Mycophenolate: CellCept and Myfortic
Content date: 11 November 2026
Mycophenolate suppresses certain immune cells and is combined with other medicines to prevent transplant rejection. Your transplant team selects the product and dose.
Your next step
Check your written prescription and monitoring plan. If anything is unclear, ask your care team before changing a dose.
Get urgent help: Seek emergency care for breathing difficulty, major bleeding, or fainting or confusion with serious illness. Do not wait for a message reply.
How do I use it?
- Mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept) differs from enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (Myfortic). Never exchange them milligram for milligram or convert doses yourself. Take it as prescribed, commonly twice daily, following your product’s food instructions.
- Swallow tablets whole; do not crush them or open capsules. Ask about another formulation if swallowing is difficult. For missed doses, follow your leaflet or team’s instructions. Never double or automatically repeat a vomited dose.
How do I store it?
- Store in its packaging at the labelled temperature, away from children. Avoid powder from opened capsules or broken tablets; ask your pharmacist about handling. Liquid products have different storage and expiry instructions.
What tests do I need?
- Blood counts monitor white cells, haemoglobin and platelets; your team also checks liver and kidney function. Tests are frequent initially and after treatment changes. Low cell counts may precede symptoms.
Possible side effects: what to expect
- Diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting are common problems. Tell your transplant team if they persist; they can review the dose or formulation and check other causes. Do not reduce it yourself.
- Low blood-cell counts and infections also occur and require blood-test monitoring. Longer-term immunosuppression increases some cancer risks, including skin cancer; follow sun protection and recommended screening. The pregnancy precautions below are essential because mycophenolate can seriously harm an unborn baby.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: essential warning
- Mycophenolate causes miscarriage and birth defects. Women who could become pregnant need pregnancy testing as advised and reliable contraception before, during and for 6 weeks after medically supervised discontinuation; two complementary methods are preferred. Men or their partners need reliable contraception during treatment and for 90 days afterwards.
- Plan pregnancy or fatherhood with your specialist; treatment may need changing. Contact the team the same day if pregnancy is possible or contraception fails. Do not stop treatment yourself. Avoid breastfeeding on this medicine; arrange alternatives beforehand.
Infection and interactions
- Report diarrhoea or infection rather than stopping treatment yourself. Some antacids, cholestyramine and other medicines affect absorption. Ask for a medication review and spacing plan where needed.
Brand: ........................ | Dose and how I take or use the medicine: ........................
Next dose: ........................ | Next blood tests: ........................
Team contact: ........................
When to get help
Seek emergency care for breathing difficulty, major bleeding, or fainting or confusion with serious illness. Do not wait for a message reply.
Contact the team the same day for fever, severe sore throat, unusual bruising, ongoing diarrhoea or vomiting, possible pregnancy, or inability to take or obtain doses.
Related guides
Anti-rejection medicines after liver transplantation: a practical guide
Care after liver transplantation