After the transplant, the recipient will continue to take their immunosuppression medications for life. This will prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted kidney.
The typical transplant medications include:
- Calcinurine inhibitors (Prograf)
- Mycophenolate mofetil (Myfortic or Cellcept)
- Steroids (Prednisone)
These medications or their dosages could differ based on individual cases. Regular blood work is required to adjust the dosages of immunosuppressant medications.
There are other medications that are prescribed and may include the following:
- Antivirals
- Antibiotics
- Stomach protection
Graft survival rates
A kidney transplant on average lasts 15 years. The international average for graft survival rates for the first year post-transplant is 90-95%; 85-90% at 5 years; and 85-80% at 10 years.