What kind of medicine will I need to take after my heart transplant?
Anti-rejection medicines (also called immunosuppression medicines) prevent your immune system from attacking the transplanted heart.
Anti-rejection medicines include:
You will need to take anti-rejection medicines every day (every 12 hours) for the rest of your life.
Not taking these medicines as instructed, or missing doses, can lead to rejection, which can cause your heart to not work properly.
Take these medicines at the same time of day that you took them in the hospital, unless you have talked to your transplant team about something different.
Never stop taking these medicines or change your doses without first talking to your transplant team.
Always have at least a 2-week supply of medicines and never let yourself run out.
When you take anti-rejection medicines:
- You will need to get bloodwork done often to monitor your medicine levels.
- Your blood tests must be done early in the morning, before you take your medicines.
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Talk with your transplant team before taking any over-the-counter vitamins, medicines, herbal products, supplements, or medicines prescribed by anyone other than your transplant team. Many other medicines can interact with
anti-rejection medicines.
- Do not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), diclofenac (Voltaren), or indomethacin (Indocid).
- You can use acetaminophen (Tylenol), but check with your transplant team for dosage limits and before taking any Tylenol combination medicines.
- Some foods will interact with your anti-rejection medicines. Talk to the transplant team to learn more about which foods to avoid.
- Tell your pharmacist, dentist, and all other healthcare providers that you are taking anti-rejection medicines.
- Talk to your transplant team about when to take your anti-rejection medicines if you are travelling to different time zones.
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Do not get pregnant, or get someone pregnant, while on anti-rejection medicines without first talking to your transplant team. Ask the transplant team about using birth control, as some forms of birth control work better with
anti-rejection medicines than others.
Anti-rejection medicines can increase your risk of some types of cancer. For more information, talk to the transplant team.
There are other medicines you may also need to take:
- medicines to protect your stomach from ulcers
- antacids (but don’t take antacids within 2 hours of taking any anti-rejection medicines)
- medicines to keep up with essential nutrients like calcium, magnesium, potassium, multivitamins, vitamin D, or iron
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medicine to prevent pneumocystis pneumonia, including sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, atovaquone, or pentamidine (common brand names of these
medicines are Sulfatrim, Septra, Bactrim,
Co-Trimoxazole, and Mepron)
- medicines to prevent or treat cytomegalovirus (CMV), including valganciclovir (common brand name: Valcyte)
- medicines to prevent or treat herpes virus infections, including valacyclovir (common brand name: Valtrex)
- medicines to treat or prevent thrush, including nystatin
- low-dose aspirin to prevent long term rejection
- medicines to control blood pressure and cholesterol
- medicines to control glucose levels (anti-rejection medicines may worsen existing diabetes or cause newly diagnosed diabetes)
- medicines to prevent osteoporosis (bone weakening)
- water pill (also known as a diuretic) to help your body remove extra fluid
You are responsible for taking your medicines.
Talk to your transplant team to understand:
- the name and reason for each medicine
- when to take each medicine
- how long to take each medicine
- how to take each medicine
- how to store each medicine
- side effects of each medicine
- what to do if you forget to take a dose
- when and how to order more medicines so you don’t run out
Is the cost of transplant medicines covered by Alberta Health?
Alberta Health covers the cost of anti-rejection medicines for Alberta residents. Similar programs are available for people from other provinces.
Other medicines you need after transplant can be very costly. Depending on your drug insurance plan, you may have to pay some of the cost on your own.
