Word parts
What it means
A medicine that weakens the body's immune response. It is used to stop the body rejecting a transplanted organ and to control autoimmune diseaseaw-toh-ih-MYOON dih-ZEEZA disease in which the immune system attacks the body's own healthy tissue.auto- selfimmune protectedFull entry such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and psoriasis. Examples include tacrolimus, cyclosporine, mycophenolate, azathioprine, methotrexate and corticosteroidkor-tih-koh-STER-oydA drug that acts like the hormones of the adrenal glands, used mainly to calm inflammation and the immune system.cortic/o cortex (the outer layer of the adrenal gland)-oid likeFull entry . The trade-off is a higher risk of infection and some cancers.
For the nurse
Give doses at the same times each day; levels of some, such as tacrolimus, are checked with blood tests. Teach infection prevention, to report fever or sore throat early, to avoid live vaccines and to protect the skin from the sun. Several of these drugs carry boxed warnings for serious infection and cancer.
At a glance
| Drug class | immunosuppressant |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Prograf (tacrolimus); CellCept (mycophenolate) |
| Spanish | inmunosupresor |
| Also written | immunosuppressive agent, immunosuppressants, immunosuppressive drug, immunosuppressive drugs |
Related terms
corticosteroid
A drug that acts like the hormones of the adrenal glands, used mainly to calm inflammation and the immune system.
immune system
The body's defense system of cells, tissues and organs that fights germs and other foreign substances.
autoimmune disease
A disease in which the immune system attacks the body's own healthy tissue.
immunocompromised
Having an immune system that is weaker than normal at fighting infection.