Adoport

[Tourguide]

New to group. Have had liver transplant 6 years ago due to hep c through contaminated blood transfusion. Prograf used for immune suppressant but now been told I’ve to change to Adoport to save money. Cannot find any real info on adoport which is new product offered. I got hep c because government wanted to save money and very wary about these reasons being given for this change. Can anyone give me any views, thoughts etc and have already experienced this change?

[AyrshireK]

Prograf and Adoport are the same immune suppressant i.e. Tacrolimus.

Having said that who is advising this change GP or Transplant Clinic? I know that all letters from Edinburgh say on the side only prescribe the exact brand of medicine they prescribe (haven't got a letter with me just now as away from home).

If it is GP then definitely check with transplant clinic before any change. If it is t/p clinic then one would assume they know how both variations of the medication work for patients.

Katie

[ThreeSmiles in reply to AyrshireK]

Yes Katie. I was told ad nauseam by QEHB to never ever take any alternative tablets to Prograf.....

Angus

[Tourguide in reply to AyrshireK]

due 6 monthly check up and have received letter from transplant team saying they are changing suppressant. they say they will only switch after they discuss with me and i can ask questions. although they say adoport is same as prograf they also say i will only be switched if i meet certain criteria and will need one more separate blood test than normal. this to me is conflicting and worries me that these are not identical. i got hep c from contaminated blood scandal products which was to save money. also i have asthma and within last year i was switched to a new inhaler which was supposed to be same but cheaper. i had to be put back on original inhaler and have not quite got that condition fully under control. so you understand my wariness. if there is anyone who has been switched from prograf to adoport i would like their views and comments.

[ThreeSmiles in reply to Tourguide]

Maybe if you could say which Hospital then others who have had TP there might give their experiences?

[Tourguide in reply to ThreeSmiles]

Royal infirmary edinburgh

[ThreeSmiles in reply to Tourguide]

Thx 👍

[LAJ123]

hi Tourguide.

In support of what Kate has said.

Many people take medication which if dispensed with a change in brand or to a generic form, it wont make any difference to their treatment.

However, tacrolimus which comes in various brands, should always, only be dispensed exactly as prescribed. The only exception would be if the transplant team change the prescription and provide careful management during the change. Anyone receiving their Tacrolimus in a different brand should contact their transplant team for advice.

The following was published by the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in November 2017.

"Oral tacrolimus products: reminder to prescribe and dispense by brand name only

Inadvertent switching between tacrolimus products has been associated with reports of toxicity and graft rejection. If you switch a patient to a different brand, ensure they receive careful supervision and therapeutic monitoring by an appropriate specialist. "

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/o...

Hope this helps.

Jim

[Tourguide in reply to LAJ123]

thanks jim. still very nervous about it.

[LAJ123 in reply to Tourguide]

Hi,

No need to get too concerned.

I'm assuming that you were transplanted in the UK, in which case any change in your anti-rejection medication would remain under the control of your original transplant centre. I find it difficult to imagine any change would be on grounds of cost and not for clinical reasons. If the change is for clinical reasons, you should expect careful consideration before any alteration in your treatment.

You should contact your Transplant Centre and discuss your worries with a Transplant coordinator. Also, there is the British Liver Trust telephone Helpline, they are open 10am until 2.45pm, Monday to Friday.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/fi...

Take care,

Jim

[Tourguide in reply to LAJ123]

their letter definitely says change is on cost basis. the adoport may be fine but replies to me so far are from people who after transplant went onto adoport whereas i went onto prograf and now they want to change. i still am not totally happy and even more so when i cannot find anyone who has had to change nor results/analysis from people who have been changed. i will discuss with coordinators. thanks to all who responded.

[Yellowsydney]

Hi there have been taking Adoport tacrolimus since transplant 28 months ago, it's the brand Addenbrookes use, so not new.

Hilary

[Tourguide in reply to Yellowsydney]

thanks for reply. i know people have been on adoport since their transplant but i have been trying to find anyone who were on prograf and then changed. i find it disturbing that i cannot get anything. i also was told very clearly that i must not take any other brand than the one i was allocated. their letter makes it clear this change is for cost savings only.

[Poobear69]

You may find this of interest. adc.bmj.com/content/103/2/e2.5