This article explains the benefits and risks of immunosuppressants and types of treatments.
Uses of Immunosuppressants Treatments
Immunosuppressants are used in a variety of medical contexts.
Some inhibit a specific part of the immune response, like blocking an immune signaling molecule.
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Others affect many different parts of the immune system.
There are many different categories of immunosuppressants that work in slightly different ways.
Some of the same immunosuppressants are used in different types of diseases.
Below are several of the most important categories.
Benefits of Immunosuppressants for Autoimmune Disease
Inautoimmune disease, specific parts of the immune system become overactive.
Ultimately, this leads to inflammation and damage to the body by its own immune system.
Researchers have developed immunosuppressives that target different parts of the immune system and can help treat autoimmune diseases.
Some of the immunosuppressive therapies to treat autoimmune disease are traditional pharmaceutical drugs, like Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine).
Examples include:
More recently,biologic therapies for psoriasisand other conditions have become available.
These are usually given through an injection or an intravenous line.
They include JAK inhibitors, like Xeljanx (tofacitinib), and B-cell biologics like Truxima (rituximab).
Certain immunosuppressives are sometimes given temporarily.
However, you may need to take maintenance doses of certain therapies long-term.
Not all treatments helpful in these conditions are immunosuppressive therapies.
For example, an individual might take a medication to reduce pain that doesnt affect the immune system.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you arent sure if your therapy is an immunosuppressive or not.
After the transplant, people typically receive lifelong treatment with immunosuppressives.
Unlike autoimmune diseases and organ transplantation, suppressing the immune system isnt the goal in cancer treatment.
However, immunosuppression is a side effect of many types of cancer treatment, includingchemotherapyand radiation treatments.
This can leave you vulnerable to infections.
People receiving stem cell transplants are at high risk of infection due to their treatment.
Talk to your healthcare provider about your options.
Depending on your risk factors, you might need blood tests to see if you are infected.
Some people are infected with either virus without knowing it.
Thehepatitis virusmay be inactive and not causing you any problems.
However, if you start immunosuppressive medication, the virus might start to become more active.
Vaccine Assessment
Certainvaccinescannot be given safely while a person is taking immunosuppressive therapies.
This particularly applies to certain live vaccines, vaccines that contain a small amount of weakened, live virus.
Research studies report complications with varicella and other vaccines when someone is currently taking certain immunosuppressive drugs.
You might opt to get fully vaccinated before you begin a therapy.
Often, this risk will increase if a person is taking a higher dose of their treatment.
In some cases, this might result in a minor infection.
However, sometimes serious and even life-threatening infections may happen.
Taking an immunosuppressant might make you more likely to get sick from a common illness, like a cold.
Or you may be at greater risk of certain types of infections, but not others.
These tips can help people during cancer treatment.
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