Sirolimus (rapamycin) is a drug that coats coronary stents, prevents organ transplant rejection, and treats a rare lung disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosis. It also helps treat a type of cancer called perivascular epithelioid cell tumor.
In a kidney transplant trial, patients who were randomly assigned to sirolimus had fewer new skin cancers than those who received a calcineurin inhibitor. But the number of new non-skin cancers was not different.
What is Siromus?
Siromus is a class of medications called immunosuppressants. It is used to prevent the rejection of a kidney transplant and to treat a rare lung disease. It is also used to treat malignant melanoma, a type of skin cancer. This drug is not without its side effects, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about the possible pitfalls before taking this talisman.
Siromus is a worthy entrant in the pharmacotherapy fraternity. Its effects are not immediate, but they may be compounded over time resulting in improved outcomes down the road. The biggest drawback is the high cost of this medication, but if you do a little research, you’ll find that it is worth the splurge. Its most expensive component is a large dose of human-derived stem cells, but this is a small price to pay for a lifetime of good health and a reduced risk of disease recurrence. The best way to avoid this recurrence is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and take your medicine as directed. The big kahuna is to avoid smoking and avoid using sirolimus on an empty stomach.
How does sirolimus Works?
Sirolimus lowers your body’s immune system, making it harder for your body to reject a new kidney or another organ that has been transplanted into you. It also is used to treat a rare lung disorder called lymphangioleiomyomatosis (lim-FAN-gee-oh-LYE-oh-MYE-oh-Ma-TOE-sis).
Sirolimus works by blocking an enzyme in the body that helps keep your immune system from fighting off infections. It also can help your body fight off some cancers.
You take sirolimus as a tablet or a solution (liquid) by mouth. You must take it exactly as directed by your doctor.
The dosage is based on your weight, medical condition, laboratory tests (such as sirolimus trough levels), and response to treatment. It is usually taken once a day, either with or without food.
Your doctor may change your dose during your treatment, usually not more than once a week. Talk to your doctor about how much you need to take and what other medicines you are taking.
If you are using other immunosuppressants, including cyclosporine or tacrolimus, tell your doctor about them. These medications can increase the effects of sirolimus, so your doctor might need to adjust your dose.
This medication is not safe for pregnant women or people who can become pregnant. Use reliable birth control before starting this medicine, during treatment with it, and for 12 weeks after you stop it.
Benefits of Sirolimus
Sirolimus helps prevent organ transplant rejection by preventing the body’s white blood cells from getting rid of a kidney. It is used with other medicines to treat people who have kidney disease. It can also help prevent cancer by reducing the amount of lymph cells in the body that cause certain types of cancer.
This medication can also be used to prevent the growth of a type of tumor called lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). LAM is a rare form of lung cancer that causes smooth muscle to grow in the lungs. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of using sirolimus.
Taking this medicine with certain heart and blood pressure medicines (ACE inhibitors) may increase your risk of getting a serious allergic reaction. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, a large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals, trouble breathing, or chest tightness.
Is sirolimus effective in preventing cancer?
Buy Sirolimus can prevent cancer by blocking a protein called mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). This protein is often active in non-small cell lung cancer cells, causing them to grow out of control. By blocking mTOR, sirolimus may make the cancer cells more responsive to treatment with pemetrexed.
A phase II clinical trial studies the effect of low doses of sirolimus in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). LAM is a lung condition that involves lungs that are infiltrated by smooth muscle-like cells that are missing a gene called the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The loss of TSC function activates the mTOR pathway, resulting in the proliferation of these cells and the release of lymphangiogenic growth factors.
To study the effect of sirolimus, researchers took blood samples from 138 patients with LAM who had received sirolimus and other drugs. They also took blood samples from people who received the drug alone.
The results showed that sirolimus significantly reduced the number of new squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell carcinomas, and other skin cancers in patients who had received kidney transplants. The incidence of these cancers was lower in the sirolimus group compared with the calcineurin inhibitor group.
This study is the first to show that converting kidney transplant recipients who have been taking calcineurin inhibitors to sirolimus reduces the risk of developing new squamous skin cancers. Moreover, it does not negatively affect the long-term function of grafts or patient survival.
Dosage instruction
Sirolimus comes as a tablet or solution (liquid) that you take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day. It works by inhibiting the action of a protein called mTOR. This prevents cancer cells from growing and spreading.
You should always read the dosage instruction carefully before you start taking sirolimus and each time you change your dose. You should also ask your doctor if there are any changes to the instructions.
Your doctor may want to change your dose if you have any medical problems or other illnesses. This will ensure that you get the best possible results from this medicine.
Before you start using sirolimus, tell your doctor if you have any allergies. You might also need to avoid certain foods or drinks while you are taking this medicine.
The usual dosage for adults is 2 mg daily, but you can also use a liquid version of the drug to help you remember to take it. You should drink at least 2 ounces of water or orange juice before you take this medicine.
You can keep the dose of sirolimus that you have used in a tightly capped syringe for up to 24 hours at room temperature or in the refrigerator. When you are done, throw the syringe away.
Safety Advice
Despite its impressive list of benefits, sirolimus may be associated with side effects. Read the safety information provided by your doctor or pharmacist to be sure sirolimus is safe for you.
Sirolimus is an immunosuppressant drug that works by weakening your immune system to help it accept a kidney transplant as if it were your own. It also can help with a condition where your immune system is overactive and attacks healthy cells in the body.
The best way to take sirolimus is to follow the directions on the label. The dosage is based on your weight, medical condition and response to treatment.
There are a number of other medications that interact with sirolimus, and your doctor will tell you which ones to avoid.
To make the task of taking your medicine easier, your doctor may recommend a daily pill organizer to keep track of all your medicines and reminders. This is a great idea because it keeps your medicines in one place and makes them easy to find.
You should also read the Medication Guide that comes with your prescription before you start sirolimus and each time you get a refill. This will help you make the most of your medicine and avoid any possible side effects.
Precaution
- When you take sirolimus, you will need to have medical tests and blood samples taken on a regular basis. These tests will show how well the medicine is working and will let your doctor know if it is time to change your dose.
- Some medications and alcohol may interact with sirolimus, causing serious side effects or death. Talk with your doctor about these and other drug interactions before you start taking this medicine.
- Sirolimus may cause a severe brain problem called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Call your doctor right away if you have a change in your mental state, loss of vision, or weakness on 1 side of your body.
- This drug can also cause liver problems. These rarely happen, but can be very dangerous. Signs of a liver problem include dark urine, light-colored stools, throwing up, tiredness, stomach pain, and yellow skin or eyes.
