Myfortic vs Cellcept or Mycophenolate? Share your experience

I am currently on Cellcept for suppression of my immune system. Mycophenolate is known for its GI toxicity. Has anyone switched to Myfortic, which is an enteric coated tablet supposed to be better tolerated?
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@altabiznet. People seem to ask this question frequently. The only real difference is in the GI tract. I took cellcept for about 2 years and i suddenly developed diarrhea. My doctor instantly changed me to Myfortic. Neither of us knew that I had developed EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) which caused an almost 2 years adventure with diarrhea and weight loss (due to malnutrition). We finally got things under control. In the process, I fired my GI doctor and got a new one!
I have tolerated the Myfortic with no problem. In fact, I’m off of it now and just take Rituxan twice a year!

@becsbuddy
What is your diagnosis?

Some people report extreme fatigue post Rituximab infusions. How do you tolerate Rituxan, and is it working for you?
Thank you for sharing.

@altabiznet My diagnosis is Clippers—chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids-phew! It means that the immune system attacked my brain and left lesions and my brain wouldn’t work where the lesions were. Along with the drugs, I had therapy to help me walk, swallow, etc. I went from a wheelchair to a walker to a cane to walking unaided and now, back to a cane. It’s been a long road and Mayo Clinic Connect has made all the difference for me! Thank you for asking!
I tolerate rituxan quite well. Yes, I’m tired after, but part of that is the whole experience-usually 4-5 hours for me. I’m just so happy to get it that nothing bothers me!

After my liver transplant, I was prescribed both mycophenelate and Tacrolimus. The mycophenelate was very tough on my GI track, but it was stopped after 9 months following a bout with diverticulitis. Once it was discontinued, BMs returned to normal and I got a big boost in energy.

I hope that helps.

@becsbuddy

My diagnosis is scleroderma with Raynaud, but I am also developing peripheral neuropathy. My feet are tingling, getting numb, muscle wasting in the legs, getting off-balance. I have also noticed memory problems and brain fog. From walking independently to a cane + wheelchair. This progression happened very fast and it is getting worse. Rituximab + Cellcept are my next treatment choices.

What is your dose and schedule of Rituximab? For how long does the fatigue last post infusions? Any detail regarding your experience with the drug will be helpful. Thanks

Thank you for posting this. I have been taking cellcept for a month and a 1/2, and had your same experience with sudden extreme diarrhea. I have written my doctor and asked about the alternative Myfortic medication.. I have been diagnosed with pemphygus vulgaras. So I am under the care of a dermatologist. I have not seen anyone else taking this for an autoimmune condition.Only under transplant circumstances, is there anyone else prescribed this for autoimmune? I am very thankful to find this group.

@cicimee2

In addition to post-transplant to prevent organ rejection, Cellcept is prescribed for autoimmune skin conditions, like pemphigus and scleroderma (skin thickening). It may be prescribed in other autoimmune and skin conditions as well. If you have developed bad GI symptoms on Cellcept and cannot tolerate it any longer, Myfortic may be a good alternative.
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Use of CellCept (Mycophenolate Mofetil) in Pemphigus
CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil) is an immunosuppressive drug approved primarily for preventing organ rejection after transplantation, but it is also used off-label in autoimmune blistering diseases such as pemphigus vulgaris and sometimes bullous pemphigoid

@cicimee2 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I’m so glad you found us and could see an example of how MCC works. We all share information on our illness and the journey we’re on. There are no doctors on this program so no one can or should prescribe medications. Do you have any more questions for the group?
What specific drug are you asking about? The cellcept is definately for autoimmune issues. I was told that diarrhea with cellcept could be very dangerous because diarrhea is a side effect of cellcept. Did you have a colonoscopy to determine cause of diarrhea? My colonoscopy showed that the cause was not cellcept but EPI-exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. But, I remained OFF cellcept and ON Myfortic just to be safe.
Sounds ‘clear as mud’, doesn’t it? Let me know what your doctor says/does. I’ll be thinking of you!

@altabiznet I’ve been on cell cept and prednisone now for an autoimmune condition that was attacking my lungs and skin. I got the Diagnoses last August with a condition called Antisynthatase PL7. I’ve been on predinisone for 9mos, Cell Cept for 8mos, currently at a low dose of predinisone trying to taper off completely in the next month or so. For context, I’m a relatively fit 44 year old male which (prior to my diagnosis) no co morbidities. I think so far I’ve been pretty lucky on the GI front with MMF. My regular labs have come in as expected. I get occasional diarrhea but Ive also been on antibiotics every other day (Bactrim) since I started the prednisone. All in all I seem to be tolerating the Cell Cept so far.