Myfortic

Myfortic is an immunosuppressant used to prevent the body from rejecting a newly transplanted kidney. It comes in the form of a delayed-release capsule and is taken twice a day. This prescription medication is taken in combination with cyclosporine and a corticosteroid. Side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, and urinary tract infection, among others.

Myfortic Medication Information

What Is Myfortic?

Myfortic^® (mycophenolate sodium) is a prescription medication approved to prevent transplant rejection after a renal transplant (kidney transplant). It is used in combination with cyclosporine (Gengraf^®, Neoral^®, Sandimmune^®) and a corticosteroid (such as prednisone).

Mycophenolate, the active ingredient in Myfortic, is also available as mycophenolate mofetil in CellCept^®. Myfortic and CellCept are similar medicines. However, they are absorbed differently by the body, and therefore are not directly interchangeable. Do not switch from one form of mycophenolate to another without first talking to your healthcare provider.

(Click Myfortic Uses for more information on this topic, including possible off-label uses.)

Who Makes This Medication?

Myfortic is manufactured by Novartis Pharma Stein AG for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

How Does Myfortic Work?

Myfortic works by blocking the action of an enzyme in the body known as inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH). This enzyme is needed for T- and B-lymphocytes (cells that are part of the immune system) to multiply.

Transplant rejection occurs when the immune system, which is responsible for fighting infections, sees the transplanted organ as foreign material and attacks it. By preventing T- and B-lymphocytes from multiplying, Myfortic decreases the activity of the immune system, thus decreasing the risk of transplant rejection.

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