Anyone take prednisone with tacolimus?

I have hot flashes and have since 8-7-23. I only started prednisone 2 weeks ago so in my case it isn’t the reason for hotflashes but Tacrolimus is. Abou

Jump to this post

I’ve been on both but fairly recent liver transplant in 9/18/2023. Mine is adjusting just fine and I’m on the taper down of prednisone (prednisone is a strange one though because it affects everyone differently). I can tell you be very careful to eat when you’re taking these two meds together because it can affect the tachro levels. Mine is constantly being adjusted.

Jump to this post

Jackie, can you tell me more about taking tacro/envarsus XR together with prednisone? You stated it affects the tacro levels. I am one year out from kidney transplant and my tacro levels go up and down all the time and it is very stressful. With an increase, I get anxious, shaky, tremors, foggy brain a bit, hard to focus and concentrate, hard to make decisions. But I have no choice as I have to take the envarsus (tacro). Do you take the prednisone at a different time than the envarsus (tacro)? I just got reduced to 2.5mg prednisone from 5mg. I take 2.25mg envarsus XR extended release. Blessed holiday, BB

Jump to this post

Hi I am almost 2 1/2 yrs post kidney transplant. I now take Envarsus 1.5mg first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. I take 5mg of Prednisone at 1pm with food. My bloodwork is all normal except for a low gfr 36-39. Creatinine range 1.48 - 1.58. Transplant nephrologist not concerned. Makes me nervous its so low. I am goi g to ask for the Cystatin C reading.

Jump to this post

Hi I am almost 2 1/2 yrs post kidney transplant. I now take Envarsus 1.5mg first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. I take 5mg of Prednisone at 1pm with food. My bloodwork is all normal except for a low gfr 36-39. Creatinine range 1.48 - 1.58. Transplant nephrologist not concerned. Makes me nervous its so low. I am goi g to ask for the Cystatin C reading.

Jump to this post

@jackie4867, @blbird33
I don't know whether you saw this post. So want to introduce you to @littlek who is new to Connect. Her question to you is in the discussion prior to this one.

Jump to this post

littlek, Thank you for your post. What is Cystatin C reading? I find that transplant center docs support patients in different ways from different centers. I have not heard of Cystatin C reading. May I ask also what your tacrolimus levels are taking 1.5 mg in am and then waiting until 1pm to take the prednisone? I also take the Envarsus with food in am. Not sure now if I am taking them at the right times. Thank you, BB

Jump to this post

Hi blbird33,
I hadn't heard of Cystatin C until it was mentioned here. My transplant team goes by eGfr and creatinine to determine kidney function. I take my Envarsus on an empty stomach (it says to take it that way, and an hour before any other meds), so I take it at 8am, then eat something around 9 - 9:30. I found that by taking the prednisone at 1pm (with food) ot does not throw my tac level off. I always have under 6. Usually 5.6, 5.7, 5.8. If it gets over 6 I know it. I get shaky and don't feel good. My eGfr is lower than I hoped for receiving a living donor, perfect kidney, but I had quite a few complications. The kidney was sent to the wrong airport and had to be located and brought to the hospital where I had been waiting 7 hours! Then I was in surgery 6 hours. (Mind you this was only 3 week after a nephrectomy to remove a 12lb polycystic kidney). Then 3 days after transplant I was back in surgery to evacuate a large hematoma. I received countless transfusions and drugs to get my blood counts up. There's more but I'll spare you the details. So I have an eGfr of 36-39 and creatinine that runs around 1.53. I feel that the kidney was damaged in transit or during surgery. It was slow to "wake up" and I have permanent nerve damage in my leg and groin area. I intend to keep this kidney as long as possible so I stay very hydrated and try to watch what I eat. Other than that BP is great and I never had to go on dialysis. Which I am grateful for.

Jump to this post