cellcept w/ cyclosporine

I am post tx 12/08 w/hep c . neoral 50mg 2x daily,   cellcept 500mg 2x daily. The cyclosporine is eating away at my kidneys. Creatine 1.6,  bun 36 ,gfr 48.Ive had no signs of rejection. Can cellcept by itself be used to immunosuppress as it doesn't damage the kidneys as much.? Maybe the dose could be increased on the cellcept so that I can stop the cyclosporine as I dont want to eventually have renal failure. Could this cause me to reject? Is it mandatory that I must have some cyclosporine in my blood? Do you know of any cases where cellcept was used by itself to successfully prevent liver rejection?

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

almost always cyclosporine or tacrolimus are necessary components of the immunosuppressive regimen.  the cellcept dose can be increased in an effort to lower the cyclosporine dose (level can be maintained around maybe 50).  You should definitely also see a nephrologist.