Immunosuppressants

Immunosuppressant and disease-modifying medicines at PCTMart

This category spans transplant medicine and autoimmune disease. The calcineurin inhibitors, tacrolimus and cyclosporine, sit alongside mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine and sirolimus, the combinations used after organ transplantation. Methotrexate, stocked in tablet strengths from 2.5MG upward, and leflunomide are the disease-modifying mainstays in rheumatoid arthritis. Newer targeted agents are carried too: baricitinib, a JAK inhibitor, and apremilast, used in psoriatic disease.

Narrow therapeutic range and brand switching

Two things set this category apart. The first is narrow therapeutic range. Tacrolimus and cyclosporine in particular work within a tight band of blood levels, monitored by regular testing, and different formulations of the same molecule are absorbed differently enough that switching brands is a clinical decision rather than a substitution. Immediate-release and extended-release tacrolimus are not interchangeable at the same daily number.

Methotrexate is weekly, not daily

The second is methotrexate's dosing pattern, which is the most dangerous detail in this category. For autoimmune conditions it is taken once a week, not once a day, and daily dosing in error has caused serious harm and deaths. Folic acid is normally taken alongside it on the other days. If you take methotrexate, keep the weekly schedule written down.

Infection risk and routine monitoring

Because these medicines lower immune defences, infections can present unusually and progress faster, so fever or feeling unwell warrants earlier contact than you might otherwise make. Live vaccines are generally avoided. Regular blood counts and liver and kidney monitoring are part of treatment, not an optional extra, and your specialist arranges them.

Foods and supplements to avoid

Grapefruit juice raises tacrolimus and cyclosporine levels substantially and is avoided entirely on these medicines. St John's wort has the opposite effect and can push levels low enough to risk rejection.

Sourcing, expiry dates and delivery

Every listing shows the molecule, the strength, the release characteristics where relevant and the pack size, with the guaranteed minimum expiry date shown before purchase. All stock ships from India through licensed distributors with at least twelve months of shelf life remaining.