Medications and Complications
A Patient's Guide to Kidney Transplant Surgery

INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFIC MEDICATIONS

Including: infection-fighting drugs, antifungal drugs, drugs that protect the digestive system, and nutritional supplements.

INFECTION-FIGHTING DRUGS

  • Acyclovir (Zovirax®)
    Acyclovir is used to prevent or treat herpes simplex and shingles. Acyclovir will not get rid of the herpes viruses, but it will lessen the pain and help heal the sores. It may be used to decrease the severity of CMV infections. More information

  • Bactrim
    Bactrim is used to prevent and treat PCP and other infections. The risk of PCP is increased for transplant patients because of the drugs taken to suppress their immune systems, which reduce their bodies' ability to fight infection. More information

  • Ganciclovir (Cytovene®)
    Ganciclovir is used to prevent or treat cytomegalo virus (CMV) infection. More information

ANTIFUNGAL DRUGS
Various drugs are used to treat or prevent fungus infections. More information

DRUGS THAT PROTECT THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Because some medications can cause ulcers in the stomach and upper intestine, a patient may need to take other medications to help protect the digestive system. These drugs will be prescribed by the transplant team when necessary. More information

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
The transplant team may recommend that a patient take vitamin, iron, magnesium, and/or calcium supplements in case his diet is not providing adequate amounts of the nutrients that is needed.





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If you have any questions, please contact us:
USC Kidney Transplant Program
Phone: (323) 442-5908, Fax: (323) 442-5721
E-mail: usckidney@surgery.hsc.usc.edu