Tacrolimus (Tac) Levels

2024 big country,

So, what brought you in to get a transplant? Are you speaking of the Tacro pill that is given through a transplant? I had MDS and took it only for 100 days.

It all depends on your body. is the medical transplant team answering your questions? Are you doing well in all other ways? Tremors do not sound good, but my hope is you are stable but just worried and confused. I would certainly make a list of concerns and let them know. Do you have follow-up appointments? My hospital has a portal. Does yours?

What's the issue with Green Tea??
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I was diagnosed at 27 years old. Was told then 5 years at best. I’m 58 so it took 31 years for the heart to finally give out.

The team is on top of the tacro levels. Trying to figure it out.

I was in the hospital for 4 months lots didn’t go well.

Blood pressure

Are you taking your tacrolimus with food or an empty stomach? I have done alot better taking tacrolimus on a empty stomach. In the morning I wait 1-1 1/2 hours after taking my morning dose. At night i quit eating 3 hrs. before taking my evening dose of tacrolimus. My blood level stays constant and take a lower dose than I did when I was taking my tacrolimus with food.
Heart transplant patient 5yrs. out.

I’ve done both ways eating doesn’t seem to affect it in one way or another. Like they keep saying I’m a very unique case!

@2024bigcountry, it does sound like you are in a puzzling situation. I noticed that you take your tacrolimus at 9-9:30. I am assuming that is both AM and PM. What time are your labs drawn in the morning? Are you aware that the tacrolimus trough level is based on a 12 hour schedule. Are you having labs drawn 12 hours after your evening dose?

My blood draw is within the 12 hour timeframe.

I’m a puzzling person. My surgery didn’t go as planned. I was 10 days incubated didn’t wake up either. They sometimes get me to sort of open my eyes a little, but then back off to my hallucinations. They say Um a miracle walking as I “died” twice in ICU. The line was drawn if I didn’t come back the third time it was pull the plug. God brought me back. So 5 weeks ICU moves to a step down unit unresponsive after getting up there back to ICU. It’s been crazy ride. After 4 months in the hospital. I’m home recovering!

I'm not a doctor or any kind of medical professional so my suggestions are just that . . . suggestions. I personally think the 9/9:30 is a problem and if it were me, I'd switch to 8/8:30. I would also stop the herbal tea. There are dozens of herbs that affect medications like tacrolimus. Stick to water, coffee, or black tea. Flavored seltzer is also OK. No supplements unless cleared by the doc. I take a low-level multi-vitamin (Centrum) that is approved by my doc. And you need to be on time with meds. Being even a few hours late can mess with the levels. I'm 2.5 years post kidney transplant and my donor was a relative (good match) so my meds have been fairly low doses. I have had some real fluctuations with tacro too, however. I think letting your body get used to taking it is a big plus and you are less than a year out and dealing with some other issues, it sounds like. I'd keep doing my best and keep the docs informed. One thing that my transplant docs did was overreact to changes in the tacro levels by making big changes in my dosage. Small changes are better and sometimes no change just a recheck in a week or so is warranted. Good luck to you!!

I appreciate your “suggestions” and suggestions only.

The doctors set my med schedule when I was discharged to home. I’m pretty good about med taking to a point in the hospital I would get on the nurses about med time. They always split up the medication, say that it all works out.

As for herbal tea I make sure no green tea just herbal tea. Black tea has caffeine. I have a cup of coffee a week or sometimes I go crazy and have two cups.

Because of all my other medical issues I have it’s hard to keep up!