Transplant anti-rejection medications. What's your advice?

Thank you. My strategy will be to mask up and follow CDC guidelines (until further notice).

@dflyfisherman Holi D and welcome.to Connect. I'm in the same category as you when it comes to the Vaccine and while im a believer in Vaccines in general I think when it comes.to the Covid Vaccine we are learning all thee time. I have posed the question you mention to my Infectious Disease Doctor and yes it seems they are finding it's best to receive the vaccine prior to transplant but for most of us who had them.in the past it's true that it seems they are less effective.
Now the good news is along with vaccines there is ongoing studies in treatment.options also and my doctor mentioned a study looking very promising called Monoclonal Antibodies which if we catch it and treat it early.has shown great success. So as we all know when we received.our transplant that we would have to be more diligent in the protection area that's my general advice along with my doctors. Mask, wash hands and distance are still our best defense. That's what I've been told lately and not to say the vaccine has no protection just reduced. I've heard figures of 30 to 50 % effective. But im at. least very confident that our Mayo Doctors are working diligently to find options.
I hope that helps
Have an awesome Day
Dana

Flyfisherman, allow me to bring fellow heart transplant recipients @estrada53 @danab @scottj and @azdan99 into this discussion. They may have information about drug interactions to share with you.

You may also be interested in this related discussion:
- How much covid protection are transplant recipients really getting https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-much-covid-protection-are-transplant-recipients-really-getting/

When I found Connect, I was looking for info on the interaction of anti-rejection drugs solid organ transplant patients must take on Covid-19 vaccines. For example Johns Hopkins did a study that showed about half those with organ transplants showed no response to the Covid-19 vaccines. That is there was no antibody response.

Hello @dflyfisherman and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thank you for joining the discussion and sharing your experience to help support other members.

Can you share what you were looking for when you found Connect?

Tacrolimus can be toxic to the kidneys. My cardiologist switched Tac to Imuran in hopes of stabilizing the kidneys. Hear transplant in June, 2013.

I had a liver transplant in 2008. Been on Tacrolimus ever since with no side effects.

Thanks for the laugh! I hope you too aim high with your list!

I suggest you aim "higher" like on open air helicopter ride in Kawaii.

Yes, now that Covid is declining, I do hope I can work on my bucket list again. I’ll share a funny “list” story, although definitely not funny when it happened.

Taking a helicopter ride was always on my list. I had an endoscopy to check for varices in September 2019, shortly after being diagnosed with PBC and cirrhosis. The proctologist found several and tied them off. Unfortunately, in October they burst and I ended up Air EVAC’d to Dartmouth for emergency surgery. Sent home after a week in ICU, and it happened again. The first ride in the helicopter I was intubated and drugged. But the second time I was awake and got to peep through the little window the crew cleared for me. I got to see a spectacular view of the Connecticut River in fall colors.

Needless to say I’ve crossed helicopter riding off my list!