Treating Organ Transplant Rejection

A major function of our immune system is to protect us from anything that is foreign to our bodies. For example, our immune system protects us from infection. When a bacteria or virus enter the body, immune cells will quickly deploy to destroy them to prevent illness. However, the body can't tell the difference between something “bad” that is foreign or something “good” that is foreign, like your transplanted organ. Just like the body tries to “reject” the germs, it tries to reject the new transplant. Because the new organ is foreign, you have to take medicines to prevent rejection. These are called immunosuppressants. You must take these medicines for as long as you have your transplant or your body will reject it.

Therapy Support & Medications

There are many different immunosuppressant medications. Most transplant centers today use a combination of tacrolimus (Prograf®), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) (CellCept®), and prednisone, but different transplant centers often choose other combinations.

Most frequently prescribed medications for managing organ transplant rejection include*:

Medication doses can change often after your transplant. It is very important that you write down any changes in your dose and follow what the transplant team tells you because sometimes your new instructions will be different than what it says on your prescription bottle.

There are common side effects from your immunosuppressants, although what each patient experiences is unique to them. Your transplant team will monitor your side effects, and, if necessary, change your dose. Some of the side effects lessen or go away as doses are lowered.

Your Partner in Therapeutic Success

CoramRx maximizes compliance, minimizes complications and helps patients achieve therapeutic success in the most cost-efficient and clinically effective way possible. One week prior to each prescription dispense, you will receive a refill reminder phone call. To help ensure success with your transplant therapy, your pharmacy department team member will ask a series of clinical monitoring questions related to: Compliance to prescribed therapy, drug side effects, hospitalization, change in medication profile, disease status and effectiveness of prescribed therapy.

Patient Resources

The organizations listed below offer a variety of services and resources for consumers and caregivers. Please note that some organizations may charge a fee for access to services. This listing is not an endorsement of these organizations, or information they may disseminate. We strongly suggest you discuss any information you receive from these organizations with a qualified professional before making any changes in your healthcare, insurance coverage or home care provider.

OrganDonor.gov — provides access to U.S. Government information on organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

Transplant Living — a project of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance organ availability and transplantation by uniting and supporting its communities for the benefit of patients through education, technology and policy development.

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) — a private, non-profit organization that manages the nation's organ transplant system under contract with the federal Government.

FDA: Disposing Unused Medication — government guidelines for disposing unused medicine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) worked with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to develop the first consumer guidance for proper disposal of prescription drugs.

WeNourish.com — The Nourish™ Nutrition Support Program provides home parenteral (TPN) and enteral (tube feeding) support to individuals who cannot consume or absorb nutrients through regular food intake. The Sept. 2011 Celebrate Life magazine, provided by the Nourish program, focuses on the importance of nutritional health when coping with cancer.

Learn More

• To learn more about your options with our Transplant program and CoramRx,
  please contact us.
• To enroll as a Transplant patient with CoramRx, please complete our
  Patient Enrollment Form.