You’ll need to take special medications for the rest of your life to prevent your body from rejecting your new liver graft. You are responsible for following the medication regimen we give you. If you have symptoms of rejection, or if you’re suffering from an infection, you should contact us immediately so we may provide you with the necessary care.
When a foreign object enters the body, your immune system recognizes it as unfamiliar and will attack it to protect itself. A transplanted liver is no exception, in which case we call it “organ rejection”. To combat rejection, you'll have to take a mix of medications that suppress your immune system, named "immunosuppressants". Your first dose will take place before surgery, and you will need to take them for as long as the transplanted liver is functioning within your body. Some of the medications you’ll need to take will be to counteract the side-effects of the immunosuppressants.
The downside of subduing your immune system is that it makes you vulnerable to infection from other sources, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. To avoid this, you’ll be prescribed medications that fight these infections for 3 to 6 months. You’ll need to take them again if an infection develops afterward.
Rejection means that your immune system is attacking your new liver. This occurrence is very common, and usually happens within the first 3 months after surgery. Give us a call if you experience a fever, as this may be a symptom of rejection. There’s no reason to worry, as rejection is easily treatable with an increase in medication and steroids. The goal is to find the minimal dose required to prevent liver rejection.
Once you are discharged, it is imperative that you contact the transplant team before making any changes in your medication regimen. Sometimes a doctor other than your transplant physician will want to make changes to your medications, in which case you will have to inform us immediately.
Our post-transplant coordinator will teach you how to comply with your health insurance company's requirements for obtaining medication. Your insurance or Medicare will cover the cost of medications.
