Immunosuppressant drugs, are used to prevent the body from rejecting a transplanted organ. They are also called as Immunosuppressive drugs or immunosuppressive agents or antirejection medications. And they are mainly used in immunosuppressive therapies like prevent the rejection of transplanted organs, in autoimmune disease treatment and non-autoimmune inflammatory disease treatment.
Immunosuppressant drugs can be classified into five groups according to their specific molecular mode of action:
(i) Glucocorticoids
(ii) Cytostatics
(iii) Antibodies
(iv) Drugs acting on immunophilins
(v) Other drugs
When an organ, such as a liver, a heart or a kidney, is transplanted from one person (donor) into another (recipient), the immune system of the recipient triggers the same response against the new organ it would have to anyforeign material, setting off a chain of events that can damage the transplanted organ. This process is called organ rejection and it can occur rapidly (acute rejection), or over a long period of time (chronic rejection). Rejection can occur despite close matching of the donated organ and the transplant patient. Immunosuppressant drugs greatly decrease the risks of rejection, protecting the new organ and preserving its function.
People taking immunosuppressant drugs should follow some precautions like:
• frequent hand washing
• avoiding close contact with people who have infections or colds
• extra care when using sharp objects such as knives or razors
• avoiding sports in which injuries occur
Some of the symptoms may occur like:
• fever or chills
• pain or difficulty urinating
• blood in your urine
• pain in the lower back, on the sides
• stools that are bloody or black
• unusual bruising or bleeding
Immunosuppressant drugs can cause adverse reactions like allergies, pregnancy, lactation, shingles or chickenpox, kidney or liver disease, intestinal problems.
Immunosuppressive drugs are efficacious in inducing and maintaining remission in organ threatening inflammatory diseases, but are also associated with significant adverse effects. Health professionals involvement in the patient’s management need to be vigilant and proactive in preventing, managing and monitoring adverse effects. This surveillance may need to continue long after the drugs have been stopped.