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Medication
Mycophenolate Mofetil
Used to treat:
Atopic dermatitis
Moderate to severe cases that have not responded to other
therapies
What it does: By suppressing the
patient's immune system, the medication prevents reactions in the
immune system that lead to atopic dermatitis.
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What Studies Show
Twenty patients living with long-term atopic dermatitis were
given mycophenolate mofetil. None of these patients had
responded to other therapies. After receiving mycophenolate
mofetil, 17 of the 20 patients improved within 4 weeks of
starting therapy. Ten of these patients were able to stop
taking the medication and maintain remission. The other seven
patients were able to control their atopic dermatitis by
taking a maintenance dose. Overall, the medication was
well-tolerated. Side effects were mild and included headache
and fatigue.
An earlier study produced similar
results. Ten patients with moderate to severe atopic
dermatitis who had not responded to other treatments were
given mycophenolate mofetil. All patients showed significant
improvement within 4 weeks. One patient developed a herpes
infection in the eye and had to stop treatment. Aside from
this, the medication was well-tolerated. Researchers concluded
that this medication can be highly effective for treating
moderate to severe atopic dermatitis that has not responded to
other therapies.
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How to use: Available in
capsules, a liquid, tablets, and as an injection, this medication
must be used as directed.
As mycophenolate mofetil is a powerful immune suppressant, others
should not be exposed to this medication. To prevent exposure, the
tablets should not be crushed nor opened. The liquid form should not
be allowed to touch anyone’s skin.
References:
Grundmann-Kollman M et al. “Mycophenolate mofetil is effective in
the treatment of atopic dermatitis.” Archives of Dermatology.
2001. July;137(7):870-873.
Murray ML et al. “Mycophenolate mofetil
therapy for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.” Clinical and
Experimental Dermatology. 2006. October 24; [Epub ahead of
print].
An educational program brought to you by the American Academy of
Dermatology. |
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Not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) for treating atopic dermatitis, mycophenolate
mofetil has been approved for preventing organ rejection
in transplant patients. |
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© American
Academy of Dermatology, 2008 All rights reserved.
