Tacroz Forte Ointment 0.1% w/v (Generic Tacrolimus Ointment)

Tacroz Forte Ointment is used for preventing organ rejection in patients following liver, kidney, or heart transplant. It may be used along with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Use Tacroz Forte Ointment exactly as directed.

Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor. To use the ointment, follow these steps:

• Wash your hands with soap and water. Be sure that the skin in the affected area is dry.
• Apply a thin layer of tacrolimus ointment to all affected areas of your skin. Rub the ointment into your skin gently and completely.
• Wash your hands with soap and water to remove any Tacroz Forte Ointment. Do not wash your hands if you are treating them with tacrolimus.
• You may cover the treated areas with normal clothing, but do not use any bandages, dressings, or wraps.
• Be careful not to wash the ointment off of affected areas of your skin. Do not swim, shower, or bathe immediately after applying tacrolimus ointment.

Tacroz Forte Ointment is an immunosuppressant. It blocks the action of certain blood cells (eg, T lymphocytes) that can cause the body to reject the transplanted organ.

Take the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Store Tacroz Forte Ointment at room temperature, between 59 and 80 degrees F (15 and 26 degrees C). Store in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat and light. Keep Tacroz Forte Ointment out of the reach of children and away from pets.

Do NOT use Tacroz Forte Ointment if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Tacroz Forte Ointment, including castor oil
• you are taking astemizole, cisapride, dofetilide, ibutilide, a potassium-sparing diuretic (eg, spironolactone), sirolimus, terfenadine, or ziprasidone
• you have taken cyclosporine with the last 24 hours

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have heart, kidney, or liver problems; diabetes; or high potassium levels in your blood

• Potassium-sparing diuretics (eg, spironolactone) because the risk of high blood potassium levels may be increased
• Cyclosporine or other medicines that may harm the kidney (eg, aminoglycoside antibiotics [eg, gentamicin], amphotericin B, cisplatin, cyclosporine, ganciclovir, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] [eg, ibuprofen], vancomycin) or the liver (eg, acetaminophen, methotrexate, ketoconazole, isoniazid, certain medicines for HIV infection) because the risk of kidney or liver side effects may be increased. Ask your doctor if you are unsure if any of your medicines might harm the kidney or liver
• Many prescription and nonprescription medicines (eg, used for infections, inflammation, aches and pains, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, seizures, stomach problems), multivitamin products, herbal or dietary supplements (eg, herbal teas, coenzyme Q10, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, St. John's wort), astemizole, cisapride, dofetilide, ibutilide, sirolimus, terfenadine, and ziprasidone may interact with Tacrolimus , increasing the risk of side effects