Consumer Drug Information

Add to List

Comments

This document has been reviewed by a physician. Verify here.

sirolimus

Generic Name: sirolimus (sih RO lim us)
Brand names: Rapamune

What is sirolimus?

Sirolimus lowers your body's immune system. The immune system helps your body fight infections. The immune system can also fight or "reject" a transplanted organ such as a liver or kidney. This is because the immune system treats the new organ as an invader.

Sirolimus is used to prevent your body from rejecting a transplanted kidney. Sirolimus is sometimes used in a combination treatment with cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) and a steroid medicine such as prednisone.

Sirolimus may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about sirolimus?

This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this medication and for at least 12 weeks after your treatment ends.

The oral liquid form of sirolimus must be mixed with water or orange juice only. Do not use any other liquids to mix this medicine.

Do not mix this medicine with grapefruit juice or potentially dangerous effects may result. Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while you are taking sirolimus.

If you also take cyclosporine, take the sirolimus at least 4 hours after taking cyclosporine.

You may take sirolimus with or without food, but take it the same way every time.

Sirolimus can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. Avoid contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses. Do not receive any vaccines without your doctor's advice. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop signs of infection.

Avoid getting this medication on your skin, or around your nose and mouth. If it does get onto any of these areas, wash with soap and water. If this medicine gets into your eyes, rinse them with plain water.

Sirolimus may increase your risk of developing lymphoma or other forms of cancer. Talk with your doctor about your specific cancer risk.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Sirolimus may increase your risk of skin cancer. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.

What should I discuss with my doctor before taking sirolimus?

Sirolimus may increase your risk of developing lymphoma or other forms of cancer. Talk with your doctor about your specific cancer risk.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to sirolimus.

Before using sirolimus, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

high cholesterol or triglycerides;
cytomegalovirus (CMV);
liver disease; or
kidney disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take sirolimus.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this medication and for at least 12 weeks after your treatment ends. It is not known whether sirolimus passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. This medicine should not be given to a child younger than 13 years old.

How should I take sirolimus?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions carefully.

Take the sirolimus tablet with a full glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break a sirolimus tablet. Tell your doctor if you have trouble swallowing the tablet whole.

You may take sirolimus with or without food, but take it the same way every time.

The oral liquid (solution) comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

The oral liquid must be mixed with at least 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of water or orange juice. Do not use any other liquids to mix this medicine.

Stir the mixture and drink all of it right away. Then add at least 4 ounces (1/2 cup) more water or orange juice to the same glass, stir again and drink right away.

Sirolimus is usually taken once a day. If you also take cyclosporine, wait at least 4 hours after your cyclosporine dose before you take sirolimus.

Sirolimus can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. To be sure your blood cells do not get too low, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Avoid getting sirolimus liquid on your skin or around your nose. If it does get onto any of these areas, wash with soap and water. If this medicine gets into your eyes, rinse them with plain water. Store sirolimus tablets at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and light. Store sirolimus oral liquid in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. You may notice a slight haze to the liquid after it has been refrigerated. This haze will not affect the medication, and should disappear when the medicine reaches room temperature.

If you are taking Rapamune oral liquid with a disposable syringe, you may store a loaded syringe in the carrying case provided. Keep the case at room temperature and use the medicine within 24 hours. Use a disposable syringe only once and then throw it away.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a sirolimus overdose are not known but may include some of the side effects listed in this medication guide.

What should I avoid while taking sirolimus?

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with sirolimus and could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Do not mix this medicine with grapefruit juice. Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while you are taking sirolimus.

Avoid contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a vaccine while you are being treated with sirolimus. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Sirolimus may increase your risk of skin cancer. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.

Sirolimus side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

fast heart rate;
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
breathing problems, cough, chest tightness;
pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, weakness;
pain or burning when you urinate; or
slow healing of a wound.

Less serious side effects may include:

joint pain;
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain;
headache;
swelling in your hands or feet, weight gain;
tremors; or
acne or skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect sirolimus?

Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

amphotericin B (Fungizone, AmBisome, Amphotec, Abelcet);
bromocriptine (Parlodel);
cimetidine (Tagamet);
cisapride (Propulsid);
danazol (Danocrine);
metoclopramide (Reglan );
rifampin (Rifater, Rifadin, Rimactane), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifapentine (Priftin);
St. John's wort;
tacrolimus (Prograf);
an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), or trandolapril (Mavik);
an antibiotic such as clotrimazole (Mycelex Troche), fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), voriconazole (Vfend), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, E.E.S), telithromycin (Ketek), capreomycin (Capastat), or troleandomycin (Tao);
a calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem (Tiazac, Cardizem), nicardipine (Cardene), or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan);
HIV medicines such as indinavir (Crixivan) or ritonavir (Norvir); or
seizure medicine such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital (Luminal).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with sirolimus. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about sirolimus.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.