cellcept (generic) causing tremor and anxiety?

[trc1962]

Been on the generic cellcept for almost 6 weeks now and a month at the 2000 mg dose and I am noticing some things I don't like. I have been feeling anxious for awhile now and it wasn't there a few weeks ago. I also feel a tremor in my neck and hands and I feel weak there. I suppose that could be from the neuropathy or whatever this flare is from, but the anxiety has been causing me to wake up at all hours of the night. I also can't go to the bathroom and I am so very bloated and I just look and feel 9 months pregnant. I decided last night to take only 500 mg at bedtime instead of 1000 and I slept better and only woke up a couple of times. I will talk to the rheumy on Monday and see what he thinks and of course follow his advice, but I sure would like to feel normal. Anyone here feel any anxiety on mycopholenate?

[Jasper]

I was on Cellcept for 10 weeks. I started at 1000 mg per day and went up to 2000 mg a day after a month. I had a lot of side effects ..... severe overwhelming fatigue, queasiness, belching, flatus, explosive diarrhea, bloating, nightmares, insomnia, headaches, felt horrible.

I did NOT have anxiety. However, I did have severe insomnia (despite also having severe fatigue) and I did have bloating. I felt 9 months pregnant too.

Cellcept can have a lot of side effects. Some people do well on it. Others, like me, cannot tolerate it. I stopped after 10 weeks and felt better within a couple of days.

Now I am on Rituxan and doing very well on it, no side effects except probably increased susceptibility to infections, but that happened on Cellcept too. Plus Rituxan is working very well for me. I feel better than I have felt in years.

I hope Cellcept works for you but, if it does not, there are other drugs to try. It is just a matter of trial and error.

[trc1962]

Yes the bloating is a terrible issue and it is so uncomfortable and for me explosive gas, but no bowel movements. I have been hopeful to try rituxan and am hoping my rheumatologist will consider giving it a shot. I don't have nightmares, but the night anxiety might be my way of showing that. At this point in time I think it is time to try something else. I am so glad it works  (cellcept) for so many people without the side effects - it just isn't me.

[irish]

I was on Cellcept about 7 months a few years ago and when I got up to 2000 mgm I just decided to quit as I felt so lousy. I wish that I had not and think if I had gone back to 1500 mgm I would have done ok. I have told my immunologist I would try it again when I am done with my steroid pulse therapy.

This time I don't plan to go up so high and plan to increase the mgm at a slower rate also. I am just not like those people who can take these meds without strange things going on. Good luck. Irish

[trc1962]

I have also thought about trying 1500 mg of cellcept spread out over the day instead of 1000 in the morning and evenings. I believe the shaking has gotten a bit better, but the big thing is I am actually sleeping pretty good and I need this. I still have the big stomach bloat and it is very uncomfortable at evening time but that is from the prednisone. The cellcept also gave me awful gas and I felt like a pin cushion that desperately wanted to be released. Happy Sunday to all!