Pacrolim (Tacrolimus)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Pacrolim Used For?
Pacrolim is prescribed to prevent your body from rejecting a transplanted organ. When you receive a new liver, kidney, lung, or heart, your immune system recognizes it as foreign and tries to attack it, which could make you ill again.
Primary Uses
Prevention of organ rejection after liver, kidney, lung, or heart transplantation. Your doctor may also prescribe Pacrolim if other immunosuppressive medicines haven’t been working well for you.
How It Works
Pacrolim contains tacrolimus, which stops your immune system from attacking your new transplanted organ. It suppresses your body’s natural defense system to prevent rejection.
Important: It’s crucial to take Pacrolim regularly as prescribed to prevent your body from rejecting your new organ
How to Take Pacrolim
Your doctor will calculate your specific dose based on your weight, age, and medical condition. Regular blood and urine tests will be needed to monitor if your dose needs adjustment.
Dosage Instructions
Take Pacrolim twice daily (morning and evening). Swallow capsules whole with plenty of water. Take at least 1 hour before meals as food reduces absorption. Never use grapefruit juice as it interferes with the medication’s action. Never change your dose yourself, even if you feel better.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. If you’ve missed more than one dose or are unsure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Tiredness and lack of energy
- Stomach upset including nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, stomach cramps
- Tremor (shaking)
- Headache
- Feeling depressed
- Sleeping difficulties
- Blurred vision or light sensitivity
- Muscle cramps, tenderness or weakness
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Signs of allergy (rash, itching, hives, swelling of face/lips/tongue, breathing difficulties)
- Fever
- Diabetes/increased blood sugar
- Swelling, numbness or tingling in hands and feet
- Constant flu-like symptoms (chills, sore throat, aching joints, swollen glands, signs of infection)
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- High blood pressure
- Heart palpitations, abnormal rhythms, chest pain
- New lumps/moles or changes to existing moles
- Swelling of eyelids, hands or feet
- Changes in urination or kidney problems
- Yellowing of skin/eyes (jaundice) with feeling unwell
- Symptoms of anemia (shortness of breath, tiredness, dizziness)
- Seizures
- Buzzing/ringing in ears, hearing difficulty
Important Warnings
Pacrolim suppresses your immune system, which increases your risk of infections and certain cancers, particularly skin cancer.
Who Should Not Take Pacrolim
Do not use if you’re allergic to tacrolimus, macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin family including Eryc, EES, Klacid, Zithromax, Rulide, Biaxsig), or any ingredients in the capsules. Don’t use if packaging is damaged or past expiry date.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you’re receiving cyclosporin immunosuppressive therapy, using oral contraceptives, or taking any other medications including over-the-counter medicines and herbal preparations.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Your doctor will advise whether to take Pacrolim or if dose adjustments are needed.
Cancer Risk: Always protect yourself from sun exposure – wear sunscreen, hat, and protective clothing as Pacrolim increases skin cancer risk
Drug Interactions
Several medications can affect how Pacrolim works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
Grapefruit interaction: Never use grapefruit juice with Pacrolim as it contains substances that interfere with the medication’s action
- St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) – decreases tacrolimus blood levels
- Macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin family)
- Other immunosuppressive medications like cyclosporin
Alcohol & Driving
Pacrolim may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
Alcohol
Information about alcohol use with Pacrolim was not specifically mentioned in the source material.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Pacrolim may cause visual or nervous disturbances. If you experience these effects, do not drive or operate machinery.
Storage
Keep blister strips in a dry place and leave capsules in the blister until needed. Store below 25°C in the original container. Keep medicines where children cannot reach them – a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground is ideal. Do not store in bathrooms, near sinks, in cars, or on window sills as heat and dampness can damage the medicine.
Overdose Information
If you accidentally take more than the recommended dose, contact your doctor immediately or call the Poisons Information Centre (Australia: 13 11 26, New Zealand: 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766), or go to your nearest hospital emergency department. Do this even if you feel fine, as you may need urgent medical attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
The source doesn’t specify how long Pacrolim takes to work, but it’s important to take it regularly as prescribed to prevent organ rejection. Your doctor will monitor your progress with regular blood and urine tests.
No, Pacrolim should be taken at least 1 hour before meals because food reduces the absorption of the medication.
The source material doesn’t indicate that Pacrolim is addictive. However, you must never stop taking it or change the dose yourself, as this is essential to prevent organ rejection.
You must never change the dose yourself or stop taking Pacrolim, even if you feel better. It’s very important to keep taking this medicine so your body won’t reject your transplanted organ.
No, never use grapefruit juice with Pacrolim as it contains substances that interfere with the medication’s action. Use plenty of water instead when taking your capsules.
Weight gain is not specifically mentioned as a side effect in the source material. However, swelling of eyelids, hands, or feet due to excess fluid is listed as a serious side effect that requires immediate medical attention.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Never take a double dose. If you’ve missed more than one dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for guidance.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.