Post by Master Kim on Dec 17, 2014 15:41:30 GMT -5
Dealing With Side Effects After an Organ Transplant - www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/life-after-transplant-dealing-side-effects
Dealing With Side Effects After an Organ Transplant
Drugs are taken that suppress your immune system after an organ transplant. Unfortunately, they are powerful and can affect the entire body. That means they affect your whole body instead of just the immune response to a transplanted organ.
So the bad news is that you may have some side effects. The good news is that side effects are much easier to cope with than they once were.
The specific side effects vary. It depends on the combination of post-transplant drugs you use. Here's a general list of some of the side effects you might have.
Yes, it's a long list. But don't worry too much. Not everyone gets side effects like these. One transplant recipient's response can be very different from another's.
Make sure to tell your health care provider about any side effects. He or she may be able to change your medication. Or he or she may have other ways of treating these problems. Don't suffer needlessly.
Other Drugs Taken After an Organ Transplant
In some cases after an organ transplant, you may need more drugs to cope with the side effects of immunosuppressants. For instance you might take:
Many people only need extra medications during the early part of their treatment. When your doctor lowers the dose of immunosuppressants, the side effects may bother you less or go away.
Since people with transplants need so many drugs, they need to be very careful of drug interactions. Make sure that your health care provider knows all of the other medications that you use. This includes any over-the-counter or herbal medicines. Even some foods such as grapefruit juice can interact with certain medications.
Dealing With Side Effects After an Organ Transplant
Drugs are taken that suppress your immune system after an organ transplant. Unfortunately, they are powerful and can affect the entire body. That means they affect your whole body instead of just the immune response to a transplanted organ.
So the bad news is that you may have some side effects. The good news is that side effects are much easier to cope with than they once were.
The specific side effects vary. It depends on the combination of post-transplant drugs you use. Here's a general list of some of the side effects you might have.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Puffy face
- Anemia
- Arthritis
- Weakened bones
- Increased appetite
- Weight gain
- Trouble sleeping
- Mood swings
- Swelling and tingling of the hands and feet
- Acne and other skin problems
- Tremors
- Hair loss or unwanted hair growth
Yes, it's a long list. But don't worry too much. Not everyone gets side effects like these. One transplant recipient's response can be very different from another's.
Make sure to tell your health care provider about any side effects. He or she may be able to change your medication. Or he or she may have other ways of treating these problems. Don't suffer needlessly.
Other Drugs Taken After an Organ Transplant
In some cases after an organ transplant, you may need more drugs to cope with the side effects of immunosuppressants. For instance you might take:
- Antibiotics and antifungal medications. They treat infections that result from a suppressed immune system.
- Anti-ulcer medications. They treat gastrointestinal side effects.
- Diuretics. They help with kidney problems or high blood pressure.
Many people only need extra medications during the early part of their treatment. When your doctor lowers the dose of immunosuppressants, the side effects may bother you less or go away.
Since people with transplants need so many drugs, they need to be very careful of drug interactions. Make sure that your health care provider knows all of the other medications that you use. This includes any over-the-counter or herbal medicines. Even some foods such as grapefruit juice can interact with certain medications.
Side Effects of Anti-Rejection Medications for Kidney Transplant - www.cpmc.org/advanced/kidney/news/newsletter/kidneytransplant_medication_sideeffects.html
Side Effects of Anti-Rejection Medications for Kidney Transplant
Over the last two decades, advances in the development of anti-rejection (immunosuppressive) drugs have lead to a great improvement in transplant success and a significant decline in the occurrence of acute rejection.
Despite these advances, many patients suffer from side effects caused by antirejection drugs. The table below summarizes common side effects associated with each drug. Most patients are on a combination of up to three of the medications listed.
Patients who are concerned that they might be affected by one or more of these side effects should consult their local primary care provider or California Pacific Medical Center’s Kidney Team.
Side Effects of Anti-Rejection Medications for Kidney Transplant
Over the last two decades, advances in the development of anti-rejection (immunosuppressive) drugs have lead to a great improvement in transplant success and a significant decline in the occurrence of acute rejection.
Despite these advances, many patients suffer from side effects caused by antirejection drugs. The table below summarizes common side effects associated with each drug. Most patients are on a combination of up to three of the medications listed.
Patients who are concerned that they might be affected by one or more of these side effects should consult their local primary care provider or California Pacific Medical Center’s Kidney Team.
DRUGS | ADVERSE EFFECTS |
Steroids (prednisone, deltasone) | Hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, hyperlipidemia (high blood cholesterol and fat levels), bone disease, weight gain, swelling, impaired wound healing, cataracts, psychological changes |
Azathioprine (imuran) | Neutropenia (low white blood cell count), anemia, liver inflammation, hair loss, acute pancreatitis |
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf, Eon) | Kidney toxicity, diabetes, hypertension, gout, high potassium levels, hyperlipidemia, neurotoxicty, hair and gum over-growth, diabetes |
Tacrolimus (Prograf) | Kidney toxicity, neurotoxicity, hypertension, gout, high potassium levels, hyperlipidemia |
Mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept, Myfortic) | Gastrointestinal intolerance, neutropenia, anemia |
Sirolimus (Rapamune) | Hyperlipidemia, low platelet counts, neutropenia, anemia, poor wound healing |
Based on Ascetic Saahm's formula #1, fostering large intestine,
subdue LU10, ST41, SP2, BL60, KI2 and LR2.