Cellcept 250mg Capsules

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

1. What CellCept is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take CellCept
3. How to take CellCept
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store CellCept
6. Contents of the pack and other information

• If you are allergic to mycophenolate mofetil, mycophenolic acid or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you are a woman who could be pregnant and you have not provided a negative pregnancy test before your first prescription, as mycophenolate causes birth defects and miscarriage.
• If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or think you may be pregnant
• If you are not using effective contraception (see Pregnancy, contraception and breast-feeding).
• If you are breast-feeding.

Do not take this medicine if any of the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking CellCept.

Talk to your doctor straight away before starting treatment with CellCept:

• If you are older than 65 years as you may have an increased risk of developing adverse events such as certain viral infections, gastrointestinal bleeding and pulmonary oedema when compared to younger patients
• If you have a sign of infection such as a fever or sore throat
• If you have any unexpected bruising or bleeding
• If you have ever had a problem with your digestive system such as a stomach ulcer
• If you are planning to become pregnant or if you get pregnant while you or your partner are taking CellCept
• If you have a hereditary enzyme deficiency such as Lesch-Nyhan and Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome

If any of the above apply to you (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor straight away before starting treatment with CellCept.

CellCept reduces your body’s defences. As a result, there is an increased risk of skin cancer. Limit the amount of sunlight and UV light you get. Do this by:

• wearing protective clothing that also covers your head, neck, arms and legs
• using a sunscreen with a high protection factor.

Do not give this medicine to children younger than 2 years because based on the limited safety and efficacy data for this age group no dose recommendations can be made.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription, such as herbal medicines. This is because CellCept can affect the way some other medicines work. Also other medicines can affect the way CellCept works.

In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines before you start CellCept:

• azathioprine or other medicines that suppress your immune system – given after a transplant operation
• cholestyramine – used to treat high cholesterol
• rifampicin – an antibiotic used to prevent and treat infections such as tuberculosis (TB)
• antacids or proton pump inhibitors – used for acid problems in your stomach such as indigestion
• phosphate binders – used by people with chronic kidney failure to reduce how much phosphate gets absorbed into their blood
• antibiotics – used to treat bacterial infections
• isavuconazole – used to treat fungal infections
• telmisartan – used to treat high blood pressure

If you need to have a vaccination (a live vaccine) while taking CellCept, talk to your doctor or pharmacist first. Your doctor will have to advise you on what vaccines you can have.

You must not donate blood during treatment with CellCept and for at least 6 weeks after stopping treatment. Men must not donate semen during treatment with CellCept and for at least 90 days after stopping treatment.

Taking food and drink has no effect on your treatment with CellCept.

If you are a woman who could become pregnant, you must use an effective method of contraception with CellCept. This includes:

• Before you start taking CellCept
• During your entire treatment with CellCept
• For 6 weeks after you stop taking CellCept.

Talk to your doctor about the most suitable contraception for you. This will depend on your individual situation. Two forms of contraception are preferable as this will reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy.

Contact your doctor as soon as possible, if you think your contraception may not have been effective or if you have forgotten to take your contraceptive pill.

You cannot become pregnant if any of the following conditions applies to you:

• You are post-menopausal, i.e. at least 50 years old and your last period was more than a year ago (if your periods have stopped because you have had treatment for cancer, then there is still a chance you could become pregnant)
• Your fallopian tubes and both ovaries have been removed by surgery (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy)
• Your womb (uterus) has been removed by surgery (hysterectomy)
• Your ovaries no longer work (premature ovarian failure, which has been confirmed by a specialist gynaecologist)
• You were born with one of the following rare conditions that make pregnancy impossible: the XY genotype, Turner’s syndrome or uterine agenesis
• You are a child or teenager who has not started having periods.

The available evidence does not indicate an increased risk of malformations or miscarriage if the father takes mycophenolate. However, a risk cannot be completely excluded. As a precaution you or your female partner are recommended to use reliable contraception during treatment and for 90 days after you stop taking CellCept.

If you are planning to have a child, talk to your doctor about the potential risks and alternative therapies.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Your doctor will talk to you about the risks in case of pregnancy and the alternatives you can take to prevent rejection of your transplant organ if:

• You plan to become pregnant.
• You miss or think you have missed a period, or you have unusual menstrual bleeding, or suspect you are pregnant.
• You have sex without using effective methods of contraception.

If you do become pregnant during the treatment with mycophenolate, you must inform your doctor immediately. However, keep taking CellCept until you see him or her.

Pregnancy

Mycophenolate causes a very high frequency of miscarriage (50%) and of severe birth defects (23 - 27%) in the unborn baby. Birth defects that have been reported include anomalies of ears, of eyes, of face (cleft lip/palate), of development of fingers, of heart, oesophagus (tube that connects the throat with the stomach), kidneys and nervous system (for example spina bifida (where the bones of the spine are not properly developed). Your baby may be affected by one or more of these.

If you are a woman who could become pregnant, you must provide a negative pregnancy test before starting treatment and must follow the contraception advice given to you by your doctor. Your doctor may request more than one test to ensure you are not pregnant before starting treatment.

Breast-feeding

Do not take CellCept if you are breast-feeding. This is because small amounts of the medicine can pass into the mother’s milk.

CellCept has a moderate influence on your ability to drive or use any tools or machines. If you feel drowsy, numb or confused, talk to your doctor or nurse and do not drive or use any tools or machines until you feel better.

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per capsule, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

The amount you take depends on the type of transplant you have had. The usual doses are shown below. Treatment will continue for as long as you need to prevent rejection of your transplant organ.

Adults

• The first dose is given within 3 days of the transplant operation.
• The daily dose is 8 capsules (2 g of the medicine) taken as 2 separate doses.
• Take 4 capsules in the morning and then 4 capsules in the evening.

Children (aged 2 to 18 years)

• The dose given will vary depending on the size of the child.
• Your doctor will decide the most appropriate dose based on your child’s height and weight (body surface area – measured as square metres or “m²”). The recommended dose is 600 mg/m² taken twice a day.

Adults

• The first dose is given within 5 days of the transplant operation.
• The daily dose is 12 capsules (3 g of the medicine) taken as 2 separate doses.
• Take 6 capsules in the morning and then 6 capsules in the evening.

Children

• There is no information for the use of CellCept in children with a heart transplant.

Adults

• The first dose of oral CellCept will be given to you at least 4 days after the transplant operation and when you are able to swallow oral medicines.
• The daily dose is 12 capsules (3 g of the medicine) taken as 2 separate doses.
• Take 6 capsules in the morning and then 6 capsules in the evening.

Children

• There is no information for the use of CellCept in children with a liver transplant.

Swallow your capsules whole with a glass of water

• Do not break or crush them
• Do not take any capsules that have broken open or split.

Take care not to let any powder from inside a broken capsule get into your eyes or mouth.

• If this happens, rinse with plenty of plain water.

Take care not to let any powder from inside a broken capsule get onto your skin.

• If this happens, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.

If you take more CellCept than you should, talk to a doctor or go to a hospital straight away. Also do this if someone else accidentally takes your medicine. Take the medicine pack with you.

If you forget to take your medicine at any time, take it as soon as you remember. Then continue to take it at the usual times. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

Do not stop taking CellCept unless your doctor tells you to. If you stop your treatment you may increase the chance of rejection of your transplant organ.

• you have a sign of infection such as a fever or sore throat
• you have any unexpected bruising or bleeding
• you have a rash, swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, with difficulty breathing - you may be having a serious allergic reaction to the medicine (such as anaphylaxis, angioeodema).

Some of the more usual problems are diarrhoea, fewer white cells or red cells in your blood, infection and vomiting. Your doctor will do regular blood tests to check for any changes in:

• the number of your blood cells or signs of infections

Children may be more likely than adults to have some side effects. These include diarrhoea, infections, fewer white cells and fewer red cells in the blood.

CellCept reduces your body’s defences. This is to stop you rejecting your transplant. As a result, your body will not be as good as normal at fighting infections. This means you may catch more infections than usual. This includes infections of the brain, skin, mouth, stomach and gut, lungs and urinary system.

As can happen in patients taking this type of medicine (immune-suppressants), a very small number of patients on CellCept have developed cancer of the lymphoid tissues and skin.

You may get general side effects affecting your body as a whole. These include serious allergic reactions (such as anaphylaxis, angioeodema), fever, feeling very tired, difficulty sleeping, pains (such as stomach, chest, joint or muscle), headache, flu symptoms and swelling.

Other unwanted effects may include:

Skin problems such as:

• acne, cold sores, shingles, skin growth, hair loss, rash, itching.

Urinary problems such as:

• blood in the urine.

Digestive system and mouth problems such as:

• swelling of the gums and mouth ulcers,
• inflammation of the pancreas, colon or stomach,
• gastrointestinal disorders including bleeding,
• liver disorder,
• diarrhoea, constipation, feeling sick (nausea), indigestion, loss of appetite, flatulence.

Nervous system problems such as:

• feeling dizzy, drowsy or numb,
• tremor, muscle spasms, convulsions,
• feeling anxious or depressed, changes in your mood or thoughts.

Heart and blood vessel problems such as:

• change in blood pressure, accelerated heartbeat widening of blood vessels.

Lung problems such as:

• pneumonia, bronchitis,
• shortness of breath, cough, which can be due to bronchiectasis (a condition in which the lung airways are abnormally dilated) or pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lung). Talk to your doctor if you develop a persistent cough or breathlessness.
• fluid on the lungs or inside the chest,
• sinus problems.

Other problems such as:

• weight loss, gout, high blood sugar, bleeding, bruising.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly (see details below). By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

United Kingdom

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• The active substance is mycophenolate mofetil.
• Each capsule contains 250 mg mycophenolate mofetil. The other ingredients are:
  • CellCept capsules: pregelatinised maize starch, croscarmellose sodium, polyvidone (K-90), magnesium stearate
  • Capsule shell: gelatin, indigo carmine (E132), yellow iron oxide (E172), red iron oxide (E172), titanium dioxide (E171), black iron oxide (E172), potassium hydroxide, shellac.

• CellCept capsules are oblong-shaped with one end blue and the other end brown. They have “CellCept 250” printed in black on the capsule cap and “Roche” printed in black on the capsule body.
• They are available as a carton of 100 or 300 capsules (both in blister packs of 10) or as a multipack containing 300 (3 packs of 100) capsules. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

For any information about this medicinal product, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder: