Tacro and severe skinn complications

[kidneytransplan]

I'm new here.Hope you can help. I am 4 1/2 months post kidney transplant. I am on 7mg of Tacro daily. My question. I am experiencing severe skin conditions;extreme sagging with wrinkling. This is where there was smooth muscular skin. Has anyone else experienced this.

Also I am experiencing thinning of my hair.

Kidneytransplant

[Sandybru]

Hi my transplant over two years ago is doing well. I'm on a large dose of tacro 6mg. Morning and evening. In the first six months my hair was falling out by the handfuls, I always managed to hide it. This lasted 6 months , my hair is back to normal now, it a well known side effect. The sagging skin could be because your not so mobile and need to build your energy levels up, mine Al disappear ed once I was doing more every day exersices. Hope this helps.

[Santaponsa1 in reply to Sandybru]

Hi, I'm on 7mg of tac daily and post op 2/1/4 years and yes lost quite a lot of my hair following transplant and never really grew back in, however only side affect I experienced with regards to skin was burning legs, etc which can still flare up now and again, however positive thing for me is that I've never had any problems with my new kidney and have excellent function.. Hope all settles down for you..Best Wishes

[Damigi28]

Yes, the same thing is happening to me. One of the side effects of the medicine is thinning of the skin, which in turn will make it sag and wrinkle. I am really struggling with this. My hair thickened up while on dialysis, now I've lost half of it. It is very depressing and I can't stand to look at myself. Sometimes I really wonder if I should have just stayed on dialysis. I feel like I am totally ruined for any relationships in the future. Hope you get better.

[kidneytransplan in reply to Damigi28]

Hi,

About 2 months ago I told my doctor, with tears in my eyes, that I couldn't deal with losing my hair and she had too do something !! She said okay and switched me from Tacro to Envarsus and within a week my hair began to stop falling out. My hair is now normal. Envarsus is Tacro but it is a "slow release" Tacro. When you research Envarsus , hair thinning is NOT listed as a side effect.

The skin issue of sagging and wrinkling IS a side effect of Prednisone and is called, "Prednisone Stretch Marks." Are you on Prednisone?

Don't worry about your hair. Tell your doctor you can't stand it and demand something else...Envarsus.

Please write back and tell me what you think.

[Damigi28 in reply to kidneytransplan]

Hi I was on envarsus xr for months nd I still lost hair. I cannot get my insurance to cover envarsus anymore. I have battled with them for months about it. It was way too stressful for me to be on the phone for hours a day trying to get it covered. I guess I will have to get a wig.

[kidneytransplan in reply to Damigi28]

Okay, I hear you. Now, I would like to know how long ago was your transplant. The reason I ask is when I was experiencing hair loss I went to a dermatologist, She told me everyone goes through hair loss after major surgery. This can begin around 6 months post surgery and last a few months.

Also, are you on Prednisone?

Don't give up on the Tacro vs Envarsus problem. Be your own advocate. Continue demanding your doctor help you with going back to Envarsus. If need be ask them for an advocate to help you. DON'T GIVE UP ! I didn't !

[Damigi28 in reply to kidneytransplan]

My transplant was 10 months ago. I am on 10 mg of prednisone. My doctors and I have fought and fought over this medicine. It is too late now. I have lost literally half of my hair and I'm sure it is not growing back.

[kidneytransplan in reply to Damigi28]

Did you know that Envarsus IS Tacro ? The only difference between the two is that Envarsus is a slow release form of Tacro. People are put on Envarsus when they cannot tolerate the side effects of Tacro.

Something you might try is to talk to the doctor's nurse about the depression you are going through with the hair thinning and ask her for her help. I did that. i called and called.....saying I CAN"T keep taking these pills knowing I'm loosing my hair. I wouldn't give up stressing how scared and depressed I was getting. They WILL do something if you keep telling them you just can't handle it etc.

The skin condition , sagging and wrinkling, may be due to the Prednisone. Mine was and it is called, Prednisone Stretch Marks. That can happen early on when you are on a high dose..That can't be reversed. Through that in when you talk to them about the Tacro.

Don't give in. Keep telling them you can't tolerate the side effect of Tacro.

PS: You might start taking Biotin. All drug stores carry it. I started taking 3000 mg daily and am presently taking 5000 mg. After 2 months I see my eyebrows growing new hair and areas of new growth in my hairline on my forehead. Interesting, my doctor told me that she also takes it. Also, my nails are growing and really strong.strong