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timing immunosuppressants

Posted by JK @contentandwell, Aug 25, 2018

I know many of you are post-transplant as I am. They tell you to take the immunosuppressants either with or without food, but to be consistent. I suddenly realized a couple of months ago that if I took them without food I could probably take fewer pills so I tried that, and I was right -- I went from four pills in the morning to 2.5. These medications are never great for you, long-term, so I like the idea of taking a smaller dosage.
The problem is timing it so that I am not taking it with food. At this point I try to take them about an hour before I get up, giving me about an hour and 15 minutes between taking the pills and eating. I was wondering, how are other people managing that? It can be a real nuisance to take them an hour before I want to get up because often then, I cannot get back to sleep and end up tired.
JK

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JK | @contentandwell | Aug 26, 2018
In reply to @contentandwell "I just want to clarify one thing. I should have said in my original posting that..." + (show)
@contentandwell

I just want to clarify one thing. I should have said in my original posting that I first spoke to my transplant team and told them I would like to start taking them without food. They then checked me, and sure enough my level was higher than need be so they cut me back, two times.

I would never, ever change an important medication like that without checking with my doctor and I would never suggest that anyone should. I tend to be a very cautious person and those who know me, know that about me, but of course my online correspondents do not. I am very much a researcher also. Many people who know me, think I should have had a job that entailed research. Researching was probably what led me to realize that I would be better off taking the medication without food so I could take a lower dose of it. All medications have side-effects so the lowest dose you can take of anything, the better off you are, I believe, but again lowering any dose should only be done after consultation with your doctor. I was able to lower my dose of levothyroxine also, after consulting with my doctor. I had a feeling that my thyroid did not need the dose I was taking and sure enough I was right on that too, and my pill is now cut in half. I was already at the lowest dose pill available. Hopefully this week when I see my endocrinologist I will be able to continue at that low dose, or perhaps stop taking it entirely.
JK

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@rosemarya, my thyroid. Levothyroxine is for hypothyroid. As I mentioned, my dose is tiny. Things can affect it though. I was taking biotin and discovered that can make your TSH (thyroid) tests measure higher than they should! I stopped taking it. My transplant told me I could take it because the immunosuppressants were causing my hair to get very thin.
JK

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Aug 26, 2018
In reply to @jodeej "@contentandwell we never thought about this! We will have to try this for a few weeks..." + (show)
@jodeej

@contentandwell we never thought about this! We will have to try this for a few weeks and see if there are any changes. Thank you for posting!
Blessings,
JoDee

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@coquifoife , I have seen photos of the dogwoods in Ga. Beautiful!! I'm in Kentucky, and our garden club sponsored dogwood tree planting as a city beautification project some years ago. So I get to enjoy a small taste of the beauty here at home:-)

Thank you for sharing your encouraging 20 year success. What organ did you receive in y our transplant?

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