Advagraf 1mg Capsule

What is an Advagraf 1mg Capsule?

Advagraf 1mg Capsule contains salt called Tacrolimus. It belongs to the group of medicines which is known as immunosuppressants. It is used in adult patients who have had kidney, heart, or liver transplants. It helps to prevent rejection ( when the immune system attacks the transplanted organ). Advagraf can also be used to treat organ rejection in adult patients when other immunosuppressive medicines are not effective.

What Tacrolimus drug is used for?

Tacrolimus is sold under the brand name Prograf. It is manufactured in India by Astellas Pharma Incorporation. Tacrolimus is used along with other medications to prevent rejection ( attack of a transplanted organ by the immune system of a person receiving the organ) in people who have a kidney transplant. It is used along with other medicines to prevent rejection in people who have received a liver or heart transplant. It is in a class of medications called immunosuppressants. It works to decrease the activity of the immune system to prevent it from attacking the transplanted organ.

What is transplant rejection?

Each person is a one-of-a-kind collection of cells, tissues, and organs. The body system that recognizes a person’s cells and tissues are called the immune system. Rejection is a process in which the immune system finds foreign cells and tissues in the body. It attempts to destroy them to protect the body from harm,

When a person receives a kidney transplant, the immune system sees it as foreign and attempts to reject it by producing cells and or antibodies that occupy and damage the kidney. To prevent the immune system from damaging the transplanted kidney, you will take immunosuppressant ( anti-rejection ) drugs. It is very important to take your medications every day, as prescribed by your doctor. A sudden decline in kidney transplant functions due to injury caused by the immune system can occur despite taking these medications. These events are called “ rejections”.

What is a kidney transplant?

Kidney transplantation is the start of a new lease on life. While most kidney transplants are successful, complications can occur such as kidney rejection. When a kidney is placed your body reacts as if it is a foreign body. Immunosuppressive medicines can help prevent your immune system from damaging your new kidney. 

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on each side of the spine just below the rib cage. Each is about the size of a fist. Their main function is to filter and remove waste, minerals, and fluid from the blood by producing urine. 

• What are the requirements of a kidney transplant?

Each hospital has its criteria but in general, candidates should have:

End-stage renal failure an be on dialysis

Late-stage chronic kidney disease

A life expectancy of at least five years

A full understanding of postoperative instructions and care.

What is a Liver transplant?

The liver is the largest abdominal organ. The liver weighs about 1200 – 1500 grams on average roughly 2% of body weight. The liver as a whole has a hepatic artery supplying oxygenated blood, a portal vein carrying blood from the intestines to the liver, and bile ducts, draining bile formed in the liver to the intestines. Blood from the liver is delivered to the heart – via – three hepatic veins.

A liver transplant means removing a whole or part of the liver from a deceased living donor, and placing and attaching it to a patient after removing the whole or the diseased liver.

• What are the requirements of a liver transplant?

The minimum requirements for liver transplant are:

Signs of liver failure

Surgery and recovery

Risk of alcohol or drug abuse

Liver cancer 

Cirrhosis

What is a heart transplant?

A heart transplant is surgical transplantation that is performed on patients with end-stage heart failure or severe coronary artery disease. The patient’s heart is replaced with a donor’s healthy heart and is performed as a life-saving measure.

A heart transplant is the last option and is performed when other heart transplant treatments have failed. It is done in cases of severe heart failure.

• What are the requirements of a heart transplant?

Some causes of heart transplant include:

Heart attack

Viral infection

High blood pressure

Heart valve disease

Irregular heartbeats

Heart defects

Alcoholism or drugs abuse

Chronic lung disease

Low red blood cell count

Heart muscle is enlarged

Take Advagraf 1mg Capsule should take at least an hour before or two hours after a meal. You should take it on an empty stomach to get the most benefit. Take this medicine at around the same time every day. Before taking medicine consult your doctor. Dose and duration will be decided by the necessity and need of the patient. It depends on the treatment and may change from time to time. You should take medicine as per your doctor’s advice. This medicine is strictly not recommended for children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. It takes some weeks and months to get a better result. Do not stop taking the medicine before your doctor’s advice.

Common side effects of this medicine include nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, and difficulty sleeping. It lowers your immune system so you are more prone to infections. if these side effects become serious. Your doctor can prevent and give you relief from the side effects during the treatment. It makes you feel better.

The benefit of Advagraf 1mg Capsule

• In the treatment of prevention of transplantation rejection

Advagraf was as effective as both comparator medicines. After one year, 14% of patients receiving this medicine had experienced organ failure. The percentages were 15% in the patients treated with Advagraf and 17% in those treated with cyclosporin. Advagraf is more efficient to treat transplant patients with liver, kidney, or heart in comparison to other medicine. 

Side effects of Advagraf 1mg Capsule

Here are Some major and minor side effects of this medicine. But not all side effects need a doctor’s attention. If you observe any side effects become serious, You may consult your doctor.

Some of the common side effects of this medicine include:

Headache

Diarrhea

Dizziness

Nausea or vomiting

Swelling of feet or lower legs

Blurred vision

Sweating

Weight loss 

Back pain

Joint pain

Scaly skin

Loss of appetite

How is the Advagraf 1mg Capsule taken?

Take Advagraf 1mg Capsule should take at least an hour before or two hours after a meal. You should take it on an empty stomach to get the most benefit. Take this medicine at around the same time every day. Always take this medicine as per your doctor’s consultation. Dose and duration will decide your doctor. You are not allowed to crush, chew and break the medicine. Swallow it as a whole. Drink plenty of water. Do not miss the dose. If you miss a dose skip the missed dose and follow your schedule regularly on the next day. Do not double the dose. Take medicine every day on time as prescribed by your doctor. Much other medicine can affect this medicine so let your doctor know all medication you are using during the treatment.

How does the Advagraf 1mg Capsule work?

Advagraf 1mg Capsule is the active substance that is used as an immunosuppressive agent. This means that it reduces the activity of the immune system (the body’s natural defenses). Advagraf acts on some special cells in the immune system called T- cells that are primarily responsible for attacking the transplanted organ i.e., organ rejection).