Polycarbophil calcium reduces bioavailability of mycophenolate
Clinical evidence,mechanism, importance and management
A study in 5 healthy subjects given a single 1-g dose of mycophenolate alone or with polycarbophil calcium 2.4 g found that AUC and peak serum levels of mycophenolic acid were reduced by about 51 % and 69%, respectively. The authors suggest that this interaction was probably result of reduced absorption due to chelate-complex formation between mycophenolate and calcium ions, which they demonstrated in an in vitro study. It was concluded that mycophenolate and polycarbophil calcium should not be taken at same time (See reference number 1). A suitable interval was not specified,but a separation of 2 hrs has been suggested with antacids, , which interact by a similar mechanism. Further study is needed.
1. Kato R,Ooi K, Ikura-Morii M, Tsuchishita Y, Hashimoto H, Yoshimura H, Uenishi K, Kawai M, Tanaka K, Ueno K. Impairment of mycophenolate mofetil absorption by calcium polycarbophil. J Clin Pharmacol (2002) 42, 1275–80.