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After an organ transplant, antirejection medicines are used to prevent the body from rejecting the new organ. These medicines work by lowering the body's immune response, called immunosuppression. With these medicines, the immune system is weakened enough to not reject the organ but still gives enough immunity to prevent severe infections.

Antirejection medicines work in three phases to reduce side effects and suppress the immune system. The three phases are induction, maintenance, and antirejection:

• Induction medicines are given in a vein before and after the transplant. Induction medicines help get the body ready to accept the transplanted organ.
• Maintenance medicines are taken for as long as you have a transplanted organ. They are used long-term to continue suppression of the immune system. You often take a combination of medicines after an organ transplant. These medicines are started shortly after surgery.
• Rejection treatments are medicines that are used if the body starts to reject the transplanted organ. Report any symptoms of rejection to a healthcare professional right away.