About tacrolimus
Calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant
Used for
- Prevention of organ transplant rejection
- Treatment of rejection when other immunosuppressants are unsuitable
Usual adult dose
Infusion dosing is individualized by transplant type, blood levels, and specialist protocol; often starts around 0.01–0.05 mg/kg/day.
Usual dose in children
Specialist dosing varies by transplant and blood levels; typically starts around 0.05–0.1 mg/kg/day.
Common side effects
- Kidney injury
- High blood pressure
- Tremor or headache
- High blood sugar and increased infection risk
Important warnings
- Given by continuous intravenous infusion under specialist supervision; switch to oral treatment as soon as possible.
- Requires frequent blood tests to monitor drug levels, kidney function, electrolytes, and blood sugar.
- Can cause serious infections and some cancers, including skin cancer and lymphoma.
- Intravenous formulations may cause severe allergic reactions; monitor during infusion.
Pregnancy
May be used when needed after specialist assessment; risks include high blood pressure, diabetes, and premature birth.
Breastfeeding
Tacrolimus enters breast milk. Breastfeeding decisions require specialist assessment and monitoring.
Interactions
- Grapefruit can raise tacrolimus levels.
- Some antibiotics and antifungals raise levels; rifampicin can lower them.
- Avoid live vaccines; immune responses may be reduced.
- Other kidney-damaging medicines can increase kidney injury risk.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.