What is immunosuppressive therapy?

Depresses immunity: Diseases that are caused by an abnormal immune response, where the immune system is attacking the host, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis are treated with immunosuppressive therapy. The drugs used are like those that prevent organ transplant rejection and include prednisone, cellcept, (mycophenolate mofetil) prograf, Cyclosporine and imuran. The biggest risk with them is infection, but there are many others.

Drugs turn off Immunity: Our immune system is our natural defense mechanism to foreign invaders like bacteria, viruses and fungi. Unfortunately, it also "defends" against foreign organs that are transplanted. We use a variety of drugs to suppress different portions of that complicated system - trying to prevent the organ from being rejected without incapacitating the rest of your defenses.