Prograf 0.5 mg Capsule

What is Prograf 0.5 mg Capsule?

Prograf 0.5 mg capsule contains a salt called Tacrolimus. It belongs to the group of medicines called immunosuppressants. It is used to prevent organ rejection in patients who have undergone kidney, heart, and liver transplants. It produces its action by reducing the activity of our immune system so that it will not attack the transplanted organs. 

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 transplanted rejection?

Rejection is your body’s way of not accepting a kidney transplant. Rejection is most common in the first six months after surgery but it can occur at any time. Transplant rejection occurs when transplanted tissue is rejected by the recipient’s immune system., which destroys the transplanted tissue. 

The transplanted team can usually recognize and treat a rejection before it causes any major or irreversible damage. It is important for you to continuously take your medications as prescribed by your doctor and have regular blood tests to know your health conditions.

What is a Kidney transplant?

A kidney transplant is a surgery that involves taking a healthy kidney from a donor and placing it into a person whose kidneys are no longer working properly. 

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?

A liver transplant is a surgical procedure to replace a failing liver with a healthy one that comes from another person’s body. You can receive a whole liver from a donor after death. 

Your liver is the largest internal organ and performs several critical functions including processing nutrients, producing bile, making proteins, removing bacteria, preventing infection, and regulating immune responses.

• 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 an organ transplant surgery that replaces your heart with a donated heart from another person. To receive a heart transplant, you must be very ill and need medical therapy and a new heart to survive. 

• What are the requirements of 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

Prograf 0.5 mg comes as a capsule, granules for oral suspensions, an extended-release capsule, and an extended-release tablet to take by mouth. The oral suspensions are usually taken twice a day, 12 hours apart. You can take a capsule or oral suspension either with or without food. 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 Prograf 0.5mg Capsule

• In the treatment of prevention of transplantation rejection

Prograf 0.5 mg capsule belongs to a group of medicines known as immunosuppressants. Organ rejection happens when your immune system treats the new organ as an invader and attacks it. This medicine weakens your immune system and reduces the chances of your body attacking the transplanted organ. It is used in combination with other medicines to make transplant operations more likely to be successful. 

Side effects of Prograf 0.5 mg 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 Prograf 0.5 mg Capsule is taken?

Prograf 0.5 mg comes as a capsule, granules for oral suspensions, an extended-release capsule, and an extended-release tablet to take by mouth. The oral suspensions are usually taken twice a day, 12 hours apart. You can take a capsule or oral suspension either with or without food. 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 Prograf 0.5 mg capsule work?

This medicine prevents rejection by inhibiting T lymphocyte cells and cytokines, specific cells of the immune system. This in turn controls our body’s immune response and enables it to accept the transplanted organ.