Transplant: Post-Transplant Medications

By this time you no doubt have been on an increased regiment of prescription meds.  Luckily you won’t have to manage them yourself while an in-patient – just take the pills when they’re handed off to you by your nurse.  However you should begin to keep track of these meds so that you won’t forget anything when you leave the hospital.  When you meet with your transplant team for the last time, review this list to make sure that everything that’s supposed to be on it is and that they've given you prescriptions for any new medications.

Some common post-transplant med categories have already been listed and may be part of your new regime: Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral meds will help protect your organs from the effects of high-dosage radiation and/or chemotherapy as well as fighting off infection in a growing immune system.  Organs particularly susceptible to failure are lungs (pneumonia from scarring, etc.), kidneys and liver.  It may take a while – perhaps months – to get your electrolytes back in balance.  I’ve passed the six month milestone and I’m still taking Potassium and Magnesium Oxide and my kidney number (Creatinine) is still a little on the low side.

In addition to meds given to maintain healthy organs and care for a new immune system, you may be given prescriptions for anti-pain and/or anti-anxiety meds.  Lastly, don’t forget to list all the daily meds you were taking pre-transplant, like blood pressure or thyroid pills.  Because your medical staff has been providing these meds during your hospital stay, your own prescriptions may get screwed up, especially if you have your pharmacy auto-fill them.  Check out their status when you leave the hospital and have your primary care physician issue new scripts if needed to keep you on schedule.

Because the number of meds may be confusing for a while, I recommend the purchase of a pill dispenser.  Your nearby Pharmacy should have several to choose from.  The one I like best has seven different parts that clip in to a holding grid¸ one for each day of the week.  Each of these in turn has four compartments for AM, Afternoon, PM and Evening pills.  You can snap any of the daily pieces out of the frame and throw them into your purse, pocket or briefcase for the day, so it’s small and convenient.  It’s especially helpful if you have a pill that must be taken separately from any other prescriptions or food.  I have one of these, and I keep it in the AM compartment and take it before I actually get up, so it doesn’t interfere with my other morning meds.

Use the following template to record your post-transplant medications, or list them directly in your journal:

Script/Med Name  Date Added  Dosage per pill  # Pills per day  Reason for Use

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Whenever a new drug is added, an old one eliminated or its dosage changed, make sure and either modify the line information with the correct changes – including the new starting date – or cross out the original line and add a new one if you have the space.