given with cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral) and a steroid medication.
Prednisone is also used to treat or manage many conditions, including endocrine disorders, rheumatic disorders, collagen diseases, dermatologic diseases, allergies, ophthalmic (eye) diseases, respiratory diseases, hematologic (blood) disorders, neoplastic diseases (cancers), edematous states, and gastrointestinal diseases.
CellCept and prednisone belong to different drug classes. CellCept is an immunosuppressive agent and prednisone is a glucocorticoid.
Side effects of CellCept and prednisone that are similar include nausea, headache, vomiting, and trouble sleeping (insomnia).
Side effects of CellCept that are different from prednisone include constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain or upset, loss of appetite, gas, tremor, weakness, swelling in your hands or feet, numbness or tingly feeling, and anxiety.
Side effects of prednisone that are different from CellCept include acne, thinning skin, weight gain, and restlessness.
Both CellCept and prednisone may interact with antibiotics, cholestyramine, antivirals, and other medicines that weaken the immune system.
Prednisone may also interact with potassium-depleting agents (e.g., amphotericin B, diuretics), anticholinesterase, anticoagulants, antidiabetic drugs, isoniazid, bupropion, digitalis glycosides, estrogens (including oral contraceptives), fluoroquinolones, barbiturates, phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampin, azole antifungals, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), phenytoin, quetiapine, skin tests, thalidomide, and live or inactivated vaccines.
What Are Possible Side Effects of CellCept?
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.
What Are Possible Side Effects of Prednisone?
- headache,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- acne, thinning skin,
- weight gain,
- restlessness, and
- trouble sleeping.
Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of prednisone including
- severe allergic reactions (skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of your lips/face/tongue),
- mood changes or depression,
- eye pain or vision changes,
- fever,
- cough,
- sore throat,
- difficulty urinating, or
- high blood sugar (increased thirst, increased urination, confusion, or swelling of the ankles and feet).
What Is CellCept?
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.
What Is Prednisone?
Prednisone is a glucocorticoid indicated to treat or manage many conditions, including:
- endocrine disorders,
- rheumatic disorders,
- collagen diseases,
- dermatologic diseases,
- allergies,
- ophthalmic (eye) diseases,
- respiratory diseases,
- hematologic disorders,
- neoplastic diseases (cancers),
- edematous states, and
- gastrointestinal diseases.
Prednisone tablets are available in generic form.
What Drugs Interact With CellCept?
CellCept may interact with cholestyramine, antibiotics, acyclovir, ganciclovir, valacyclovir, or other medicines that weaken the immune system. Tell your doctor all medications you use.
What Drugs Interact With Prednisone?
Prednisone may interact with:
- potassium-depleting agents (e.g., amphotericin B, diuretics),
- macrolide antibiotics,
- anticholinesterase,
- anticoagulants,
- antidiabetic drugs,
- isoniazid,
- bupropion,
- cholestyramine,
- cyclosporine,
- digitalis glycosides,
- estrogens (including oral contraceptives),
- fluoroquinolones,
- barbiturates,
- phenytoin,
- carbamazepine,
- rifampin,
- azole antifungals,
- ritonavir,
- indinavir,
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),
- phenytoin,
- quetiapine,
- skin tests,
- thalidomide, and
- live or inactivated vaccines.
Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use and all vaccines you recently received.
How Should CellCept be Taken?
The dose of CellCept depends on the type of transplant performed.
How Should Prednisone be Taken?
The initial dosage of prednisone may vary from 5 mg to 60 mg per day, depending on the specific disease entity being treated.
