Which is better for kidney transplant, tacrolimus or sirolimus?

Hard to say...: I am going to reserve "informed "comments for this question; any medication consideration is a personal choice...And the decision should be made after discussing the matter with family, and your treatment team(oncologist, nephrologist, primary care provider, etc) after all the facts are reviewed.

Both have advantages: Immunosuppressive drugs are necessary to prevent rejection of the graft. Unfortunately, all have side effects which may be affect some patients more than others. Discuss the risks and benefits of your regimen with your transplant specialist.

The1 that works 4 U: Tacrolimus is more effective than sirolimus early after transplant but is toxic long-term to the kidney. Sirolimus has a higher early failure rate but does not seem to cause chronic injury. Choosing the right cocktail of drugs at the right time for the right patient is the main reason long-term clinics exist at transplant centers. It takes a combination of science, art, and skill to be successful.

Depends on pt/issues: Very different drugs-both effective and tricky to use. Multiple meds available to prevent rejection, + often used in combination. Each has strengths + benefits. Selection of a regimen is based on a combination of pt factors, organ quality, side effects from meds, cost (better rates for a hospital or an insurance plan or a pharmacy plan), and md preference. Please discuss concerns with md directly.

No correct answer: Immunosuppressants are chosen based on the characteristics of the both the transplant recipient and the donor kidney-- one shoe does not fit all patients. Both are efficacious in preventing rejection but both are also associated with specific side effects. Having said that, tacrolimus is currently the most commonly used maintenance immunosuppressive drug used in the us.