CellCept
CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil) 500mg tablets, an immunosuppressant used to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ and in some autoimmune conditions, in packs of 10, 20 or 30.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500mg | 10 tablets | $71.40 | $7.14 |
| 500mg | 20 tablets | $119.00 | $5.95 |
| 500mg | 30 tablets | $135.00 | $4.50 |
- Category
- Autoimmune Support
- Active ingredient
- Mycophenolate mofetil
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Tablet, Capsule, Oral suspension
- Strengths
- 500mg
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Brands with the same ingredient
- Mycophenolate Mofetil
- Therapeutic Class
- Immunosuppressant
- Pharmacological Class
- Antimetabolite
- Minor Side Effects
- Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhoea
- Moderate Side Effects
- High blood pressure, Increased infection risk
- Dosage Forms
- Tablet, Capsule, Oral suspension
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Roche
- Onset Time
- Gradual
- Duration
- Ongoing
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature in a dry container.
- Drug Interactions
- Antacids, Cholestyramine
What you will receive
CellCept is the originator brand name, made by Roche. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original CellCept.
- The same active ingredient (Mycophenolate mofetil) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
Which strengths and pack sizes of generic mycophenolate mofetil can I order?
Generic mycophenolate mofetil tablets come in 500mg. Pack sizes are 10, 20 or 30 tablets. This is generic mycophenolate mofetil, not the original CellCept. Larger packs cost less per tablet.
What happens if my CellCept parcel goes missing?
If your CellCept parcel does not arrive within the delivery window, or arrives damaged, it is sent again free. If that is not possible, the order is refunded. Tracked courier takes 5 to 9 business days with online tracking.
What are the alternative names for CellCept and mycophenolate mofetil?
CellCept is a brand name of mycophenolate mofetil, which is also sold as Myfenax. Here, mycophenolate mofetil can be bought online as generic CellCept. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long do people stay on mycophenolate mofetil?
There is no fixed course. Transplant patients generally take it for as long as the new organ needs protection, which for many means years rather than months. In autoimmune conditions the length depends on how the condition behaves, and treatment can run for months or years at a stretch.
How does mycophenolate mofetil compare with azathioprine?
Both are immunosuppressants, but they act at different points in the immune response. Mycophenolate blocks an enzyme that immune cells need in order to multiply; azathioprine is converted in the body into substances that interfere with the way cells build DNA. The two are used for overlapping conditions, including transplant care and lupus.
Can I have a flu jab while taking CellCept?
The seasonal flu jab is an inactivated vaccine, which means it contains no live virus. Vaccines of that kind are not a concern with mycophenolate. Live vaccines — MMR, chickenpox, yellow fever — are avoided while the immune system is held down, because the vaccine virus could take hold.
Why do the tablets have to be swallowed whole?
Crushing, splitting or chewing releases the medicine as a powder, and mycophenolate powder is harmful to breathe in — particularly for anyone who is pregnant or might be. That is why the tablets go down whole with water.
About CellCept
What CellCept tablets are used for
Mycophenolate mofetil damps down the immune system. Transplant teams use it to stop the body rejecting a new kidney, heart or liver, usually alongside other immunosuppressants. It also has a place in autoimmune conditions, where the immune system attacks the body's own tissues — lupus that affects internal organs is the best-known example. CellCept is the brand name this medicine is best known by; the tablets here are 500mg mycophenolate mofetil.
The way it works explains why it is chosen. Rejection and autoimmune attack are driven by T and B cells, which have to multiply in large numbers before they can do damage. A multiplying cell needs a supply of new DNA, and these two cell types depend on a single enzyme to make it, whereas most of the body's other cells have a back-up route. Mycophenolate blocks that enzyme, so T and B cells build up slowly and the immune assault stays weaker, while the rest of the body carries on much as before.
Taking your tablets
The tablets are swallowed whole, not crushed, split or chewed. After a transplant, doses commonly run at 1g to 1.5g twice a day — two or three of these 500mg tablets, morning and evening — while autoimmune treatment is often lower. Food does not change how they work, so they can go with a meal or between meals; keeping to the same two times each day matters more.
Side effects to know about
Loose stools, sickness, stomach ache and headache are common early on and often settle. Tiredness and a drop in white blood cells show up on blood tests, which is why counts are checked while treatment continues. With the immune system held down, infections get a foothold more easily; a fever, sore throat or cough that will not shift is the usual signal. Unusual bruising or bleeding, or severe stomach pain, needs urgent treatment. Pregnancy is a firm exclusion, because mycophenolate can cause birth defects and miscarriage.
Other medicines and storage
Antacids containing aluminium or magnesium reduce how much mycophenolate the gut absorbs, so they are taken about two hours apart. Other immunosuppressants add to its effect. Keep the tablets in their blister strip until you need them. CellCept 500mg tablets come in packs of 10, 20 or 30.
Sources
- Autoimmune Diseases - MedlinePlus — MedlinePlus
- Autoimmune diseases – an overview - Healthdirect — Healthdirect Australia