In addition to walking out of the hospital with a new organ or organs, a transplant patient also goes home with a collection of life-saving medications that he or she needs to take on a planned schedule. These medications can make a difference in maintaining the new organ and promoting the patient’s return to a more normal life.
But the side effects of the drugs can be annoying and even dangerous. A patient must be aware of them and be able to communicate to the health team what is experienced. Reviewing the side effects of immunosuppressants was the topic of the Patient Education Seminar in November, led by Paul Holly, P.D., CVS ProCare pharmacist, who is in charge of the retail transplant medications facility at Hopkins.
Mr. Holly listed the primary immunosuppressants (prednisone, Prograf, cyclosporine, Rapamune, CellCept, and others) and some common side effects, ranging from osteoporosis, high blood pressure, infection, edema, hair loss/growth, bruising, increased cholesterol, headaches, skin cancer, insomnia, and other problems.
He said most side effects are dosage related and can be alleviated by switching to another medicine, or by adding another drug to the mix. He repeated that it is important to stick to one’s drug regimen, changing it only with medical team permission.
He urged patients to investigate before the surgery the drug insurance coverage one carries, in order to be better prepared for the situation post-transplant. He also advised patients to check with their neighborhood pharmacy about its ability to handle these complex and unusual medications.
Mr. Holly emphasized that all medications should be taken with an ample amount of water and never with grapefruit juice.
