Key takeaways
Mycophenolate (CellCept) and mycophenolic acid (Myfortic) are both immunosuppressants used to prevent organ rejection, but they have some key differences. Mycophenolate is used for kidney, heart, and liver transplants, while mycophenolic acid is only for kidney transplants. Myfortic has a special coating to reduce stomach upset and diarrhea, which can be a common issue with mycophenolate. Both medications are taken twice a day, but they are absorbed differently and are not interchangeable without a doctor's guidance. Myfortic is available as a generic, which can be less expensive, while CellCept also comes in a generic form and offers more options like an oral suspension and IV form for those who can't take pills. Both medications have serious side effects, including risks during pregnancy, potential for cancer, and serious infections, but Myfortic is noted for having fewer gastrointestinal side effects compared to CellCept.
