Tacrolimus Capsule, Brand Name : Pangraf

Tacrolimus capsules are a medication primarily used as an immunosuppressive agent.This means they work by lowering your body's immune system response.

 

 

Key Description and Use

 

• Primary Use (Main Indication): Prophylaxis (prevention) of organ rejection in patients who have received an allogeneic transplant (from a donor), such as a:

   

   

  • Kidney transplant

     

     

  • Liver transplant

     

     

  • Heart transplant

     

     

  • Lung transplant (often off-label for the immediate-release form)

     

     

• Mechanism of Action: Tacrolimus belongs to a class of drugs called calcineurin inhibitors.It works by inhibiting T-lymphocyte activation, which are the white blood cells that would typically try to "reject" the new transplanted organ.

   
   

   

• Administration: The capsules are taken orally.They are often prescribed in combination with other immunosuppressants (like corticosteroids or mycophenolate mofetil).

   
   

   

• Dosage Forms: Tacrolimus is available in different capsule forms:

   

   

  • Immediate-Release (IR) Capsules (e.g., brand name Prograf, generic tacrolimus) - typically taken twice a day, 12 hours apart.

     

     

  • Extended-Release (ER) Capsules (e.g., brand name Astagraf XL, Envarsus XR) - typically taken once a day.

     

     

 

Important Note on Administration

 

• Consistency is Crucial: To maintain a constant level in the blood, tacrolimus must be taken at the same time every day.

   

   

• Food Interaction: The IR form is often taken on an empty stomach (e.g., one hour before or two hours after a meal), but consistency (always with food or always without) is more important for steady levels.

   

   

• Monitoring: Since it is a narrow therapeutic index drug (meaning a small difference in dose or blood concentration can lead to side effects or ineffectiveness), frequent blood tests are required to monitor tacrolimus trough concentrations.

   

   

 

Serious Considerations

 

Tacrolimus is a powerful medicine. Due to its immunosuppressive effects, patients taking it are at an increased risk of:

• Serious Infections (bacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal)

   

   

• Malignancies (especially skin cancers and lymphoma)

   

   

• Kidney Problems (nephrotoxicity)

   

   

• New Onset Diabetes After Transplant (NODAT)

   

   

It is critical to follow a healthcare provider's instructions exactly and never stop taking the medication without their supervision.

Would you like more information about a specific aspect of tacrolimus, such as common side effects or drug interactions?