Mycophenolate Mofetil and Mood Changes in Children with Skin Disorders

Abstract

The Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has mandated has intensified the counseling associated with prescribing mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), because of its teratogenicity. In this brief report, two children are described who were prescribed MMF and within weeks developed psychiatric symptoms, with rapid resolution after discontinuation of the medication and no recurrence over 4 years of follow-up. Mood disorders are a rare but possible side effect that should be mentioned when discussing MMF with patients and families. Prompt discontinuation of the drug should lead to reversal of symptoms when the drug is implicated.

Mycophenolate Mofetil Use in Pediatric Immune Thrombocytopenia Refractory to First-line Therapy: a Single-center Experience

“…Three patients experienced depressive episodes, a rarely reported side effect of MMF. 17 The cause for the tragic suicide of the 1 patient with secondary ITP was likely multifactorial, as this patient carried significant risk factors for depression, including a diagnosis of SLE and a recent taper following a long course of steroids. 18,19 Nonetheless, patients receiving MMF should be monitored for psychological problems during treatment.…”