Rapamune

Rapamune weakens your body's immune system, to help keep it from rejecting a transplanted organ such as a kidney. Organ rejection happens when the immune system treats the new organ as an invader and attacks it.

Introduction

Generic name: Sirolimus

Drug classes: MTOR inhibitors, Selective immunosuppressants

Uses

  • Rapamune is a prescription medicine used to prevent rejection (anti-rejection medicine) in people 13 years of age and older who have received a kidney transplant.

  • Rejection is when your body’s immune system recognizes the new organ as a foreign threat and attacks it. Rapamune is used with other medicines called cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), and corticosteroids.

Directions for use

  • Take Rapamune exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose.

  • Rapamune is usually taken once a day. If you also take cyclosporine, take it at least 4 hours before you take this medicine.

  • You may take Rapamune with or without food, but take it the same way every time.

  • Do not crush, chew, or break a Rapamune tablet. Tell your doctor if you have trouble swallowing the tablet whole.

  • Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.

  • Rapamune oral liquid must be mixed only with water or orange juice, no other juices or liquids. Measure the liquid carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

  • Sirolimus can increase your risk of infection by changing the way your immune system works. You will need frequent medical tests. Your dosing schedule may be delayed based on the results of these tests.

  • You should not stop using Rapamune without your doctor’s advice. Stopping suddenly could make your condition worse.

  • Store the tablets at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and light.

  • Store the oral liquid in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. You may notice a slight haze to the liquid. This haze should disappear when the liquid reaches room temperature.

Side effects

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • Redness, oozing, or slow healing of a skin wound

  • A new skin lesion, or a mole that has changed in size or color

  • Unusual bleeding or bruising

  • Sudden chest pain or discomfort, cough, feeling short of breath

  • Tenderness around the transplanted kidney

  • Signs of infection - fever, chills, painful mouth sores, skin sores, cold or flu symptoms, pain or burning when you urinate

  • Low red blood cells (anemia) - pale skin, unusual tiredness, feeling light-headed or short of breath, cold hands and feet.

Common Rapamune side effects may include:

  • Fever, cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat

  • Mouth sores

  • Nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea

  • Headache, muscle aches

  • Chest pain

  • Dizziness

  • Acne.

Warnings

  • You should not use Rapamune if you have ever had a lung transplant or liver transplant.

  • Rapamune may cause your body to overproduce white blood cells. This can lead to cancer, severe brain infection causing disability or death, or a viral infection causing kidney transplant failure.

  • Call your doctor right away if you have: fever, flu symptoms, burning when you urinate, a new skin lesion, any change in your mental state, decreased vision, weakness on one side of your body, problems with speech or walking, or pain around your transplant.

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