{"id":58459,"date":"2025-10-07T14:58:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T06:58:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/?post_type=health-article&#038;p=58459"},"modified":"2025-12-17T15:31:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T07:31:50","slug":"the-essential-lifeline-why-organ-transplant-patients-need-immunosuppressants-to-stay-alive","status":"publish","type":"health-article","link":"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/health-articles\/the-essential-lifeline-why-organ-transplant-patients-need-immunosuppressants-to-stay-alive\/","title":{"rendered":"The Essential Lifeline: Why Organ Transplant Patients Need Immunosuppressants to Stay Alive"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"58459\" class=\"elementor elementor-58459\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ee0c95e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ee0c95e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8f05ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f8f05ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Getting a new kidney is a second chance at life\u2014but it comes with strings attached. Transplant recipients must take powerful drugs called immunosuppressants to stop their immune system from attacking the new organ. We asked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/specialties\/nephrology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nephrologist<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/doctors\/dr-foo-geong-taat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr Foo Geong Taat<\/a> to explain why these drugs are vital, what risks they carry, and how patients can live well with them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01cc07b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"01cc07b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ea8d9d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"6ea8d9d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c82de57 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c82de57\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72f087d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"72f087d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9ee768 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d9ee768\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-946d29e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"946d29e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic01\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Successful Organ Transplant is Not the End of the Story<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c9de73 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1c9de73\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7eeb982 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7eeb982\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"741\" data-end=\"1169\">An organ transplant is often described as a miracle of modern medicine. However, even the best-matched donor isn\u2019t a perfect match.<\/p><ul><li data-start=\"741\" data-end=\"1169\">According to Dr Foo Geong Taat, the only perfect match is between genetically identical twins.<\/li><li data-start=\"741\" data-end=\"1169\">For everyone else,\u00a0the immune system still sees the donated kidney as an outsider, and without the right medications,\u00a0it will try to destroy it.<\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"1171\" data-end=\"1529\">That\u2019s where\u00a0immunosuppressants\u00a0\u2014 medications that weaken or \u201cdampen\u201d the immune system \u2014 come in.<\/p><ul><li data-start=\"1171\" data-end=\"1529\">These medicines\u00a0block the body\u2019s complex defense mechanisms\u00a0from launching an attack against the new organ.<\/li><li>Because the immune system has many different pathways, patients are usually prescribed\u00a0a combination of drugs\u00a0that work together to protect the organ.<\/li><\/ul><h4><strong>A Lifelong Commitment<\/strong><\/h4><p>Even decades after surgery, the immune system never forgets that the transplant organ came from someone else.<\/p><ul><li>Hence, immunosuppressants must be taken for the rest of one\u2019s life.<\/li><li>\u201cStopping immunosuppressants can cause\u00a0irreversible rejection, especially in the early period after a transplant,\u201d warns Dr Foo.<\/li><li>Even missing doses here and there can increase the risk of\u00a0graft loss\u00a0\u2014 the medical term for losing the transplanted organ.<\/li><li>Therefore, staying consistent with immunosuppressants is what allows the transplant organ to keep functioning for the long haul.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-69b67d7 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"69b67d7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-950f988 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"950f988\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7a3d76 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e7a3d76\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a1c8c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2a1c8c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic02\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Common Types of Immunosuppressants<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47d3431 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"47d3431\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd1814b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dd1814b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"1581\" data-end=\"1660\">Transplant patients in Malaysia typically take a mix of medications, such as:<\/p><ul><li data-start=\"1581\" data-end=\"1660\">Corticosteroids\u00a0to reduce inflammation and immune activity<\/li><li data-start=\"1581\" data-end=\"1660\">Calcineurin inhibitors\u00a0to prevent T-cells, a type of immune cell, from being \u201cswitched on\u201d<\/li><li data-start=\"1581\" data-end=\"1660\">Anti-proliferative agents\u00a0to stop immune cells from multiplying<\/li><li data-start=\"1581\" data-end=\"1660\">Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors\u00a0to slow cell growth and immune activity.<\/li><li data-start=\"1581\" data-end=\"1660\">Monoclonal antibodies, which are lab-made antibodies designed to block very specific immune targets<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a232eb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0a232eb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-132e9f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"132e9f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"836\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/health-article-organ-transplant-patients-need-immunosuppressants-01.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-58461\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/health-article-organ-transplant-patients-need-immunosuppressants-01.jpg 836w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/health-article-organ-transplant-patients-need-immunosuppressants-01-300x144.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/health-article-organ-transplant-patients-need-immunosuppressants-01-768x367.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fcb365b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"fcb365b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48dcbad elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"48dcbad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-014d1fe e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"014d1fe\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-812455b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"812455b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"1581\" data-end=\"1660\">In Malaysia, these medications are heavily subsidized when obtained from government hospitals, often costing little to nothing, as long as the transplant is performed at the government hospital.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a8dad9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2a8dad9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c37ff1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"4c37ff1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e216f6 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2e216f6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ff4a9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6ff4a9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic03\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">However, Immunosuppressant Use Comes With Risks<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7424a15 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7424a15\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2a0070 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a2a0070\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"2415\" data-end=\"2854\">Since immunosuppressants deliberately weaken the body\u2019s defenses, patients become\u00a0more vulnerable to infections.<\/p><ul><li data-start=\"2415\" data-end=\"2854\">Dr Foo points out they face not just\u00a0common infections\u00a0like colds, but also\u00a0opportunistic infections, caused by rare bugs that only strike when immunity is low.<\/li><li data-start=\"2415\" data-end=\"2854\">Long-term use also raises the risk of certain cancers.<\/li><li data-start=\"2415\" data-end=\"2854\">Some immunosuppressants come with their own side effects, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/health-articles\/ask-the-doctor-kidney-diseases\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">kidney and nerve damage<\/a>, diabetes, or high blood pressure.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b94960 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5b94960\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00034ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"00034ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba857fd e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ba857fd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b96ad2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b96ad2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic04\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to Minimize Risks While on Immunosuppressants<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64a3b93 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"64a3b93\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad3b499 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ad3b499\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"2895\" data-end=\"3011\">So how does a patient stay safe while still living a reasonably active and social life?<\/p><p data-start=\"2895\" data-end=\"3011\">Dr Foo emphasizes simple but strict hygiene practices:<\/p><ul><li data-start=\"3014\" data-end=\"3089\">Wash hands regularly, wear gloves when needed, and maintain oral hygiene.<\/li><li data-start=\"3014\" data-end=\"3089\">Avoid close contact with sick people and crowded indoor spaces.<\/li><li data-start=\"3014\" data-end=\"3089\">Stick to well-cooked meals and avoid raw or undercooked food.<\/li><li data-start=\"3014\" data-end=\"3089\">Keep <a href=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/packages\/?types=vaccination&amp;paged=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vaccinations<\/a> up to date.<\/li><li data-start=\"3014\" data-end=\"3089\">Most importantly: never skip or stop medications.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><h4 data-start=\"3567\" data-end=\"3592\"><strong>The Supplement Trap<\/strong><\/h4><p data-start=\"3593\" data-end=\"3877\">Some patients may think they can \u201cbalance things out\u201d by taking immunity-boosting supplements.<\/p><p data-start=\"3593\" data-end=\"3877\">Dr Foo is clear about this:\u00a0don\u2019t do this!<\/p><p data-start=\"3593\" data-end=\"3877\">Immunity-boosting supplements can interact with immunosuppressant drugs, change their levels in the blood, or even\u00a0stimulate the immune system enough to cause sudden organ rejection.<\/p><p data-start=\"3593\" data-end=\"3877\">\u00a0<\/p><h4 data-start=\"3879\" data-end=\"3911\"><strong>How to Stay Consistent with Medications<\/strong><\/h4><p data-start=\"3912\" data-end=\"4016\">Managing life after a transplant is about more than pills. Dr Foo highlights a multi-layered approach:<\/p><ul><li data-start=\"4019\" data-end=\"4082\">Strict medical adherence,\u00a0taking every dose on schedule.<\/li><li data-start=\"4085\" data-end=\"4168\">Lifestyle adjustments\u00a0\u2013 healthy diet, infection prevention, cancer screening.<\/li><li data-start=\"4171\" data-end=\"4295\">Strong psychosocial support\u00a0from trained caregivers and family, who can help in emergencies and provide emotional backing as one moves from \u201csick role\u201d into a full, active life.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed96ae9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ed96ae9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-746a3c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"746a3c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"836\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/health-article-organ-transplant-patients-need-immunosuppressants-02.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-58460\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/health-article-organ-transplant-patients-need-immunosuppressants-02.jpg 836w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/health-article-organ-transplant-patients-need-immunosuppressants-02-300x144.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/health-article-organ-transplant-patients-need-immunosuppressants-02-768x367.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9b3dc48 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9b3dc48\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-942cf7d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"942cf7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8abcc28 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8abcc28\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51d04f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"51d04f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>This article first appeared in <a href=\"https:\/\/malaysia.healthtoday.net\/health\/the-essential-lifeline-why-organ-transplant-patients-need-immunosuppressants-to-stay-alive\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HealthToday, 07 October 2025.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Getting a new kidney is a second chance at life\u2014but it comes with strings attached. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":58462,"template":"","topic":[103,155],"language":[137],"class_list":["post-58459","health-article","type-health-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-diseases","topic-nephrology","language-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Why Transplant Patients Need Immunosuppressants - Columbia Asia Hospital Bukit Rimau<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Missing immunosuppressant doses can trigger organ rejection. Our nephrologist from Columbia Asia Hospital Bukit Rimau explains why these medicines are vital.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/health-articles\/the-essential-lifeline-why-organ-transplant-patients-need-immunosuppressants-to-stay-alive\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why Transplant Patients Need Immunosuppressants - Columbia Asia Hospital Bukit Rimau\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Missing immunosuppressant doses can trigger organ rejection. 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