Belatacept

I just finished my 1year 3 day checkup with biopsy after a kidney transplant at Mayo Rochester. I take 750. Cellcept and 2.5 mg of Tacrolimus and 5 mg of Prednizone daily. I got a clean bill of health with no changes to meds. Yay! My only complaint is arthritis especially in my hands and nothing but Tylenol to take for it. Actually I realize how blessed i am that, that is the only thing I have to whine about. 💕

Congrats on a great checkup

@annmariaa, I have a liver transplant, too, and a kidney. I got them both at the same time from the same deceased donor. It is called a simultaneous transplant. I have not had any problems with tacrolimus or cellcept. My team keeps a close eye on both of the organs. It sounds complicated how different we all are and how our medications need to be individualized. We are definitely not one-size-fits-all patients. I am extremely grateful for my transplant team, and my PCP who keep me under their radar.
I transplanted in 2009.

@alakin, I am thinking of you. I hope that you are feeling better. What has your doctor had to say or do to help you? Are you a candidate for belatacept or another medicine?

@alaking, I don't know if you got my message - I just saw that I didn't spell your @name correctly.
How are you getting along?
What did you learn about taking Belatacept?

Hi @peggykatz 😊
Good morning! Here is the discussion about Belatacept. Maybe post your question here. I looks like @lendries is taking Belatacept with a very positive experience, so that's great news!
Hope this helps!

I have had a positive experience with it, started after rejection issues with prograf ,and Rappamune. I was just curious if it’s being used as protocol after new transplants?
My 40 yr old daughter also has PKD and started testing process got transplant, Her GFR is 23 so it may be a yr before potential donors can be tested.
Thank you
Peggy

Peggy, I don't have any experience with Belatacept. I did some searching, and I found that it is being researched at Mayo Clinic as a steroid-free option for kidney transplant recipients.
Here is a statement from The Kidney Transplant Dept - Care at Mayo Clinic Section under the Research Topic. - "... Other research areas include looking at new ways to use immunosuppressive medications, including tacrolimus (Prograf, Protopic, others), sirolimus (Rapamune), belatacept (Nulojix) and steroid-free immunosuppression medication options, to help reduce side effects and complications for people with kidney transplants..."
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/kidney-transplant/care-at-mayo-clinic/pcc-20384782
I want to tag @ladydidehart, @banksnc49, @nanmargaret to join this conversation because they have some experience with belatacept.

I have been on belatacept for almost 8 yrs. It has worked very well for me. I have had no problems with it. I get my infusion once a month forever. I don’t mind having to go. It’s a half hour treatment that takes about 1 1/2 hrs total unless it’s really busy like it will be this Tuesday because of the holiday.

Hi @banksnc49 😊
I am a two year post kidney transplant patient.
I am very happy to hear that everything is going so well with your Belatacept infusions. I am curious when and why they changed you to Belatacept infusions. (I like to educate myself on the arsenal of immune suppression drugs and when they are used). Were you having a problem tolerating Tacronlimis or Cellcept or was it something else?
Thanks so much for sharing your experience!