5 Foods to Limit or Avoid While Taking CellCept: Deli Meats, High-Fat Foods, and More

CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil) is a prescription-only medication that people usually take after an organ transplant. It’s a type of immunosuppressant, which means it works by lowering your immune system activity. This prevents your body from rejecting a donor heart, kidney, or liver transplant.

CellCept is effective at doing this, too. It’s a first-choice treatment option that often works as a team with other organ transplant medications. But in order for it to work most effectively, it’s ideal to limit or avoid certain foods and supplements.

Should you take CellCept with or without meals?

Try to take CellCept without meals.

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CellCept is typically taken by mouth twice daily on an empty stomach. It’s best to take it 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals — whatever works best for your daily routine. Food actually lowers the absorption of CellCept, which could make it less effective.

If you experience an upset stomach after taking CellCept, then you may be able to take it with a snack or light meal to help alleviate these symptoms. Check with your transplant specialist to see if this is an option.

Which foods should you avoid while taking CellCept?

Several medications interact with CellCept. But it’s important to keep in mind that some dietary supplements and foods may have an impact, too.

You may need to avoid, limit, or separate these five products from CellCept.

1. High-fat foods

Foods that are high in fat may lower CellCept’s absorption if you take the medication around the same time that you’ve eaten. This may make CellCept less effective, but the clinical impact of this interaction isn’t fully proven. Some studies suggest fatty foods may not have too much of an impact on CellCept’s actual ability to do its job.

To be safe, it’s best to avoid fatty foods around the time of your CellCept doses. And being mindful of overall fat intake — and the types of fat you eat — may also have its own health benefits. This can help prevent problems down the road after having a transplant, such as diabetes and heart disease.

2. Certain antacids

Antacids that contain aluminum or magnesium can lower CellCept’s absorption, causing it to be less effective. This includes Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) and Mylanta (aluminum hydroxide / magnesium hydroxide / simethicone), two popular over-the-counter (OTC) antacids.

It’s best to take these antacids at least 2 hours after taking CellCept.

3. Foods that may cause Listeria, including deli meats

Since CellCept weakens the immune system, it can raise your risk of getting an infection — including becoming sick from Listeria. This is a bacteria that’s found in certain foods. People with healthy immune systems usually don’t have problems fighting off this bacteria. It is more likely to be an issue for those who already have a weakened immune system or those who’ve started an immunosuppressant medication, such as CellCept.

Deli meats, soft cheeses, and raw (unpasteurized) milk are common products that are more likely to contain Listeria. If you’re taking CellCept, it’s a good idea to steer clear of these foods when you can.

4. Raw or undercooked meats

If your immune system is weaker than normal, this may increase your risk for food poisoning. This can happen when bacteria, viruses, or other germs find their way into your meals, snacks, or drinks. 

For most people, food poisoning causes a few days of vomiting and diarrhea. But if your immune system is suppressed, it may make it harder for your body to get rid of the infection. This can lead to complications, such as a more serious infection that affects the whole body. Or dehydration from ongoing vomiting and diarrhea. 

It’s important to practice food safety measures to help prevent this from happening: 

• Make sure meats and poultry are cooked to a safe temperature by using a food thermometer. For instance, poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.

• Wash your hands before eating and cooking.

• Wash any food prep areas immediately after use.

• Wash any fresh produce before eating or cooking it.

• If you’re traveling, especially to other countries, try to drink bottled water rather than tap water. 

• When saving foods, refrigerate them as quickly as possible after preparation. 

• Avoid restaurants that don’t seem clean, or those that have a track record of poor food hygiene.

5. Alcohol

CellCept doesn’t directly interact with alcohol. But they can both suppress your immune system. This raises your risk of getting sick. The combination may also prolong the time it takes to heal if you received your transplant recently.

Alcohol and CellCept can also both irritate your stomach. This can make it more likely to experience unpleasant side effects such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

As a general rule, try to avoid alcohol while you’re taking CellCept. But your transplant specialist can tell you if it’s OK to have an alcoholic beverage every now and then.

Is the CellCept safe for people with phenylketonuria?

CellCept comes in a few dosage forms. It’s available as a tablet, capsule, and oral suspension (liquid). An intravenous (IV) injection is another option.

The CellCept oral suspension contains the artificial sweetener aspartame — which has phenylalanine in it. People living with phenylketonuria (PKU) can’t break down phenylalanine well. If phenylalanine builds up in the body, you may experience side effects such as skin rashes, sudden jerking movements, and hyperactivity. Cases of seizures and brain damage have also been reported.

If you have PKU, your transplant specialist will likely recommend the tablet or capsule forms of CellCept. They don’t contain phenylalanine. They’re safer options than the oral suspension.

Does food affect other forms of mycophenolate?

Yes. Myfortic (mycophenolic acid) is an immunosuppressant that’s sometimes prescribed after kidney transplants. Like CellCept, certain supplements and foods can lower its absorption. It’s best to take Myfortic delayed-release tablets 1 hour before or 2 hours after food.

The same CellCept interactions mentioned above also apply to Myfortic. But Myfortic doesn’t have any dosage forms that contain phenylalanine. So if you have PKU, it’s safe to take Myfortic.

What foods should you eat while taking CellCept?

Any type of dietary restriction can feel intimidating or daunting. Thankfully, there are many more foods that you can have with CellCept compared to those that you should avoid.

Healthy proteins can help your body build and maintain muscles and tissues. They can also help you recover faster after an organ transplant. Lean meats, nuts, and eggs are a few examples of healthy proteins.

Incorporating foods high in fiber — such as fruits and vegetables — into your diet also brings a variety of health benefits to the table. They can help you stick to your target body weight and prevent chronic health conditions down the line.

Heart-healthy foods are also a good idea. These overlap with a lot of the foods listed above — especially fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Oily fish — such as tuna, salmon, and trout — are also good choices.

However, everyone’s dietary needs following transplant surgery are unique. Make sure to ask your transplant specialist about foods and drinks you should and shouldn’t have.

What should you do if you experience a food interaction while taking CellCept?

It’s breakfast time, and you’re busy — you realize you accidentally took a dose of CellCept with food. In a situation like this, don’t panic. This likely won’t affect how CellCept works if it happens occasionally. This is especially true if you received your transplant a while ago and you’re stable on your treatment regimen.

However, make sure to reach out to your transplant specialist any time you have questions or concerns about an interaction. They can tell you about possible next steps. They can also perform blood tests to see how well CellCept is working, when needed.

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Written by:

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, CPh, PACS

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist in Florida. She has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 15 years and is currently a medical writer.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

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