Prevention of organ rejection in transplant patients

In Prevention of organ rejection in transplant patients Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR belongs to a group of medicines known as immunosuppressive agents. It lowers your immune response and reduces the chance of your body attacking the transplanted organ. Organ rejection happens when your immune system treats the new organ as an invader and attacks it. This medicine may be used in combination with other medicines to suppress the immune system and help your body accept the new organ.

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew crush or break it. Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR may be taken with or without food but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR belongs to a group of medicines called immunosuppressants. It is used with other medicines to prevent your body from rejecting an organ (such as a kidney heart or liver) after a transplant. It works by weakening your body’s immune system so it does not attack the transplanted organ.The amount of Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR you take depends on the type of transplant you have. Follow your doctor’s instructions on this. This medicine may be taken with our without food. Swallow it as a whole do not crush chew break or open them. Take the medicine regularly to get the most benefit and keep taking it even if you feel well. If you stop taking it you may increase the chances of rejecting your transplanted organ. The treatment will continue for as long as you need it to prevent rejection.The most common side effects of Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR are nausea vomiting diarrhea stomach pain headache high blood pressure and changes in the number of white blood cells. Because it suppresses your immune system you may catch more infections than usual. There is also an increased risk of developing some cancers for this reason. There is a long list of potential side effects. You should ask your doctor about them and what signs to look out for because some can be serious and need urgent medical attention.This medicine can cause birth defects and miscarriages so do not take it if you are pregnant planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding. You should talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you have any signs of infection if you have any unexpected bruising or bleeding and if you have ever had a problem with your digestive system. Your doctor also needs to know what other medicines you are taking as there are many which interact with this medicine and affect the way it works. You will have regular tests to check for any changes in the number of your blood cells inform your doctor if you notice unexplained bruising or bleeding sore throat mouth ulcers or fever.

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew crush or break it. Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR may be taken with or without food but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

- Alcohol : SAFE <p> Consuming alcohol with Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR does not cause any harmful side effects. | - Pregnancy : CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR <p> Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor. | - Breast feeding : UNSAFE <p> Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby. | - Driving : SAFE <p> Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR does not usually affect your ability to drive. | - Kidney : CAUTION <p> Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR should be used with caution in patients with severe kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR may be needed. Please consult your doctor. | - Liver : SAFE IF PRESCRIBED <p> Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR is probably safe to use in patients with liver disease. Limited data available suggests that dose adjustment of Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR may not be needed in these patients. Please consult your doctor.

If you miss a dose of Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR take it as soon as possible. However if it is almost time for your next dose skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.

Chemical Class :: Phthalide Derivative|Habit Forming :: No|Therapeutic Class :: ANTI NEOPLASTICS|Action Class :: Immunosuppressant- Purine analogs

Prevention of organ rejection in transplant patients

Nausea | Vomiting | Diarrhea | Abdominal pain | Headache | High blood pressure | Decreased white blood cell count (neutrophils) | Bacterial infection | Fungal infection | Pneumonia | Increased uric acid level in blood | Electrolyte imbalance | Anxiety | Breathlessness | Increased creatinine level in blood | Anemia (low number of red blood cells) | Acne | Muscle pain

Q. Why has my doctor given me Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR after I have had a kidney transplant?::: Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR is an immunosuppressant. Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR has been prescribed to you to help your body accept the donor kidney. It does so by working on the cells of your immune system which fight with any foreign substance and reject its presence. This helps in making the transplanted organ more acceptable to your body.| Q. Can Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR cause cancer?::: Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR may increase your chances of certain cancers like skin cancer and lymphoma (cancer of the lymph system). When outside avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight wear protective clothing and apply sunscreen. Call your doctor if you experience a new skin sore or bump a change in the size or color of a mole a brown or black skin lesion (sore) with uneven edges a sore whose one part does not look like the other skin changes sores that do not heal unexplained fever tiredness that does not go away weight loss or pain or swelling in the neck groin or armpits.| Q. Is Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR a steroid or a chemotherapy drug? Can it cause hair loss?::: Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR is neither a steroid nor a chemotherapy medicine. It is an immunosuppressant which means that it acts on your immune system to suppress or weaken it so that your body does not reject the donated organ of another person. Hair loss is a common side effect of Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR.| Q. Do I need any special tests while taking Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR?::: Since Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR can affect blood count and affect the kidneys and liver your doctor will ask you to have a blood test before you start the treatment. Once the treatment starts you will be required to take regular blood tests to check for any changes in the blood. These blood tests will help monitor your response to the medicine and the development of any side effects.| Q. My doctor has asked me to stay away from a person who has chicken pox or shingles. Why?::: Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR is an immunosuppressant which means that it decreases the activity of the immune system. Since your immune system is already weak if you come in contact with a patient of chicken pox or shingles you may develop it too. This is the reason that your doctor has advised you to be cautious. Therefore follow your doctor’s advice and contact your doctor immediately if you get chicken pox or shingles as you may require special treatment.| Q. What precautions should a female follow while taking Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR?::: Do not take Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR if you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy. There is a high risk of miscarriage (loss of the pregnancy) during the first 3 months of pregnancy. It may even cause birth defects (problems that are present at birth) in the baby. Therefore you must use two acceptable forms of birth control together for 4 weeks before you start taking Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR during the treatment and for 6 weeks after you stop taking Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR. Your doctor will suggest the two birth control methods which suit you the best. It is important to use a second form of birth control along with birth control pills as Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills.| Q. What precautions should a male follow while taking Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR?::: It is recommended that either the man or her partner should use reliable contraception during treatment and for 90 days after the treatment. Men should not donate semen during the therapy or for 90 days following discontinuation of Ponophen-S 360 Tablet DR.