Cellcept (Mycophenolate)

Cellcept (mycophenolate mofetil, mycophenolic acid, or sometimes mycophenolate) is a medication that works by suppressing the immune system.

Cellcept is useful in treating rheumatic diseases like lupus. Outside of rheumatology, Cellcept is used by doctors to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients.

Taking Cellcept

Cellcept is available as oral tablets in 250 and 500 mg doses. The normal dose of Cellcept is between 500 and 1500 mg twice per day.

It takes 6 to 12 weeks for the Cellcept to start working. It is important for patients starting this medicine to keep taking it as prescribed.

Taking Cellcept with food can help minimize possible side effects like nausea and stomach pain.

Important Tests and Risks

Patients taking Cellcept should have their blood tested regularly to make sure that the medicine isn’t affecting the blood counts or harming the liver.

Cellcept can make it a bit harder for people to fight off infections. People taking this medicine should call their doctor they have a fever, think they have an infection, or have been prescribed antibiotics to treat an infection.

It is important for patients to coordinate with their doctor to stop treatment before any surgery. It can be re-started once things have healed and there’s no sign of infection.

Patients should discuss all vaccinations with their doctor because some are not advisable to get while taking Cellcept.