Always follow the advice of your care team.
Medication Guidelines
You will take many medications as part of your post-transplant treatment. Your care team will review with you the medications that you will need to take.
Medication Resources for Allogeneic Transplant Patients
You play an important part in the success of your treatment by following the medication instructions as directed by your care team. Remember these Do's and Don'ts:
MEDICATION DO'S
MEDICATION DON'TS
Please refer to the comprehensive guide - Stem Cell Transplantation: An Information Guide for Patients and Caregivers - for more information.
Medication Resources for Allogeneic Transplant Patients
- Tacrolimus: How to Take Tacrolimus (video)
- Tacrolimus Quick Guide (PDF)
- Sirolimus: How to Take Sirolimus (video)
- Sirolimus Quick Guide (PDF)
You play an important part in the success of your treatment by following the medication instructions as directed by your care team. Remember these Do's and Don'ts:
MEDICATION DO'S
- Request a refill before your medication runs out. It is important that you don’t run out of your medications.
- Check supplies of all medications before coming to Dana-Farber for an appointment.
- If you need refills, notify your care team during your clinic visit to give them enough time to call in or write prescriptions that need to be filled and picked up at your local pharmacy.
- If you have prescription refills available, call the pharmacy a couple days ahead of time to make sure they have your medication in stock, and your prescription can be filled on time.
- Get to know the medications by both the generic and brand names.
- Tell your care team immediately if you are unable to take your medications for any reason (e.g., nausea, vomiting, unable to fill your prescription, financial concerns).
- Keep track of your medications. Bring a complete list of all the medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements you take to every appointment.
- Inform all health care professionals involved in your care (transplant doctor, oncologist, primary care doctor, specialty doctors, pharmacist) of the medications you are taking.
- Be aware of the side effects that your medications may cause.
- Start a routine. Remembering to take medications every day can be hard. Some ways to stay organized and remember to take your medications are:
- Use a pill organizer (One will be provided with your medications. Others are sold in most pharmacies, supermarkets, and convenience stores).
- Set reminders on your phone or email
- Use a smartphone app
- Create an Excel spreadsheet or a Google document.
- Take medications as directed by your care team. This includes:
- Mepron and Bactrim: You will likely be prescribed Mepron (Atovaquone) and then Bactrim (SMX/TMP or sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim) to protect you from pneumocystis pneumonia, a lung infection that can affect transplant patients.
- Acyclovir: Acyclovir helps prevent herpes zoster (also called “shingles”) and will likely be prescribed for you for one year or longer.
- Immunosuppressants: These medications help prevent your body from rejecting your transplant and may include tacrolimus, sirolimus, cellcept, and others.
- Supplements: Multivitamins and folate will need to be taken for one year.
- Stay positive. Over time, you will likely have fewer medications to take.
MEDICATION DON'TS
- Never stop taking your medications, unless told to do so by your doctor. Call your care team immediately if your pharmacy cannot dispense your medication.
- Never begin taking other medications without the explicit approval of your transplant doctor. Transplant medications can produce subtle-but-serious drug interaction side effects when taken with other medications. This includes over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements.
- DO NOT take your Prograf (tacrolimus) or Rapamune (sirolimus or rapamycin) on mornings of your clinic visits. Your care team will regularly check your blood for levels of these medications. Bring your Prograf and Rapamune with you to the clinic to take after your blood has been drawn. We will call you if you should change your dose on the days following your blood draw. Certain protocols have other medications that should NOT be taken before your clinic visits. Your care team will discuss this with you as needed.
- DO NOT take NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) unless you have permission from your care team. Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, Motrin®, Advil®, and Aleve®. These medications can affect your kidney and put you at higher risk of transplant complications. They can also put you at high risk for bleeding and hide a fever. We track your temperature closely to monitor your response to the transplant, so an accurate temperature reading is important.
- Do NOT take acetaminophen (Tylenol) unless you have permission from your care team. Acetaminophen is found in many prescription- and over-the-counter pain medications as well as cough and cold medications. Acetaminophen can affect your liver and put you at higher risk of transplant complications. It can also hide a fever. We track your temperature closely to monitor your response to the transplant, so an accurate temperature reading is important. Ask your care team when and how often it is safe to take acetaminophen.
- DO NOT eat or drink anything with grapefruit, grapefruit juice, blood oranges, Sunny Delight, Fresca, or Squirt. This can interfere with the effects of your medications.
Please refer to the comprehensive guide - Stem Cell Transplantation: An Information Guide for Patients and Caregivers - for more information.