CellCept vs. Imuran

• Are Imuran and CellCept the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of CellCept?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Imuran?
• What Is CellCept?
• What Is Imuran?
• What Drugs Interact with CellCept?
• What Drugs Interact with Imuran?
• How Should CellCept Be Taken?
• How Should Imuran Be Taken?

CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil) and Imuran (azathioprine) are immunosuppressive agents used to prevent the body from rejecting a kidney transplant.

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

Imuran is also used to treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Side effects of CellCept and Imuran that are similar include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain or upset, or loss of appetite.

Side effects of CellCept that are different from Imuran include constipation, headache, gas, tremor, trouble sleeping (insomnia), weakness, swelling in your hands or feet, numbness or tingly feeling, or anxiety.

Side effects of Imuran that are different from CellCept include hair loss or skin rash.

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 Imuran include:

• upset stomach,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• loss of appetite,
• hair loss, or
• skin rash.

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

• muscle loss,
• hair loss,
• cold/numbness in the fingers,
• mouth sores,
• difficult/painful swallowing, or
• greasy stools.

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.

Imuran (azathioprine) is an immunosuppressive antimetabolite used to prevent the body from rejecting a transplanted kidney. Imuran is also used to treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Imuran is available in generic form.

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

Imuran may interact with other medicines that weaken the immune system.

Imuran may interact with allopurinol, methotrexate, blood thinners, olsalazine, sulfasalazine, sulfamethoxasole, trimethoprim, or ACE inhibitors.

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

The dose of Imuran to prevent transplant rejection and minimize toxicity varies. The initial dose is usually 3 to 5 mg/kg daily, beginning at the time of transplant. It is usually given as a single daily dose on the day of, and in some cases 1 to 3 days before, transplantation. Maintenance levels of 1 to 3 mg/kg daily are usually possible. For rheumatoid arthritis, the initial dose is approx. 1.0 mg/kg (50 to 100 mg) given as a single dose or twice-daily. Maximum dose is 2.5 mg/kg per day.