To use the CellCept® Co-pay Card, you need to be
prescribed brand-name CellCept® by your doctor. You also
need to have commercial insurance to be eligible. With the co-pay
card, eligible patients can:
Pay as little as $15 per monthly co-pay
Receive a
maximum co-pay assistance $10,000 per year
A: Patients taking CellCept® (mycophenolate mofetil)
for an FDA-approved indication, who:
Are over the age of 18 (or have a caregiver over the age of
18)
Have commercial insurance, like you get from an employer
or buy from an insurance company. Healthcare exchange plans that are
offered through the Affordable Care Act are considered commercial
insurance
Currently pay more than $15 a month for their
co-pay
Live in the United States or Puerto Rico
Are
not a government beneficiary and/or a participant in any state- or
federally funded healthcare program, including but not limited to
all Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap, VA, DoD, or TRICARE
Are
not a participant in the Genentech® Access to Care
Foundation (GATCF) or any other charitable organization that helps
patients pay for their CellCept prescription
Q: How do I use the CellCept® Co-pay Card?
A: Once you’ve signed up or activated your co-pay card, you
simply take the co-pay card to the pharmacy. If you are using a
specialty or mail order pharmacy, call them with the information. The
pharmacy will process the co-pay card with your insurance, so you may
pay as little as $15 per monthly co-pay, regardless of your income
level. The maximum co-pay assistance allowable to any patient under
the program is $10,000. Patients are responsible for all out of pocket
costs after $10,000.
Q: Can I use the card at any pharmacy?
A: Yes. Any pharmacy can process the co-pay card. If using a
specialty or mail order pharmacy, you have to call the pharmacy and
provide the co-pay card details over the phone.
Q: Do I ever need to renew my card?
A: Yes. Every 12 months from the time you initially enroll, you
will have to renew your card. You should get a reminder letter, email,
or call when it's time to renew. Please have your 9-digit co-pay card
ID number with you when you renew your card. This information can be
found in your co-pay card welcome and renewal letters and/or emails.
You can renew
your card here or call us at 1-833-CellCept (1-833-235-5237)
8:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET (Mon-Fri).
Q: What happens if the pharmacy does not process the card when I
get my CellCept prescription filled?
A: If the pharmacy cannot process the claim, visit www.patientrebateonline.com to enter and print a
patient rebate reimbursement form. Sign and submit the form, along
with a copy of your prescription receipt and label (e.g, the sticker
on the medicine bottle or the paper that’s stapled to the pharmacy
bag). The CellCept® Co-pay Card program will mail you a
check for the amount the program covers.
Q: How soon can I use the card?
A: You can begin using your CellCept® Co-pay Card
within 5 minutes of joining the program.
For more information, call 1-833-CellCept (1-833-235-5237) 8:00 am
to 8:00 pm ET (Mon-Fri).
Review patient assistance options
Find out about assistance options that can help you pay for CellCept,
based on your eligibility.
CellCept® (mycophenolate mofetil) is a prescription medicine to prevent rejection (antirejection medicine) in people who have received a kidney, heart or liver transplant. Rejection is when the body’s immune system perceives the new organ as a “foreign” threat and attacks it.
CellCept is used with other medicines containing cyclosporine and corticosteroids.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CELLCEPT?
CELLCEPT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, INCLUDING:
Increased risk of loss of a pregnancy (miscarriage) and higher risk of birth defects. Females who take CellCept during pregnancy have a higher risk of miscarriage during the first 3 months (first trimester), and a higher risk that their baby will be born with birth defects.
If you are a female who can become pregnant, your doctor must talk with you about acceptable birth control methods (contraceptive counseling) to use while taking CellCept. You should have 1 pregnancy test immediately before starting CellCept and another pregnancy test 8 to 10 days later. Pregnancy tests should be repeated during routine follow-up visits with your doctor. Talk to your doctor about the results of all of your pregnancy tests. You must use acceptable birth control during your entire CellCept treatment and for 6 weeks after stopping CellCept, unless at any time you choose to avoid sexual intercourse (abstinence) with a man completely. CellCept decreases blood levels of the hormones in birth control pills that you take by mouth. Birth control pills may not work as well while you take CellCept, and you could become pregnant. If you take birth control pills while using CellCept you must also use another form of birth control. Talk to your doctor about other birth control methods that you can use while taking CellCept.
If you are a sexually active male whose female partner can become pregnant while you are taking CellCept, use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 90 days after stopping CellCept.
If you plan to become pregnant, talk with your doctor. Your doctor will decide if other medicines to prevent rejection may be right for you.
If you become pregnant while taking CellCept, do not stop taking CellCept.Call your doctor right away. You and your doctor may decide that other medicines to prevent rejection may be right for you. You and your doctor should report your pregnancy to the Mycophenolate Pregnancy Registry either:
The purpose of this registry is to gather information about the health of you and your baby.
Increased risk of getting certain cancers. People who take CellCept have a higher risk of getting lymphoma, and other cancers, especially skin cancer. Tell your doctor if you have:
unexplained fever, prolonged tiredness, weight loss or lymph node swelling
a brown or black skin lesion with uneven borders, or one part of the lesion does not look like the other
a change in the size and color of a mole
a new skin lesion or bump
any other changes to your health
Increased risk of getting serious infections. CellCept weakens the body’s immune system and affects your ability to fight infections. Serious infections can happen with CellCept and can lead to hospitalizations and death. These serious infections can include:
Viral infections. Certain viruses can live in your body and cause active infections when your immune system is weak. Viral infections that can happen with CellCept include:
shingles, other herpes infections, and cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV can cause serious tissue and blood infections
BK virus. BK virus can affect how your kidney works and cause your transplanted kidney to fail
hepatitis B and C viruses. Hepatitis viruses can affect how your liver works. Talk to your doctor about how hepatitis viruses may affect you
A brain infection called Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML). In some patients, CellCept may cause an infection of the brain that may cause death. You are at risk for this brain infection because you have a weakened immune system. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms:
weakness on one side of the body
you do not care about things that you usually care about (apathy)
you are confused or have problems thinking
you can not control your muscles
Fungal infections. Yeasts and other types of fungal infections can happen with CellCept and can cause serious tissue and blood infections (See “What are the possible side effects of CellCept?”).
Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of infection:
temperature of 100.5°F or greater
cold symptoms, such as a runny nose or sore throat
flu symptoms, such as an upset stomach, stomach pain, vomiting or diarrhea
earache or headache
pain during urination
white patches in the mouth or throat
unexpected bruising or bleeding
cuts, scrapes or incisions that are red, warm and oozing pus
See “What are the possible side effects of CellCept?” for information about other serious side effects.
WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE CELLCEPT
Do not take CellCept if you are allergic to mycophenolate mofetil or any of the ingredients in CellCept.
WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING CELLCEPT?
TELL YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT ALL OF YOUR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING IF YOU:
have any digestive problems, such as ulcers.
have Phenylketonuria (PKU). CellCept oral suspension contains aspartame (a source of phenylalanine).
have Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome, or another rare inherited deficiency hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl-transferase (HGPRT). You should not take CellCept if you have one of these disorders.
plan to receive any vaccines. People taking CellCept should not receive live vaccines. Some vaccines may not work as well during treatment with CellCept.
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. See “What is the most important information I should know about CellCept?”
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if CellCept passes into breast milk. You and your doctor will decide if you will take CellCept or breastfeed.
Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Some medicines may affect the way CellCept works, and CellCept may affect how some medicines work.
Especially tell your doctor if you take:
birth control pills (oral contraceptives). See “What is the most important information I should know about CellCept?”
sevelamer (Renagel®, RenvelaTM). These products should be taken at least 2 hours after taking CellCept.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show to your doctor or nurse and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Do not take any new medicine without talking with your doctor.
HOW SHOULD I TAKE CELLCEPT?
Take CellCept exactly as prescribed.
Do not stop taking CellCept or change the dose unless your doctor tells you to.
If you miss a dose of CellCept, or you are not sure when you took your last dose, take your prescribed dose of CellCept as soon as you remember. If your next dose is less than 2 hours away, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at your normal scheduled time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time. Call your doctor if you are not sure what to do.
Take CellCept capsules, tablets and oral suspension on an empty stomach, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Do not crush CellCept tablets.
Do not open or crush CellCept capsules.
If you are not able to swallow CellCept tablets or capsules, your doctor may prescribe CellCept Oral Suspension. This is a liquid form of CellCept. Your pharmacist will mix the medicine before you pick it up from a pharmacy.
Do not mix CellCept Oral Suspension with any other medicine. CellCept Oral Suspension should not be mixed with any type of liquids before taking the dose.
Do not breathe in (inhale) or let CellCept powder or oral suspension come in contact with your skin or mucous membranes.
If you accidentally get the powder or oral suspension on the skin, wash the area well with soap and water.
If you accidentally get the powder or oral suspension in your eyes or other mucous membranes, flush with plain water.
If you take too much CellCept, call your doctor or the poison control center right away.
WHAT SHOULD I AVOID WHILE TAKING CELLCEPT?
Avoid becoming pregnant. See “What is the most important information I should know about CellCept?”
Limit the amount of time you spend in sunlight. Avoid using tanning beds or sunlamps. People who take CellCept have a higher risk of getting skin cancer. (See “What is the most important information I should know about CellCept?”) Wear protective clothing when you are in the sun and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high protection factor. This is especially important if your skin is very fair or if you have a family history of skin cancer.
You should not donate blood while taking CellCept and for at least 6 weeks after stopping CellCept.
You should not donate sperm while taking CellCept and for 90 days after stopping CellCept.
CellCept may influence your ability to drive and use machines (See “What are the possible side effects of CellCept?”). If you experience drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, tremor, or low blood pressure during treatment with CellCept, you should be cautious about driving or using heavy machines.
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF CELLCEPT?
CELLCEPT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, INCLUDING:
See “What is the most important information I should know about CellCept?”
Low blood cell counts. People taking high doses of CellCept each day may have a decrease in blood counts, including:
white blood cells, especially neutrophils. Neutrophils fight against bacterial infections. You have a higher chance of getting an infection when your white blood cell count is low. This is most common from 1 month to 6 months after your transplant
red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to your body tissues. You have a higher chance of getting severe anemia when your red blood cell count is low
platelets. Platelets help with blood clotting
Your doctor will do blood tests before you start taking CellCept and during treatment with CellCept to check your blood cell counts. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of infection (see “What is the most important information I should know about CellCept?”), including any unexpected bruising or bleeding. Also, tell your doctor if you have unusual tiredness, lack of energy, dizziness or fainting. Stomach problems. Stomach problems including intestinal bleeding, a tear in your intestinal wall (perforation) or stomach ulcers can happen in people who take CellCept. Bleeding can be severe and you may have to be hospitalized for treatment. Call your doctor right away if you have sudden or severe stomach-area pain or stomach-area pain that does not go away, or if you have diarrhea.
The most common side effects of CellCept include:
diarrhea
blood problems including low white and red blood cell counts
infections
blood pressure problems
fast heart beat
swelling of the lower legs, ankles and feet
changes in laboratory blood levels, including high levels of blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
stomach problems including diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting
rash
nervous system problems such as headache, dizziness and tremor
Side effects that can happen more often in children than in adults taking CellCept include:
stomach area pain
fever
infection
pain
blood infection (sepsis)
diarrhea
vomiting
sore throat
colds (respiratory tract infections)
high blood pressure
low white blood cell count
low red blood cell count
These are not all of the possible side effects of CellCept. Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS and Medication Guide, for additional Important Safety Information.
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