| Active substance(s) | Sirolimus |
| Country of admission | gb |
| Marketing authorisation holder | Wyeth Europa Ltd |
| ATC Code | L04AA10 |
| Pharmacological groups | Immunosuppressants |
Rapamune contains the active substance sirolimus, which belongs to a group of medicines called immunosuppressants. It helps to control your body?s immune system after you have received a kidney transplant.
It is used to prevent your body from rejecting transplanted kidneys and is normally used with other immunosuppressant medicines called corticosteroids and initially (the first 2 to 3 months) with ciclosporin.
Do not take Rapamune if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to sirolimus or any of the other ingredients of Rapamune (section 6 contains a list of these ingredients).
- If you have any liver problems or have had a disease which may have affected your liver, please tell your doctor as this may affect the dose of Rapamune that you receive and may result in your having additional blood tests.- Rapamune, like other immunosuppressive medicines, may decrease your body?s ability to fight infection, and may increase the risk of developing cancer of the lymphoid tissues and skin.- If you have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m 2, you may be at increased risk of abnormal wound healing.- If you are considered to be at high risk for rejection, such as if you had a previous transplant that was lost to rejection.
Your doctor will perform tests to monitor the levels of Rapamune in your blood. Your doctor will also perform tests to monitor your kidney function, your blood fat (cholesterol and/or triglycerides) levels and possibly your liver function, during treatment with Rapamune.
Exposure to sunlight and UV light should be limited by covering your skin with clothing and using a sunscreen with a high protection factor because of the increased risk for skin cancer.
Use in children
There is limited experience on the use of Rapamune in children and adolescents less than 18 years of age. The use of Rapamune is not recommended in this population.
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, or have recently taken any other medicines, including those obtained without a prescription.
Some medicines can interfere with the action of Rapamune and, therefore, dose adjustment of Rapamune may be required. In particular, you should inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following:
any other immunosuppressant medicines antibiotics or antifungal medicines used to treat infection e.g. clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin, troleandomycin, rifabutin, clotrimazole, fluconazole, itraconazole. It is not recommended that Rapamune be taken with rifampicin, ketoconazole or voriconazole. any high blood pressure medicines or medicines for heart problems including nicardipine, verapamil and diltiazem anti-epileptic medicines including carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin medicines used to treat ulcers or other gastrointestinal disorders such as cisapride, cimetidine, metoclopramide bromocriptine used in the treatment of Parkinsons disease and various hormonal disorders, danazol used in the treatment of gynaecological disorders, or protease inhibitors used in the treatment of HIV St. Johns Wort Hypericum perforatum
The use of live vaccines should be avoided with the use of Rapamune. Before vaccinations, please inform your doctor or pharmacist that you are receiving Rapamune.
The use of Rapamune may lead to increased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats) in your blood that may require treatment. Medicines known as ?statins? and ?fibrates? used to treat elevated cholesterol and triglycerides have been associated with an increased risk of muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis). Please inform your doctor if you are taking medicines to lower your blood fats.
The combined use of Rapamune with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (a type of medicine used to lower blood pressure) may result in allergic reactions. Please inform your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines.
Rapamune should be taken consistently, either with or without food. If you prefer to take Rapamune with food, then you should always take it with food. If you prefer to take Rapamune without food, then you should always take it without food. Food can affect the amount of medicine that gets into your bloodstream, and taking your medicine in a consistent way means that the blood levels of Rapamune remain more stable.
Rapamune should not be taken with grapefruit juice.
Rapamune should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary. You must use an effective method of contraception during treatment with Rapamune and for 12 weeks after treatment has stopped. If you are unsure, or think you may have become pregnant, talk to your doctor.
It is not known whether Rapamune passes into breast milk. Patients taking Rapamune should discontinue breast-feeding.
Decreased sperm count has been associated with the use of Rapamune and usually returns to normal once treatment is stopped.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Although Rapamune treatment is not expected to affect your ability to drive, if you have any concerns please consult your doctor.
Rapamune contains 86.4 mg of lactose and up to 215.8 mg of sucrose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
Always take Rapamune exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Your doctor will decide exactly what dose of Rapamune you must take and how often to take it. Follow your doctor?s instructions exactly, and never change the dose yourself.
Your doctor will give you an initial dose of 6 mg as soon as possible after the kidney transplant operation. Then you will need to take 2 mg of Rapamune each day, until otherwise directed by your doctor. Your dose will be adjusted depending on the level of Rapamune in your blood. Your doctor will need to perform blood tests to measure Rapamune concentrations.
If you are also taking ciclosporin, then you must take the two medicines approximately 4 hours apart.
It is recommended that Rapamune be used first in combination with ciclosporin and corticosteroids. After 3 months, your doctor may discontinue either Rapamune or ciclosporin, as it is not recommended that these medicines be taken together beyond this period.
Rapamune is for oral use only. Do not crush, chew, or split the tablets. Inform your doctor if you have difficulty taking the tablet.
Multiples of 0.5 mg tablets should not be used as a substitute for 1 mg and 2 mg tablets, as the different strengths are not directly interchangeable.
Rapamune should be taken consistently, either with or without food.
If you have taken more medicine than you were told to, contact a doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency department as soon as possible. Always take the labelled blister with you, even if it is empty.
If you forget to take Rapamune, take it as soon as you remember, but not within 4 hours of the next dose of ciclosporin. After that, continue to take your medicines as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose, and always take Rapamune and ciclosporin approximately 4 hours apart. If you miss a dose of Rapamune completely, you should inform your doctor.
Do not stop taking Rapamune unless your doctor tells you to, as you risk losing your transplant.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, Rapamune can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
You should see your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms, such as swollen face, tongue and/or back of the mouth (pharynx) and/or difficulties in breathing (angioedema), or a skin condition whereby the skin can peel off (exfoliative dermatitis). These may be symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
When taken with medicines called calcineurin inhibitors (ciclosporin or tacrolimus), Rapamune may increase the risk of kidney damage with low blood platelets and low red blood cell counts, with or without rash (thrombocytopaenic purpura/haemolytic uraemic syndrome). If you experience symptoms such as bruising or rash, changes in your urine, or changes in behaviour or any others that are serious, unusual or prolonged, contact your doctor.
Rapamune reduces your body?s own defence mechanisms to stop your rejecting your transplanted organ. Consequently your body will not be as good as normal at fighting infections. So if you are taking Rapamune, you may therefore catch more infections than usual, such as infections of the skin, mouth, stomach and intestines, lungs and urinary tract (see list below). You should contact your doctor if you experience symptoms that are serious, unusual, or prolonged.
The frequency of side effects listed below is defined using the following convention:
very common (affects more than 1 user in 10)
common (affects 1 to 10 users in 100)
uncommon (affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000)
rare (affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000)
not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
Very common Fluid collection around the kidney Swelling of the extremities e.g., hands, feet Pain Fever Headache Increased blood pressure Stomach pain, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea Low red blood cells, low blood platelets Increased fat in the blood cholesterol andor triglycerides, increased blood sugar, low blood potassium, low blood phosphorus, increased lactate dehydrogenase in the blood, increased creatinine in the blood Joint pain Acne Urinary tract infection
Common Slow healing this may include separation of the layers of a surgical wound or stitch line Swelling Infections including life-threatening infections Rapid heart rate Blood clots in the legs Mouth sores Fluid collection in the abdomen Kidney damage with low blood platelets and low red blood cell counts, with or without rash thrombocytopenic purpurahaemolytic uraemic syndrome A reduced number of infection fighting cells in the blood white blood cells, low levels of a type of white blood cells called neutrophils Diabetes Abnormal tests of liver function, elevated AST andor ALT liver enzymes Deterioration of bone Pneumonia and other causes of inflammation that may lead to lung damage, fluid around the lung Nose bleeds Skin cancer Rash Kidney infection protein in the urine
Uncommon:
- Fluid collection in the sac around the heart that, in some cases, may decrease the heart's ability to pump blood
- Inflammation of the pancreas
- Blood clots in the lung
- Cancer of the lymph tissue (lymphoma/post-transplant lympho-proliferative disorder), combined lowering of red blood cells, white blood cells and blood platelets - Bleeding from the lung
- Protein in the urine, occasionally severe and associated with side effects, such as swelling
Rare Protein build-up in the air sacs of the lungs that may interfere with breathing Too much fluid collecting in the tissues due to irregular lymph function Serious allergic reactions see above paragraph on allergic reactions
Not known:
- Serious liver damage and scarring in the kidney that may reduce kidney function - There is a general tendency for fluid to collect in various tissues.
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use Rapamune after the expiry date, which is stated on the blister and carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 25-C.Keep the blister in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
The active substance is sirolimus.
Each Rapamune 0.5 mg coated tablet contains 0.5 mg of sirolimus.
Each Rapamune 1 mg coated tablet contains 1 mg of sirolimus.
Each Rapamune 2 mg coated tablet contains 2 mg of sirolimus.
The other ingredients are:
Tablet core: lactose monohydrate, macrogol, magnesium stearate, talc
Tablet coating: macrogol, glycerol monooleate, pharmaceutical glaze, calcium sulphate, microcrystalline cellulose, sucrose, titanium dioxide, poloxamer 188, --tocopherol, povidone, carnauba wax. The 0.5 mg and 2 mg tablets also contain yellow iron oxide and brown iron oxide.
Rapamune 0.5 mg is supplied to you as tan-coloured, triangular-shaped coated tablets marked ?RAPAMUNE 0.5 mg? on one side.
Rapamune 1 mg is supplied to you as white-coloured, triangular-shaped coated tablets marked ?RAPAMUNE 1 mg? on one side.
Rapamune 2 mg is supplied to you as yellow to beige-coloured, triangular-shaped coated tablets marked ?RAPAMUNE 2 mg? on one side.
The tablets are supplied in blister packs of 30 and 100 tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder Wyeth Europa Ltd Huntercombe Lane South Taplow, Maidenhead Berkshire, SL6 0PH United Kingdom Manufacturer Wyeth Medica Ireland Little Connell Newbridge Co. Kildare Ireland
For any information about this medicinal product, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder.
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Last updated on 19.08.2022
The following drugs also contain the active ingredient Sirolimus. Consult your doctor about a possible substitute for Rapamune 2 mg coated tablets
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