Medications: Protecting Your Transplant

Other Medications

After any transplant, patients are required to take many different types of medications to help their new organ function properly and prevent rejection. In addition to immunosuppresant drugs, other medications may include:

Antibiotics

There is a risk of developing bacterial infections during and after your transplant. That's why antibiotics are used to harm specific bacteria that cause infection.

An antibiotic is a chemical compound that can kill or inhibit the growth of a bacteria without causing damage to the person taking it. There are hundreds of antibiotics, which are either produced naturally by a mold or bacterium, like penicillin, or synthetically made. Because bacteria are living organisms, they are always changing in an effort to resist the drugs that can kill them. When antibiotics are used incorrectly, bacteria can adapt and become resistant.

Anti-Fungal Medications

Anti-fungal medications are used after a transplant to treat fungal infections of the skin, mouth, throat, intestinal tract or genital area. There are several different types of anti-fungal therapies, including topical, oral or intravenous. It is very important to use these medications exactly as directed, and complete the full course of therapy to minimize the occurrence of recurrent infections.

Anti-Ulcer Medications

Anti-ulcer medications are used after transplant to treat and prevent the recurrence of ulcers and to treat other conditions where the stomach makes too much acid. Because type and dose of this medication vary based on individual need, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about what best suits you. It may also be important to discuss how cigarette smoking may decrease the effectiveness of some anti-ulcer medications.

Diuretics

Diuretics, also called water pills, are chemical substances used to reduce swelling and fluid retention by increasing the amount of urine made by the kidneys and helping to rid the body of excess fluids. They do this by forcing the kidneys to excrete urine more frequently, and in greater amounts. Diuretics also control high blood pressure.

Because excess amounts of diuretics can cause electrolyte depletion, it is important to use these medications exactly as directed.

Antivirals

Unlike antibacterial drugs, antivirals are medications used for prevention and treatment of viruses. Since immunosuppressive drugs may make transplant patients susceptible to viral infections, antivirals are often used.

Statins

Because immunosuppressive therapy may aggravate existing cardiovascular disease risk factors or promote the development of new ones, transplant patients are often treated with statins. Statins are a relatively new group of drugs used to lower blood cholesterol levels and have known benefits in reducing cardiovascular disease.

Reference and Publication Information

The United Network for Organ Sharing is committed to providing accurate and reliable information for transplant patients. To learn more about our content authorship and review process, please read about our Editorial Board.

The content on this page was originally created on August 15, 2003 by the United Network for Organ Sharing and last modified on May 23, 2007.

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