Tacrocord 0.5 mg Capsule

What is a Tacrocord 0.5 mg Capsule?

Tacrocord 0.5 mg Capsule contains salt called Tacrolimus. This medication belongs to a class of drugs known as Immunosuppressants. It is used along with other medicines to prevent your body from rejecting a new organ such as a kidney, heart, or liver after a transplant. It does so by weakening your body’s immune system.

What Tacrolimus drug is used for?

Tacrolimus is sold under the brand name Prograf. It is manufactured in India by Concord Biotech Limited. 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?

Rejection can occur at any time after your transplant, but it is more likely to happen within the first 6 months. Transplant rejection happens when your body does not accept the new organ. It can happen just after your surgery or in the years following your transplant. Through a treatment plan of immunosuppressive medication, the effects of rejection can be reversed and your body can readjust to your new organ.

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 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 a Tacrocord 1 mg capsule on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Take it 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 Tacrocord 0.5 mg Capsule

• In the treatment of prevention of transplantation rejection

Tacrocord 0.5 mg Capsule belongs to a group of medicines known as immunosuppressants. It occurs when the immune system attacks the organ donated and starts to destroy the transplanted organs. It is caused by antibodies that act against the organs and it begins within minutes to hours as soon as organ transplantation. It decreases the body’s immune response. The use of this medicine helps your body to accept the new organ. 

Side effects of Tacrocord 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 did the Tacrocord 0.5 mg Capsule take?

Take a Tacrocord 1 mg capsule on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Take it 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 Tacrocord 0.5 mg capsule work?

This medicine works to obstruct the action of Calcineurin, a substance found in the white blood cells known as T- lymphocytes. This prevents the T- lymphocytes from producing lymphokines, in case of a foreign particle is detected in the body.