Jesse2233
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CellCept (Mycophenolic acid) is an immunosuppressant drug used to prevent rejection in organ transplantation and off-label in certain autoimmune conditions.
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CellCept inhibits an enzyme (inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase) needed for the growth of:
So at face value (given the latest research) CellCept appears to be a tailor made drug for ME/CFS. By suppressing B-cells it should, like rituximab, bring down pathogenic autoantibodies (as Fluge/Mella, Scheibenbogen, Bergquist, Light, and Behan have implicated are present). But unlike rituximab it also targets T-cells which are implicated in Mark Davis' latest research (as seen at the OMF Symposium).
As mentioned above, it may also have activity against herpes viruses (1) (implicated in research by Lerner, Montoya) and Coxsackie viruses (2) (implicated in research by Hyde, Chia, Ramsay). I should note that CellCept's anti-viral activity has only been shown in vitro, and it can cause opportunistic infections (which paradoxically include herpes).
Cyclophosphamide (currently showing success in Fluge/Mella's CycloME trial) also targets B-cells and T-cells, but from what I understand it's more toxic than CellCept and can't be used long term (whereas CellCept can). For that reason I'm curious why Fluge/Mella chose Cyclo over CellCept.
CellCept seems to be effective in other autoimmune conditions. I've been reading many positive anecdotal reports of CellCept being used to treat Lupus, PANDAS/PANS, and even POTS. Interestingly I've not read one report of an ME/CFS patient ever using CellCept although it's listed in the ME/CFS treatment guide "Reviving the Broken Marionette" by Maija Haavisto.
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CellCept can be taken orally or through an IV. It costs $219 for 30 capsules (~$2,628 a year) making it more affordable than rituximab.
CellCept does of course have side effects which include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, or constipation; headache, mild weakness; swelling in hands or feet; numbness or tingly feeling; anxiety, sleep problems. And like rituximab it carries the risk of deadly progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). My understanding is that this risk is low.
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I've seen @Jonathan Edwards call CellCept "too blunt of an instrument" in a post a few years ago, but I'd be curious as to his current views on it given more recent findings.
A friend of mine with a long standing case of post-viral ME/CFS will be trying it soon. I will report back on his results.
------------------------------
CellCept inhibits an enzyme (inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase) needed for the growth of:
- T-cells
- B-cells
- Herpes simplex virus
- Coxsackie virus
So at face value (given the latest research) CellCept appears to be a tailor made drug for ME/CFS. By suppressing B-cells it should, like rituximab, bring down pathogenic autoantibodies (as Fluge/Mella, Scheibenbogen, Bergquist, Light, and Behan have implicated are present). But unlike rituximab it also targets T-cells which are implicated in Mark Davis' latest research (as seen at the OMF Symposium).
As mentioned above, it may also have activity against herpes viruses (1) (implicated in research by Lerner, Montoya) and Coxsackie viruses (2) (implicated in research by Hyde, Chia, Ramsay). I should note that CellCept's anti-viral activity has only been shown in vitro, and it can cause opportunistic infections (which paradoxically include herpes).
Cyclophosphamide (currently showing success in Fluge/Mella's CycloME trial) also targets B-cells and T-cells, but from what I understand it's more toxic than CellCept and can't be used long term (whereas CellCept can). For that reason I'm curious why Fluge/Mella chose Cyclo over CellCept.
CellCept seems to be effective in other autoimmune conditions. I've been reading many positive anecdotal reports of CellCept being used to treat Lupus, PANDAS/PANS, and even POTS. Interestingly I've not read one report of an ME/CFS patient ever using CellCept although it's listed in the ME/CFS treatment guide "Reviving the Broken Marionette" by Maija Haavisto.
------------------------------
CellCept can be taken orally or through an IV. It costs $219 for 30 capsules (~$2,628 a year) making it more affordable than rituximab.
CellCept does of course have side effects which include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, or constipation; headache, mild weakness; swelling in hands or feet; numbness or tingly feeling; anxiety, sleep problems. And like rituximab it carries the risk of deadly progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). My understanding is that this risk is low.
------------------------------
I've seen @Jonathan Edwards call CellCept "too blunt of an instrument" in a post a few years ago, but I'd be curious as to his current views on it given more recent findings.
A friend of mine with a long standing case of post-viral ME/CFS will be trying it soon. I will report back on his results.
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