What Does Immunosuppressant Mean?

Immunosuppressive drugs, also known as immunosuppressive agents, immunosuppressants and antirejection medications, are drugs that inhibit or prevent activity of the immune system.

What does an immunosuppressant do?

Immunosuppressants are drugs or medicines that lower the body's ability to reject a transplanted organ. Another term for these drugs is anti-rejection drugs. There are 2 types of immunosuppressants: Induction drugs: Powerful antirejection medicine used at the time of transplant.

What does it mean when a patient is immunosuppressed?

Listen to pronunciation. (IH-myoo-noh-suh-PREST) Having a weakened immune system. People who are immunosuppressed have a reduced ability to fight infections and other diseases. This may be caused by certain diseases or conditions, such as AIDS, cancer, diabetes, malnutrition, and certain genetic disorders.