Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) is a type of immunosuppressant you may take after a kidney transplant. It acts to reduce the number of white cells in the blood which play an important role in rejection.
Mycophenolate Mofetil does not need to be prescribed brand specific, and is available as 250mg capsules and 500mg tablets.
Mycophenolate Mofetil should be taken twice a day, every morning with your breakfast and 12 hours later in the evening. In your medication counselling appointment, the pharmacist will work with you to get a regime that suits your daily routine. Until your appointment with the transplant pharmacist, please take your Mycophenolate at 08:00 and 20:00. You should swallow the tablets/capsules whole (without chewing) with a glass of water. Do not cut or break the tablets.
How to get more supply
This will be supplied by the hospital going forward. Please ensure you always have two weeks supply spare at home for emergencies. When you require more please tell your kidney transplant team at your clinic appointment. Should you be running short between clinic appointments, contact the kidney transplant pharmacist and leave a voicemail:
On Saturdays and Sundays, please contact the Renal Admission Unit (RAU):
Side-effects
The most common side-effects are:
- stomach upset (diarrhoea and vomiting) – taking the medicine with or just after food can help
- reduced white cell count (increasing risk of infection)
- unexplained bruising
It is important to inform the kidney transplant team if you develop signs of infection (e.g. fever, lethargy, vomiting, generally unwell) whilst taking mycophenolate.
Taking other medicines with mycophenolate
Some other medicines can reduce the amount of mycophenolate that is absorbed into the body. We recommend not taking iron supplements or antacids containing magnesium or calcium within two hours of taking mycophenolate.
Always check with the transplant team that any new medicine is safe for you to take.
What to do if you forget to take a dose of mycophenolate
A missed dose of mycophenolate should be taken at least six hours before the next dose is due. If there is less than six hours before your next dose then do not take that missed dose and carry on with the next dose at the normal time. Never take a double dose to make up for missed doses.
What to do if you are considering having a baby
Mycophenolate can be extremely harmful to an unborn baby. It is therefore important that you use adequate contraception to prevent an unplanned pregnancy.
- If you are female it is recommended to use two different forms of effective contraception whilst taking mycophenolate and for six weeks after stopping treatment
- For male patients (including those who have had a vasectomy) the use of one form of contraception by either yourself or your partner, during treatment and for at least 90 days after stopping treatment is recommended
If you do want to try for a baby please involve your transplant team and all options for medicines can be explored prior to conception.
Last reviewed: 24 March 2026