Rapamune (Sirolimus) Drug Overview of Side Effects and Precautions for Patients and Caregivers at RxList

Pill Identifier Search

May 27, 2012

Rapamune

Kidney Failure »

What are the kidneys?

The kidneys play key roles in body function, not only by filtering the blood and getting rid of waste products, but also by balancing levels of electrolyte levels in the body, controlling blood pressure, and stimulating the production of red blood cells.

The kidneys are located in the abdomen toward the back, normally one on each side of the spine. They get their blood supply through the renal arteries directly from the aorta and send blood back to the heart via the renal veins to the vena cava. (The term "renal" is derived from the Latin name for kidney.)

The kidneys have the ability to monitor the amount of body fluid, the concentrations of electrolytes like sodium and potassium, and the acid-base balance of the body. They filter waste products of body metabolism, like urea from protein metabolism and uric acid from DNA breakdown. Two waste products in the blood can be measured: blood urea nitrogen (BUN) ...

Read the Kidney Failure article »

« Previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Next »

Rapamune User Reviews >>

Rapamune

Take the Kidney Disease Quiz

Kidney Stones Slideshow Pictures

High Blood Pressure Slideshow Pictures

font size

Rapamune Consumer (continued)

SIDE EFFECTS: See also Warning section.

Diarrhea, joint pain, shaking, acne, or trouble sleeping may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: muscle pain/cramps, bone pain, increased thirst/hunger, frequent urination, vision changes, hearing problems (e.g., hearing loss, ringing in the ears), unusual tiredness/weakness, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, easy bruising/bleeding, mental/mood changes, swelling ankles/feet, severe headache, dizziness, stomach/abdominal pain.

This drug increases the risk of a possibly fatal brain infection (PML - progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy). Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms: clumsiness, sudden change in your thinking (such as confusion, difficulty concentrating), difficulty moving muscles, seizure, difficulty speaking.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: change in the amount of urine, frothy urine, chest pain, shortness of breath, pain/redness/swelling of arms or legs, swelling abdomen, dark urine, yellowing eyes/skin, persistent nausea/vomiting.

Sirolimus may slow wound healing after surgery. Tell your doctor immediately if you have signs that your surgery wound is not healing well (e.g., redness, swelling, pain). The risk of poor wound healing is higher if you are obese.

Sirolimus may cause your cholesterol/triglycerides to increase. You may be required to have your cholesterol/triglycerides checked periodically and/or take another medication to control your cholesterol/triglycerides.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

Sirolimus can commonly cause a mild rash that is usually not serious. However, you may not be able to tell it apart from a rare rash that could be a sign of a severe allergic reaction. Therefore, seek immediate medical attention if you develop any rash.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

PRECAUTIONS: Before taking sirolimus, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other macrolide medications (e.g., tacrolimus, erythromycin); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, kidney disease, high cholesterol/triglyceride levels, any recent/current infections, cancer.

This medication may increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen with a high protection factor and wear protective clothing when outdoors.

Do not have immunizations/vaccinations without the consent of your doctor, and avoid contact with people who have recently received oral polio vaccine or flu vaccine inhaled through the nose.

Since this medication can increase your risk of developing serious infections, wash your hands well to prevent the spread of infections. Avoid contact with people who have illnesses that may spread to others (e.g., flu, chickenpox).

This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor for more details and to discuss reliable forms of birth control. It is recommended that men and women using this medication use two effective forms of birth control (e.g., condoms and birth control pills) before starting this medication, while taking this medication, and for 12 weeks after stopping this medication. Consult your doctor.

This drug may pass into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.