Switching to Myfortic advice

[Rain]

It's been 6 months since transplant and the doctor is switching me from cellcept to myfortic due to GI issues.    He prescribed  myfortic  1 capsule 4 times a day until my GI issues calm down and then 2 tablets twice a day.    I also take prednisone 5mg once daily and will be forever due to my high antibody levels.   The prednisone says take it with food while the myfortic says to take it 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.
Reading online in some studies, if taken with food myfortic absorption is reduced by 72% and delayed by 2.5 hours.   I plan on talking to the transplant pharmacist but she is only in clinic once a week on Thursday. 

For the time being, what do those of you on myfortic do?   Any advice would be helpful.

[monrein]

I take all my meds together...same time every day. I have no GI issues but pred does bother me on an empty stomach. My pill time is 10:am and pm so there is always something in my stomach and I usually have a snack in the evening. My understanding is that the most important factor is consistency with regard to timing and food. Try to do the same thing (mostly) every day as much as possible. Let us know what the pharmacist says.

[MooseMom]

Isn't it weird how different tx centers give different instructions on when to take your meds?

My prednisone and myfortic prescriptions both say to take with food.  A month or so ago, I had a tummy bug which meant that I couldn't keep any food down.  Still, I did manage to take all of my meds.  The next day I had labs, and for the first time ever, my blood sugar was high.  You know how we have to be on guard for med-induced diabetes?  Well, my guess is that taking pred and myfortic with food is a way to combat that possibility.

As monrein states, what is important is to be consistent when taking your meds.

[Rain]

Isn't it weird how different tx centers give different instructions on when to take your meds?

My prednisone and myfortic prescriptions both say to take with food.  A month or so ago, I had a tummy bug which meant that I couldn't keep any food down.  Still, I did manage to take all of my meds.  The next day I had labs, and for the first time ever, my blood sugar was high.  You know how we have to be on guard for med-induced diabetes?  Well, my guess is that taking pred and myfortic with food is a way to combat that possibility.

As monrein states, what is important is to be consistent when taking your meds.

MooseMom, your right.  I just googled Myfortic with food  and got the following from the London Health Sciences center in Ontario  http://www.lhsc.on.ca/Patients_Families_Visitors/MOTP/Pharmacy/web_myfortic.pdf

"You may experience nausea or vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, heartburn, acne, tremors, or headache. Heartburn and stomach upset is quite common. If this happens to you, you can try taking this medication with food."

[MommyChick]

Good Afternoon!

I was switched to Myforic about 6 months after TX, I am now a little over a year out. I have had no issues as far as taking that medication. I too take all my meds. the same time and all together. The most I may eat in the morning is a cereal bar or so as I am driving to work. Myforic has had no major problems for me as like the Cellcept did.
Also my transplant team has had no issues with me taking all my meds at the same time in the morning as well as evening.

Wishing you all the best with your kidneys!! It does get easier as time goes on and your steroid meds. definitely become a lot less at the 1 year mark. At least they did in my case.

Many Blessings to you all for a wonderful Holiday Season!!

[SooMK]

I'm on Myfortic and Prograf and like others have stated I take them with food 9am and pm and all meds together. I was taken off Myfortic for about 6 weeks when my white blood cell count was too low. I started losing my hair when I went back on it. After about 8 weeks the hair loss stopped. I have a bunch of minor side effects of my immunosuppressants but I don't really pay much attention to them at 7 months out. The only issue that weighs on me is nasty headaches that I get two or three times a month and I struggle to cope with them. I feel like everything makes me anxious these days and that the headaches are stress related. Still I prefer the devil that I know and wouldn't want to change any meds. I hope all goes well for you.

[Deanne]

My TX center said to be consistent about taking immune suppressants with food - either always eat with them or never eat with them. I switched to Myfortic about two months after transplant because of GI issues and I've always taken it with food. I'm on one tablet three times/day and I'm nine months post-transplant.

[Rain]

Spoke to the transplant clinic's pharmacist today.   For myfortic I can take it with a bit of food like toast or something, but if I plan on eating a large meal, take it 2 hours after the meal or 1 hour before.  I know occasionally I will have to adjust the myfortic at night, since I take it at 8am and at 8pm, and during girl's night, we won't starting eating until 7pm.   But I was told it's okay to move meds by 1 hour.

After a few days of taking the Myfortic (in my case generic), all my GI issues I got before disappeared.  I used to get bad diarrhea, as well as stomach cramps and bad gas, within an hour of taking the pill.

[MooseMom]

I'm so glad, Rain, that you got advice that seems to be working for you!  Goes to show that we are all different and that we are affected by our meds in unique ways.  Having to deal with med-induced GI problems must have been a nightmare.  I'm pleased you are feeling better!!