What are immunosuppressive drugs?
Immunosuppressive drugs may simply be called immunosuppressants. There are many different forms of these drugs that act in different ways on the immune system so that this system doesn’t produce a normal immune response. The immune system of the human is intensely complex and can be of great benefit, but also a huge problem if it malfunctions. People who suffer from autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or HIV have what are called inappropriate immune responses, where the body’s immune system attacks the body, instead of attacking foreign cells. In order to inhibit this response, immunosuppressive drugs can form a part of treatment. Another indication for use of immunosuppressive drugs is organ transplantation. Usually, without immunosuppressants, the body views the new organ as foreign and will immediately kick up an immune response, labeled “rejection” of the organ. Certain medications dull or eliminate this response so that the body accepts the organ. Some recent tren
