Your immune system will never completely adjust to the new organ. Therefore, you will be taking medications to suppress your immune system for the life of your kidney after your transplant.
In most cases we will prescribe two or three different immunosuppressive medications so that each can be given in the lowest possible dose. By using a combination of different edications, we can maximize the overall immunosuppressive effect but minimize the individual drug side effects.
Induction
Your immune system’s response against your new kidney will be the strongest immediately after your surgery. Therefore, you may receive very powerful immunosuppressive medications while you are in the
hospital. These strong medications are a part of what is called induction therapy”. Induction therapy ensures that your immune system is suppressed enough so that it will not reject your new organ while we get you on the right amount of medication. Depending on how strong the transplant team expects your immune response to be, you will receive induction therapy with high dose steroids and either Thymoglobulin or Simulect.
The following is a list of some of the medications that you may be required to take after your transplant.
Your Transplant Team will determine the best medication combination for you.
Tacrolimus (Prograf®):
Tacrolimus is used to prevent rejection of your new kidney. It comes in 0.5mg yellow capsules, 1mg white capsules, and 5mg pink capsules. The main side effects are:
•Headache
•Diarrhea/nausea
•Tremor
•Hair loss
•High blood sugar
•Changes in kidney function
You will take Tacrolimus twice a day; once in the morning and once in the evening. It is best to take the
doses twelve hours apart, for example 8 AM and 8 PM. It is important that you take this medicine at the
same time each day.
BE CONSISTENT! DO NOT TAKE YOUR TACROLIMUS BEFORE ANY BLOOD DRAWS!
You should take this medication as soon as your blood test is drawn.
Cyclosporine (Neoral®):
Cyclosporine is used to prevent rejection of your new kidney. It is a gray capsule that comes in 100mg
strength and 25mg strength. The main side effects of Cyclosporine are:
•High blood pressure
•Changes in kidney function
•Headache
•Hair growth
You will take Cyclosporine twice a day; once in the morning and once in the evening. It is best to take the
doses twelve hours apart. It is important that you take this medicine at the same time each day. BECONSISTENT! DO NOT TAKE YOUR NEORAL® BEFORE ANY BLOOD DRAWS!
You should take this medication as soon as your blood test is drawn.
Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF, CellCept®):
MMF is used to prevent rejection of your new kidney. It comes in large purple 500mg capsules tablet and smaller blue/orange 250mg capsules. The main side effects of MMF are:
•Nausea/vomiting
•Diarrhea
•Changes in white blood cell counts
•There is a risk of miscarriage and
birth defects while taking CellCept® during pregnancy.
You will take MMF twice a day: once in the morning and once in the evening. Some patients who have problems with nausea take smaller doses of the MMF four times a day. It is important to take thismedicine at the same time each day. BE CONSISTENT!
Mycophenolic acid (Myfortic®):
Mycophenolic acid is used to prevent rejection of your new kidney. It comes in a large orange 360mg
tablet, and a smaller green 180mg tablet. The main side effects of Mycophenolic acid are:
•Nausea/vomiting
•Diarrhea
•Changes in white blood cell counts
•There is a risk of miscarriage and birth defects while taking
Mycophenolic acid during pregnancy
You will take Mycophenolic acid twice a day, in the morning and evening. Mycophenolic acid should be taken one hour before eating any food and two hours after eating. It is important to take this medication at the same time each day. BE CONSISTENT!
Sirolimus (Rapamune®):
Sirolimus is used to prevent rejection of your new kidney. It comes in a 0.5 mg. 1 mg. or 2 mg. tablet.
The main side effects of Sirolimus are:
•High cholesterol
•High blood pressure
•Nausea/diarrhea
•Rash
You will take Sirolimus once a day, in the morning. Take this medicine at the same time each day. BE
CONSISTENT! DO NOT TAKE YOUR RAPAMUNE® BEFORE ANY BLOOD DRAWS!
You should take this medication as soon as your blood test is drawn.
Prednisone (deltasone):
Prednisone is used to prevent rejection of your new kidney. It is a small white tablet, 5mg or 10mg
strength. Prednisone is a steroid. The main side effects of Prednisone are:
•Increased appetite
•Mood swings
•Acne
•Increased blood sugar
•Stomach upset
•Weight gain
You will take Prednisone once a day, usually in the morning. It is best to take Prednisone with food.