I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Transplant Discussion => Topic started by: susan parry on January 14, 2010, 05:56:36 PM

Title: post transplant medications
Post by: susan parry on January 14, 2010, 05:56:36 PM
i am curious about what meds all of you are on post transplant.  i am on cellcept, rapamune, prograff, bactrum.  i am NOT on prednisone.  (not sure why?) i am on valcyte (take my last one of those on february 6 and will never in my life be so happy to get off any medication)  they scared the hell out of me in the hospital when they said it was a carcinogin and that i was the only one allowed to touch it as it could cause cancer. 

i am 5 months post transplant

thanks
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: Wenchie58 on January 14, 2010, 06:32:15 PM
Prograf, Myfortic, Prednisone, Bactrim, Folic Acid, Aspirin, Aranesp, Lopressor, Norvasc, Zocor, Nexium and Glipizide

And now 15 months post transplant back on Valcyte due to a bout with CMV
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: okarol on January 14, 2010, 06:40:55 PM
Prograf, Myfortic, Prednisone, Bactrim, Folic Acid, Aspirin, Aranesp, Lopressor, Norvasc, Zocor, Nexium and Glipizide

And now 15 months post transplant back on Valcyte due to a bout with CMV

Oh no Wenchie! How are you doing?

Jenna's transplant was 3 years ago. She now takes Prograf, Cellcept, Vit. D & E, Calcium, baby aspirin, magnesium and Prilosec. She also takes bactrim twice a week. No Prednisone.
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: susan parry on January 14, 2010, 06:52:52 PM
i am sorry Winchie-hope your better soon
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: rookiegirl on January 14, 2010, 07:36:33 PM
Prograf, Myfortic, Prednisone, Bactrim, Vit D, Baby Aspirin.

I was on Valcyte for 3 months after my transplant.  4 months later I was put back on Valcyte for 6 weeks.  Now I'm off Valcyte unless my CMV comes back.

I'll be 10 months post transplant on Jan 20th.

My Dr's never warn me about handling Valcyte.  This made me curious after reading this thread.  So I went on WebMD to read about the meds.  This is surprising to me.  I know better now and I'm calling my Dr. because my husband have touched my meds and we never washed our hands afterwards.

=====================================
"Wash your hands well after handling this drug. Avoid contact with broken/crushed tablets and the liquid form of this medication on your skin, in your mucous membranes and eyes, and avoid breathing in the dust from the tablets. If contact should occur, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. If this medication gets in your eyes, rinse them thoroughly with plain water.

Do not throw this medication in the garbage or down the drain. Special disposal is required for this medication. Contact your pharmacist for more information."

Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: jbeany on January 14, 2010, 08:23:33 PM
Hmmm- glad I'm off the Valcyte.  No one told me any of the warnings, either.  Although, not sure how much I need to worry about not washing my hands after handling it - I just swallowed it, after all, so how much more damage could handling it do?  No one else ever touched my meds.  I'm CMV negative and so was my donor, thankfully.

Currently on 10 mg prednisone once a day, 1.5 prograf twice a day, 360 myfortic twice a day, and 10 mg simvastatin once a day.  I need to ask about vitamins at my next appointment.
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: Chris on January 14, 2010, 10:46:31 PM
You want all my meds or just immunosupressants?  :shy;

I have been on CellCept and Prograf for my transplant, no steroids. This was the program I choosed to go with because the other centers used steroids and I had fears about that after reading about them. I tried Myfortic for 3 months, but it was stopped using it because the cost was different each month when I didn't have to pay anything when I was taking CellCeptprior and after switching back.

500 mg of CellCept 2x A day, 2 mg of Prograf 2x A Day,  Norvasc in AM, Diovan PM, 325 mg Enteric Coated Aspirin for pancreas in am, Calcium + Vit D 2X A Day, Vit D, Multi Vitamin, Prosom when needed (well remembered for sleep),  2 meds for side effects of prograf, a skin cream to help prevent skin cancer. Think I remembered them all without opening my medical file on my pc.
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: kellyt on January 15, 2010, 01:01:19 PM
Holy Crap!  I wasn't told anything about Valcyte!  Glad I'm off that!  I was originally glad I was off because it as expensive (but willieandwinnie saved me there - thanks Friend   :cuddle;), but now I'm also glad I'm off for the reasons given above.  Yikes!

I am 13.5 months post transplant and I'm on Prograf, Cellcept (have been holding this med since about August, but will begin again soon), Prednisone 4 mg (working on getting off), Bactrim (soon to be off), Pepcid, Acyclovire (spelling?), a BP med and a cholesterol med, and Tylenol prn pain.
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: okarol on January 15, 2010, 01:14:02 PM
These are all Antiviral Medications:
Zovirax® (acyclovir), Cytovene® (ganciclovir), and Valcyte® (valganciclovir)
Purpose   Used to prevent or treat viral (herpes) infections; used to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease


Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: kellyt on January 15, 2010, 03:09:42 PM
My doc put me on the acyclovir so that I wouldn't get shingles due to some other medication I'm taking.   And the world goes round and round...

But I don't mind, cause it will also keep the cold sores away!   :2thumbsup;
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: rookiegirl on January 15, 2010, 05:20:31 PM
I wish I could be off Prednisone too.  I'm down to 10mg/day and according to my Dr, I'll be on it for life due to high PRA.  I wonder if anybody out there with high PRA have to take Prednisone forever?

I should be off Bactrim in March.  I was told I only have to be on it for a year.  So, if this is the case I should only be on Prograf (2/2), Myfortic (3/3), Prednisone, Vit D (1/month), Baby Aspirin (1/day).
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: susan parry on January 16, 2010, 04:38:30 PM
thanks for the responses.  i take rapamune too (anyone else take that?) its an anit rejection drug. 

i am also on bactrum (they told me i would take this the rest of my life?) baby asprin, iron, lisinopril, lovastatin, and pepsid

the valcyte is scary and expensive. 

thanks so much

oh by the way kellyt love the cat picture!!
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: openboat on January 26, 2010, 09:57:09 AM
I'm on Rapamune (6mg daily) and Belatacept (monthly infusion) as my immunosupressives, also Lisinopril for HT and an over the counter multivitamin.  I've had leg edema and mouth ulcers from the Rapamune, but nothing too bad - it's certainly better than what people have had to put up with on other protocols.

I did take Bactrim and Valcyte for 6 months, I don't recall any warning about handling the drug but I got so much paperwork around my transplant time that it may have been in there somewhere.   ::)  I think I wound up with one leftover tablet - the extra dose I kept at work.  I'll have to make sure that gets disposed of.
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: okarol on February 14, 2010, 12:11:46 AM
I'm on Rapamune (6mg daily) and Belatacept (monthly infusion) as my immunosupressives, also Lisinopril for HT and an over the counter multivitamin.  I've had leg edema and mouth ulcers from the Rapamune, but nothing too bad - it's certainly better than what people have had to put up with on other protocols.

Hey openboat, Did you have the bone marrow done too? I thought I recalled you were in a study. Is that why the monthly infusions? Do they anticipate that eventually you will have no immuno meds? Thanks.
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: BETTY55111 on February 14, 2010, 09:54:38 AM
I am 4 days post transplant and I am on Prograf 3mg 2x day, Cellcept 500mg daily,Valcyte 450mg, Bactrim DS 1x a day. I am on other meds such as insulin and  mds for Blood pressure
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: kellyt on February 14, 2010, 01:49:23 PM
Betty, you must have gotten a great kidney!  Congratulations!   :clap;      I started on 4 Prograf a.m./p.m. and 4 Cellcept (250 mg each) a.m./p.m.   I'm on lower doses of both currently, though.
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: BETTY55111 on February 15, 2010, 05:56:56 PM
I am now o  Prograf 5mg 2x day and Cellcept 750mg
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: Chris on February 15, 2010, 11:12:20 PM
Sorry they increased your meds BETTY.  They will get lowered again I'm sure, he first year is usually the roughest.
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: rookiegirl on February 17, 2010, 07:56:01 PM
Sorry I've been so behind on IHD.  Congrats Betty!
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: openboat on February 23, 2010, 10:52:47 AM
I'm on Rapamune (6mg daily) and Belatacept (monthly infusion) as my immunosupressives, also Lisinopril for HT and an over the counter multivitamin.  I've had leg edema and mouth ulcers from the Rapamune, but nothing too bad - it's certainly better than what people have had to put up with on other protocols.

Hey openboat, Did you have the bone marrow done too? I thought I recalled you were in a study. Is that why the monthly infusions? Do they anticipate that eventually you will have no immuno meds? Thanks.

Yep, they took bone marrow from my donor while they were removing her kidney and kept it on ice to give to me a week after the kidney transplant.  The study (http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00565773) is on the combination of daily Rapamune and a monthly Belatacept infusion, with half of the participants getting bone marrow from their donors.

So far everything is great, I have a 1-year biopsy for the study scheduled the first week of April.  If it shows no rejection then I get to come off of the Rapamune.  Weaning takes three months, once that is done I'll have the option of coming off the Belatacept as well.  I could be immunosupressive-free by October.   :2thumbsup;
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: okarol on February 23, 2010, 11:12:40 AM
I'm on Rapamune (6mg daily) and Belatacept (monthly infusion) as my immunosupressives, also Lisinopril for HT and an over the counter multivitamin.  I've had leg edema and mouth ulcers from the Rapamune, but nothing too bad - it's certainly better than what people have had to put up with on other protocols.

Hey openboat, Did you have the bone marrow done too? I thought I recalled you were in a study. Is that why the monthly infusions? Do they anticipate that eventually you will have no immuno meds? Thanks.

Yep, they took bone marrow from my donor while they were removing her kidney and kept it on ice to give to me a week after the kidney transplant.  The study (http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00565773) is on the combination of daily Rapamune and a monthly Belatacept infusion, with half of the participants getting bone marrow from their donors.

So far everything is great, I have a 1-year biopsy for the study scheduled the first week of April.  If it shows no rejection then I get to come off of the Rapamune.  Weaning takes three months, once that is done I'll have the option of coming off the Belatacept as well.  I could be immunosupressive-free by October.   :2thumbsup;

Great! I have been interested to hear how you're doing and will continue to watch your progress! Good luck!
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: Romona on February 23, 2010, 01:02:10 PM
I am interested too. Sounds promising.
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: monrein on February 23, 2010, 04:35:19 PM
That's fantastic and I'll be very interested in keeping up with how things progress for you.  Being free of the immunosuppression drugs sounds like a dream come true.  Best of luck openboat.
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: Wenchie58 on February 23, 2010, 05:51:10 PM
As of my appointment today I am off Bactrim, Valcyte, Folic Acid, half my bp meds, lowered glipizide and added Vitamin D....I'm liking this road!

 :yahoo;
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: kellyt on February 23, 2010, 06:13:38 PM
Dang Wench!  That's amazing!  Congrats.   :clap;
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: jennyc on February 24, 2010, 12:37:05 AM
tac 5mg x2
cellcept 500mg x 4
prednisolone 20mg
resprim x1
Valcyte x 1
nilstat (anti thrush mouth wash) 1mg x 4
somac x 1
metoprolol 50mg x 2 (for tachiacardia)
plus 250mg antibiotic 4 x daily due to wound not being closed properly (too much free fluid in peritoneal cavity from being overloaded and on PD for so long.. they body just keeps dumping excess fluid there as though it's still on PD rather than passing all of it).

I had no idea about the valcyte might bring that up at my biopsy tomorrow with the Doc and see what she says
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: rookiegirl on March 03, 2010, 06:19:19 PM
As of my appointment today I am off Bactrim, Valcyte, Folic Acid, half my bp meds, lowered glipizide and added Vitamin D....I'm liking this road!

 :yahoo;

March 20th will be my 1 year kidney anniversary.  I have an appointment on the 30th.  So, I hope I will be off Bactrim too since I was told I only need to be on it for 1yr.
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: kellyt on March 04, 2010, 12:59:19 PM
You probably will be taken off, especially if you're not having any issues with your WBC.  I dropped to 2 mg of Prednisone yesterday.   :cheer:
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: rookiegirl on March 04, 2010, 08:36:42 PM
Congratulations for dropping to 2mg of Prednisone.  I'm still on 5mg and gained 42lbs of FAT so far.  I'm really trying.  I think I'm going to duct tape my mouth and only leave a small hole for a straw.
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: kellyt on March 05, 2010, 04:03:07 AM
I've gained almost 30 lbs, Friend.  And if all you gave me was a straw, I'd drink sugar colas all day.  I gain weight watching the Food Channel.  I stopped gaining about 6 months or so ago and that's good, but I haven't dropped any.  I'm thankful for not gaining, but I am miserable from head to foot.  Back is killing me, feet are killing me, and to make it all worse the hot, hot days of summer are coming.  ugh.   Fat and hot is a horrible combination.

Let's do it, Girl.  Let's drop this weight!!!   :cheer:
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: jennyc on March 05, 2010, 12:47:54 PM
i've watched a friend gain over 100kgs (almost 200pounds) through really high dose pred (100mg) for asthma, i refuse to allow that to happen to me. I gave up smoking cold turkey 7 years ago and i'm determined to use the same strength to not gain too much weight (esp after losing so much before transplant). I find that eating a really big lunch with a good bit of starch fills me up enough so that i don't eat huge amounts at dinner (risotto is really good). Fingers crossed i can do it
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: rookiegirl on March 06, 2010, 07:22:23 PM
I've gained almost 30 lbs, Friend.  And if all you gave me was a straw, I'd drink sugar colas all day.  I gain weight watching the Food Channel.  I stopped gaining about 6 months or so ago and that's good, but I haven't dropped any.  I'm thankful for not gaining, but I am miserable from head to foot.  Back is killing me, feet are killing me, and to make it all worse the hot, hot days of summer are coming.  ugh.   Fat and hot is a horrible combination.

Let's do it, Girl.  Let's drop this weight!!!   :cheer:
I would say "I hate Prednisone", but it's helping keep my new kidney.  So, I deal.  Everything you described, I'm feeling.  I can't fit any of my clothes, even the ones I wore when I was on PD.  I had to buy a whole new ward robe b/c I couldn't fit anything to wear for work.

So now I have clothes for Pre-dialysis, Post-dialysis and Post-transplant.  Regardless...I'm still a happy camper.  Why? because my 1 yr anniversary is coming up and I'm ALIVE!
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: kellyt on March 06, 2010, 08:12:35 PM
You said it!   :cheer:  But there are lots and lots of transplant patients that are either off Prednisone all together (and doing well) or were never on it to begin with.  I'll deal if I HAVE to stay on it, but I am praying hard that I can get off with no problems!

I don't even buy clothes.  I have been living in my husbands XL t-shirts and whatever I can find to fit on the bottom.  I have about 4 pairs of jeans that are good and the rest is sweats or a couple pair of short.  I need to go do some summer shopping, but I keep telling my self to wait until I lose at least 10 lbs.

Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: TeenHatesDialysis on May 01, 2010, 06:10:16 PM
Jaclyn is on the following meds 10 month post-transplant:
4.5 mg prograf am and pm
360 mg myfortic am and 180 mg myfortic pm
225mg (1/2 tab) valcyte
4 mag 133mg each
bicarb (basically baking soda)
tums (lower phosphorus)
Patch for vomiting and/or zofran
EPO

The transplant was a piece of cake compared to the meds. Her meds have been switched up so many times. She had bad experiences at LPCH/Stanford from EBV to PTLD to serious viral and bacterial infections to vascular rejection and she still has her kidney.  :thumbup; LPCH/Stanford and UCH are both monitoring her. She is still more lethargic 9+ months post-tx than she was on dialysis (UGH) and I think the myfortic is making her vomit. She has tried Cellcept and same issues.  Anyone else feel very lethargic and vomit post tx? :puke;
Title: Re: post transplant medications
Post by: kellyt on May 01, 2010, 08:32:45 PM
I took my last Prednisone yesterday!  I pray that I'm off FOREVER!!!! 


Although, funny thing, the drug I hate the most (Prednisone) was just given to my 14 year old Greyhound who was in horrible pain this last week (hips) and he is doing wonderful!  Pain free!   I shouldn't hate Prednisone as much as I do.  It is a "wonder drug".

Yea me!!!   :clap; :clap; :yahoo; :yahoo;