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Insight Horizon Media

What is a toxic level of tacrolimus?

Author

Daniel Johnson

Published Mar 15, 2026

What is a toxic level of tacrolimus?

The highest recorded plasma and whole-blood tacrolimus levels during the toxic episodes were respectively 2.7±0.8 ng/ml (range 1.1–3.5) and 31.6±10.6 ng/ml (range 14.5–50.5). The drug levels were considered to be beyond the therapeutic range in 18/22 (82%) patients.

What are symptoms of tacrolimus toxicity?

Symptoms of acute tacrolimus toxicity vary widely, from lack of clinical symptoms to severe renal failure or neurotoxicity. Most often symptoms are mild and include nausea, headache, mild hand tremors, liver enzyme elevation, electrolyte disturbances, and mild increases in SCr [5, 6, 8, 17, 18].

How is tacrolimus toxicity treated?

Phenytoin, an anti-convulsant agent, can induce the Cytochrome P450 enzyme in the liver, which metabolizes Tacrolimus. Therefore, it can be considered as a potential treatment option for acute Tacrolimus toxicity.

Is tacrolimus nephrotoxicity reversible?

We found biopsy-proven acute reversible tacrolimus nephrotoxicity in 17% of renal-transplant recipients on an initial maintenance dose of 0.15 mg/kg of tacrolimus twice daily (48).

What makes tacrolimus level high?

The pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus are influenced by many factors, including genetic variability, acute infections, liver dysfunction, and interacting medications, which can result in elevated concentrations.

What causes tacrolimus toxicity?

Tacrolimus toxicity due to a drug interaction between tacrolimus and clarithromycin was the most likely cause for nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Hyperglycemia was likely due to a mixture of tacrolimus toxicity and the side effect of prednisone.

What happens if Prograf level is too high?

high potassium level–nausea, weakness, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement; kidney problems–little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath; low magnesium or phosphate–bone pain, jerky muscle movements, muscle weakness or limp feeling, slow reflexes; or.

What are the signs and symptoms of nephrotoxicity?

Pain or pressure in chest.

  • Retention of fluid, causing swelling in legs, ankles and feet.
  • Decreased urine output.
  • Irregular heartbeat.
  • Is tacrolimus hard on kidneys?

    Tacrolimus is a very strong medicine. It can cause side effects that can be very serious, such as kidney problems. It may also decrease the body’s ability to fight infections. You and your doctor should talk about the benefits of this medicine as well as the risks of using it.

    Is tacrolimus a neurotoxin?

    The prompt recognition of tacrolimus as a potentially neurotoxic drug and substituting it with a different immunosuppressant can prevent permanent damage and decrease the risk of rejection. Cyclosporine and tacrolimus are both calcineurin inhibitors sharing the same immunosuppressive pathway.

    Is tacrolimus a high risk drug?

    Can tacrolimus cause high triglycerides?

    Tacrolimus-induced elevation in plasma triglyceride concentrations after administration to renal transplant patients is partially due to a decrease in lipoprotein lipase activity and plasma concentrations. Transplantation.