Medications

Transplant Medications

Transplant recipients typically take a combination of medications to prevent organ rejection and manage other health issues post-surgery. Here’s a comprehensive list with definitions of these medications:

!!!If your meds are not listed here they may be branded with another name. If you have questions always consult with your Dr not some internet knucklehead or your know it all cousin Sal.

Immunosuppressants

Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune): Prevents the body from rejecting a transplanted organ by inhibiting the activity of immune cells.
Tacrolimus (Prograf, Advagraf): Similar to cyclosporine, it inhibits T-lymphocyte activation, preventing organ rejection.
Mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept): Suppresses the immune system by inhibiting the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes.
Azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan): An immunosuppressant that decreases the body’s natural immunity, used to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ.
Sirolimus (Rapamune): Inhibits the immune response by blocking the activation and proliferation of T-cells and B-cells.
Everolimus (Zortress): Similar to sirolimus, used to prevent organ rejection, especially in kidney transplants.
Prednisone (Deltasone): A corticosteroid that suppresses the immune system and reduces inflammation.
Belatacept (Nulojix): Blocks the costimulatory signal required for T-cell activation, thereby preventing organ rejection.

Antiviral Medications

Valganciclovir (Valcyte): Prevents cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in transplant recipients.
Acyclovir (Zovirax): Used to prevent herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections.

Antibiotics and Antifungals

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim): Prevents bacterial infections, particularly pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP).
Nystatin (Mycostatin): An antifungal medication used to prevent oral thrush.

Antihypertensive Medications

Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril): An ACE inhibitor used to manage high blood pressure and reduce the risk of kidney damage.
Amlodipine (Norvasc): A calcium channel blocker that helps control high blood pressure.

Lipid-Lowering Agents

Atorvastatin (Lipitor): Reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, lowering the risk of heart disease.
Simvastatin (Zocor): Another statin used to control cholesterol levels.

Anti-diabetic Medications

Insulin: Used to manage blood sugar levels in diabetic transplant recipients.
Metformin (Glucophage): A medication for type 2 diabetes that helps control blood sugar levels.

Gastroprotective Agents

Pantoprazole (Protonix): A proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used to prevent stomach ulcers.
Ranitidine (Zantac): An H2 blocker that reduces stomach acid, preventing ulcers.

Bone Density Medications

Alendronate (Fosamax): A bisphosphonate that helps prevent bone loss and osteoporosis.

Analgesics and Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Used to relieve mild to moderate pain and reduce fever.

Other Medications

Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements: Used to support bone health, especially in patients on long-term corticosteroids.
Multivitamins: To ensure adequate nutrition and support overall health.

Important Considerations

Monitoring: Regular blood tests are required to monitor drug levels and organ function.
Side Effects: Each medication can have side effects that need to be managed in consultation with healthcare providers.
Adherence: Strict adherence to the medication regimen is crucial to prevent organ rejection and other complications.

This list covers the most common medications, but individual regimens may vary based on the type of transplant, the patient’s medical history, and specific needs. Always consult with healthcare professionals for personalized medical advice.

Acyclovir: (Brand names: Zovirax, Cymex Ultra, Virasorb) Aciclovir (or acyclovir) an antiviral medicine. It treats a range of infections caused by herpes viruses,including:cold sores genital herpes eye infections prescribed as tablet,liquid,ointment and cream.(NHS)

Anti-thymocyte globulin: An immunosuppressant.

Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit) injection is used together with other medicines

to prevent and treat the body from rejecting a transplanted kidney. (MC)

Antiviral Drugs: a class of medication used for treating viral infections.

Most antivirals target specific viruses, while a broad-spectrum antiviral is effective

against a wide range of viruses.(WIKI)

Astagraf: ASTAGRAF XL- tacrolimus extended-release capsules

capsule, coated, extended release for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in kidney

transplant patients in combination with other immunosuppressants in adult and

pediatric patients who can swallow capsules (NIIH)

Atgam (Anti-thymocyte Globulin [Equine]) Atgam is a polyclonal antibody, or an immune globulin, given as an intravenous: To manage moderate to severe aplastic anemia (a blood disorder that damages stem cells), To prevent the body from rejecting a kidney transplant. Also To prevent or lessen the effects of graft versus host disease (GvHD) before or after a stem cell transplant and To help bone marrow make new blood cells in patients with MDS.(OnoLink)

Azasa/Azasan/Azathioprine (Imuran®) is used to prevent rejection of a transplanted kidney. It

belongs to thegroup of medicines known as immunosuppressive agents. Azathioprine will lower the body’s natural immunity in patients who receive transplants to prevent rejection of the new kidney. It is also used to relieve joint pain and swelling for patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms: Tablet (MC)

Basiliximab belongs to a group of medicines known as immunosuppressive agents. It is use to lower the body’s natural immunity in patients who receive kidney transplants. Basiliximab is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor. (MC)

Belatacept /Nulojix weakens your body’s immune system, to help keep it from “rejecting” a transplanted organ such as a kidney. Organ rejection happens when the immune system treats the new organ as an invader and attacks it. (Drugs.com)

Belumosudil is used to treat graft versus host disease (GVHD; a complication of hematopoietic stem-cell transplant [HSCT; a procedure that replaces diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow]) in adults and children 12 years of age and older who were treated unsuccessfully with at least two other treatments. (MedlinePlus)

CellCept Mycophenolate belongs to a group of medicines known as immunosuppressive agents. It is used with other medicines (eg, cyclosporine, steroid medicine) to lower the body’s natural immunity in patients who receive organ transplants (eg, kidney, heart, or liver). This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription. (MC)

Cyclophosphamide is a medication primarily used in the management and treatment of neoplasms, including multiple myeloma, sarcoma, and breast cancer. (NIH)

Cyclosporine (Sandimmune®, Neoral®) Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant dug that has been used since the early 1980s to prevent organ rejection after transplantation such as a liver transplant.Capsules should be swallowed whole; they can be taken with or without food. Avoid taking this medication with grapefruit, pineapple, or papaya juice. (UMPC)

Daclizumab a monoclonal anti-CD25 antibody that blocks the interleukin-2 receptor which is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.Daclizumab was voluntarily withdrawn from the worldwide market on March 2, 2018 due to safety concerns. (Drugs.com

Dapsone (Avlosulfon®) Dapsone is an anti-infective medicine that fights bacteria. Dapsone is used to treat dermatitis herpetiformis (a skin condition) and leprosy. (Drugs.com)

Docusate (Colace®) Docusate is a medication utilized for managing and treating constipation. Belonging to the stool softener class of drugs, it reduces the surface tension of the oil and water interface within the stool, facilitating the passage of water and lipids into the stool mass. (NIH)

Envarsus XR is a tacrolimus extended-release tablet that helps prevent organ rejection in people who have had a kidney transplant. Tacrolimus is used together with other medicines to prevent the body from rejecting a transplanted organ (eg, kidney, liver, heart, or lung). This medicine may be used with steroids, azathioprine, basiliximab, or mycophenolate mofetil. (Drugs.com)

Everolimus is a medication that increases the activity of your immune system to treat certain types of cancer (Afinitor®) or to prevent kidney and liver transplant rejection (Zortress®). This medication comes in a tablet form that you can take by mouth with a glass of water. (CC)

Ferrous Sulfate (Feosol®, Slow FE®) Iron, or ferrous sulfate (Feosol®, Slow FE®) is a mineral that your body needs to produce red blood cells. When the body does not get enough iron, it cannot produce enough red blood cells to keep itself healthy. This is called iron-deficiency anemia. Lack of iron can cause tiredness, shortness of breath, and decreased physical performance. It also can increase the chance of a liver transplant patient getting infections.

Fludrocortisone (Florinef®) Fludrocortisone is a corticosteroid (cortisone-like medicine). It belongs to the family of medicines called steroids. Your body naturally produces similar corticosteroids, which are necessary to maintain the balance of certain minerals and water for good health. If your body does not produce enough corticosteroids, your doctor may have prescribed this medicine to help make up the difference. (MC)

Furosemide Lasix Furosemide belongs to a group of medicines called loop diuretics (also known as water pills). Furosemide is given to help treat fluid retention (edema) and swelling that is caused by congestive heart failure, liver disease, kidney disease, or other medical conditions. It works by acting on the kidneys to increase the flow of urine. (MC)

Ganciclovir (Cytovene®) Ganciclovir capsules are used to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV) in people whose immune system is not working normally. To prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in people who have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or who have received an organ transplant and are at risk of CMV disease. Ganciclovir is in a class of medications called antivirals. It works by preventing the spread of CMV disease or slowing the growth of CMV. (Drugs.com)

Gengraf/Cyclosporine Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant dug that has been used since the early 1980s to prevent organ rejection after transplantation such as a liver transplant.Capsules should be swallowed whole; they can be taken with or without food. Avoid taking this medication with grapefruit, pineapple, or papaya juice. (UMPC)

Ibrutinib/Imbruvica Ibrutinib (Imbruvica) is a type of medication called a kinase inhibitor, which is used to treat various blood cancers and also a serious complication of allogeneic stem cell transplants.Ibrutinib helps to slow down how quickly certain blood cancers progress by working against cancerous B cells, a type of white blood cell. (Drugs.com)

Immunosuppressant Drugs Immunosuppressant is a class of medicines that inhibit or decrease the intensity of the immune response in the body. Most of these medications are used to allow the body less likely to resist a transplanted organ. In solid organ transplantation, immunosuppressive agents are needed for the activation of early-stage immunosuppression, the management of late-stage immunosuppression or for the maintenance of organ rejection. (NIH)

Imuran weakens your body’s immune system, to help keep it from “rejecting” a transplanted organ such as a kidney. Organ rejection happens when the immune system treats the new organ as an invader and attacks it. (Drugs.com)

Jakaf/Ruxolitinib Jakavi is indicated for the treatment of disease-related splenomegaly or symptoms in adult patients with primary myelofibrosis (also known as chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis), post polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis or post essential thrombocythaemia myelofibrosis. (Drugs.com)

Lymphocyte immune globulin, anti-thy (equine) Lymphocyte immune globulin anti-thymocyte (also called equine anti-thymocyte immune globulin), is an immunosuppressant that lowers your body’s immune system. Lymphocyte immune globulin is used to treat or prevent organ rejection after a kidney transplant. Lymphocyte immune globulin is also used to treat aplastic anemia (KP)

Magnesium Oxide Magnesium oxide (Mag-Ox®) supplements’ main uses include treating low magnesium levels in the body. It is best to take magnesium supplements with or just after a meal to improve absorption. Avoid taking this medication within one hour of taking medications that are coated to prevent breakdown in the stomach. Avoid taking this medication within one to two hours of taking tetracycline or quinotone antibiotics. Magnesium supplements taken soon after these medications may interfere with their absorption. (UMPC)

Magnesium Gluconate is used as a supplement to maintain adequate magnesium in the body. Magnesium gluconate can make it harder for your body to absorb other medicines you take by mouth.This can make certain medicines much less effective when taken at the same time. (Drugs.com)

Methotrexate interferes with the growth of certain cells of the body, especially cells that reproduce quickly, such as cancer cells, bone marrow cells, and skin cells. Methotrexate is used to treat leukemia and certain types of cancer of the breast, skin, head and neck, lung, or uterus. Methotrexate is also used to treat severe psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis in adults. (Drugs.com)

Muromonab-CD3 is a monoclonal antibody. It is used to reduce the body’s natural immunity in patients who receive organ (for example, kidney) transplants. The effect of muromonab-CD3 on the white blood cells may also reduce the body’s ability to fight infections. Muromonab-CD3 is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor. (Drugs.com)

Mycophenolate Mofetil (CellCept®) Mycophenolate belongs to a group of medicines known as immunosuppressive agents. It is used with other medicines (eg, cyclosporine, steroid medicine) to lower the body’s natural immunity in patients who receive organ transplants (eg, kidney, heart, or liver). This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription. (MC)

Mycophenolic acid is used with other medicines to prevent organ rejection after a kidney transplant. mycophenolic acid is for use in adults and children at least 5 years old.(Drugs.com)

Neoral (cyclosporine capsules, modified) It is used to keep the body from harming the organ after an organ transplant. .(Drugs.com)

Nifedipine (Procardia XL®, Adalat CC®) is in a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It works by relaxing the muscles of your heart and blood vessels. Nifedipine is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina (chest pain). (Drugs.com)

Nystatin (Mycostatin®, Nilstat®) Nifedipine is used alone or together with other medicines to treat severe chest pain (angina) or high blood pressure (hypertension). Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker. It works by affecting the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels .(MC)

Pentamidine Isethionate Nebulization Pentamidine is an antifungal medication that fights infections caused by fungus, is used to prevent and treat pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis jiroveci (carinii). (Drugs.com)

Prednisone is an FDA approved drug that is part of a medication class called corticosteroids, a grouping of steroid hormones. It is a synthetic glucocorticoid (cortisone-like drug) that works systemically, meaning it works all over your body. It mimics a steroid that your body already produces. t can also treat other diseases by decreasing inflammation from inhibiting multiple substances in the chemical pathway of inflammation. It can also alter your body’s immune response by suppressing your immune system. (Drug s.com)

Prograf is a prescription medicine and is used together with other medicines to prevent your body from rejecting a heart, liver, lung, or kidney transplant. Prograf weakens your body’s immune system, to help keep it from “rejecting” a transplanted organ such as a kidney. ((Drugs.com)

Rapamune is a prescription medicine used to prevent rejection (anti-rejection medicine) in people 13 years of age and older who have received a kidney transplant. Rapamune is used with other medicines called cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), and corticosteroids. ((Drugs.com)

Rezurock is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older with chronic graft-versus-host disease (chronic GVHD) after you have received at least 2 prior treatments (systemic therapy) and they did not work. (Drugs.com)

Ruxolitinib is used in adults to treat myelofibrosis or polycythemia vera, which are bone marrow disorders that affect your body’s ability to produce blood cells. Ruxolitinib is also used to treat graft versus host disease in adults and children at least 12 years old. (Drugs.com)

Sandimmune is used to keep the body from harming the organ after an organ transplant. Cyclosporine (Sandimmune®, Neoral®) serves as an immunosuppresant medication for post-pediatric intestinal transplat patients. (UMPC)

Simulect Generic name: basiliximab is used with other medications to prevent organ rejection after a kidney transplant. This medicine weakens your immune system to prevent your body from “rejecting” the transplanted kidney. (NIH)

Sirolimus (Rapamycin®, Rapamune®) Sirolimus is used in combination with other medications to prevent rejection of kidney transplants. Sirolimus is in a class of medications called immunosuppressants. It works by suppressing the body’s immune system. (NIH)

Sodium Bicarbonate is an antacid that neutralizes stomach acid. Sodium bicarbonate is used to relieve heartburn and indigestion. (Drugs.com)

Sulfamethoxazole With Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim is a combination antibiotic used to treat ear infections, urinary tract infections, bronchitis, traveler’s diarrhea, shigellosis, and Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. (Drugs.com)

Tacrolimus (Astagraf XL, Envarsus XR, Prograf) is used along with other medications to prevent rejection (attack of a transplanted organ by the immune system of a person receiving the organ) in people who have received a kidney transplant. Tacrolimus (Prograf) is also used along with other medications to prevent rejection in people who have received a liver, lung, or heart transplant. Tacrolimus is in a class of medications called immunosupressants. It works by decreasing the activity of the immune system to prevent it from attacking the transplanted organ. (NIH)

Thymoglobulin is a sterilized solution made of the cells of rabbits that have been injected with white blood cells from humans. hymoglobulin lowers your body’s immune system. The immune system helps your body fight infections. The immune system can also fight or “reject” a transplanted organ such as a liver or kidney. This is because the immune system treats the new organ as an invader.(Drugs.com)

Trexall Generic name: methotrexate Trexall is used to treat leukemia and certain types of cancer of the breast, skin, head and neck, lung, or uterus. Trexall is also used to treat severe psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis in adults.Trexall is also used to treat active polyarticular-course juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children.(Drugs.com)

Zortress The Zortress brand of everolimus is used to prevent organ rejection after a kidney or liver transplant. Zortress is used together with cyclosporine, steroids, and other medications. (Drugs.com)