Azathioprine
Explanation: It is a powerful CYTOTOXIC and IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT drug. It is mainly used to reduce tissue rejection in transplant patients, but it can also be used to treat myasthenia gravis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and several autoimmune diseases.
Possible Side-Effects: Hypersensitivity reactions including dizziness, malaise, vomiting, fever, muscular pains and shivering, joint pain, jaundice, heart arrhythmias, low blood pressure (requiring withdrawal of treatment), symptoms of bone marrow suppression, which should be reported (eg bleeding or bruising), hair loss, increased susceptibility to infections, nausea, pneumonia and pancreatitis.

Corticosteroids
Explantion: Steroid hormone secreted by the cortex (outer part) of the adrenal glands, or are synthetic substances that closely resemble the natural forms. There are two main types, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. The latter assist in maintaining the salt-and water balance of the body. Corticosteroids such as the glucocorticoid HYDROCORTISONE and the mineralocorticoid FLUDROCORTISONE ACETATE can be given to patients for replacement therapy where there is a deficiency, or in Addison's disease, or following adrenalectomy or hypopituitarism. The glucocorticoids are potent ANTI-INFLAMMATORY and ANTI-ALLERGIC drugs and are frequently used to treat inflammatory and/or allergic reactions of the skin, airways and elsewhere. COMPOUND PREPARATIONS are available that contain both an ANTIBACTERIAL or ANTIFUNGAL drug with an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid and can be used in conditions where an infection is also present. However, these preparations must be used with caution because the corticosteroid component diminishes the patient's natural immune response to the infective agent. Absorption of a high dose of corticosteroid over a period of time may also cause undesirable, systemic side-effects.
Possible Side-Effects: Mineralocorticoid adverse effects include hypertension, sodium and water retention and potassium loss. Glucocorticoid adverse effects include diabetes, osteoporosis, avascular necrosis, mental disturbances, euphoria, muscle wasting and possibly peptic ulceration. Corticosteroids may also cause Cushing's syndrome, suppressed growth in children and adrenal atrophy. If administered during pregnancy, they may affect adrenal gland development in the child. Suppression of the sympoms of infection may occuR.

Chlorphenirahine
Explantion: Is an ANTIHISTAMINE drug. It is used to treat the symptoms of allergic conditions such as hay fever and urticaria (itchy skin rash) and is also occasionally used in emergencies to treat anaphylactic shock. Administration is either oral as tables or a syrup, or by injection.
Side-effects: Because of its sedative side-effects, the performance of skilled tasks such as driving may be impaired. Injections may be irritant and cause short-lasting hypotension and stimulation of the central nervous system.

Cyclosporin
Explantion: It is an IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT drug, which is particularly to limit tissue rejection during and following organ transplant surgery. It can also be used to treat severe, active rheumatoid arthritis and some skin conditions such as severe, resistant atopic dermatitis and) under special supervision) psoriasis. It has very little effect on the blood-cell producing capacity of the bone marrow, but does have liver toxicity.
Possible Side-Effects: Include changes in blood enzymes, disturbances in liver, kidney and cardiovascular function, excessive hair growth, gastrointestinal disturbances, tremor, gum growth, oedema (accumulation of fluid in the tissues), fatigue and burning sensations in the hands and feet.

Duretics
Explantion: Drugs used to reduce fluid in the body by increasing the excretion of water and mineral salts by the kidney, so increasing urine production.

Mycophenolate
Explantion: see Cyclosporin
Possible Side-Effects: Diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, nausea, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, dizziness, insomnia, headache, tremor.

Omeprazole
Explantion: Is an ulcer-healing drug. It works by being a proton-pump inhibitor and so interferes with the secretion of gastric acid from the parietal cells of the stomach lining. It is used for the treatment of benign gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Possible Side-Effects: Diarrhoea or constipation, nausea, flatulence; dizziness, headaches, sleep disorders, disturbances of vision, hair loss, skin and mood disorders (some of these last side-effects occur only in the very ill).

Phytomenadione (Vit K)
Explantion: Is a natural form of Vitamin K and is normally obtained from vegetables and dairy products. Phytomenadione can be used to treat Vit K deficiency, but not a deficiency caused by malabsorption states. Administration is either oral in the form of tables or by slow intravenous injection.
Possible Side-effects: there may be liver damage if high doses are taken for a long period.

Prednisolone
Explantion: It is a synthetic, glucocorticoid CORTICOSTEROID with ANTI-INFLAMMATORY properties. It is used in the treatment of a number of rheumatic and allergic conditions (particularly those affecting the joints or lungs) and collagen disorders. It is also an effective treatment for ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, rectal or anal inflammation, haemorrhoids and as an IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT in the treatment of myasthenia gravis. It may also be used for systemic corticosteroid therapy.
Possible Side-Effects: See Corticosteroids

Ranitidine
Explantion: Is an effective and extensively prescribed H2-antagonist and ulcer-healing drug. It is used to assist in the treatment of benign peptic (gastric and duodenal) ulcers, to relieve heartburn in cases of reflux oesophagitis (caused by regurgitation of acid and enzymes into the oesophagus).
Possible Side-Effects: Tiredness, rash, dizziness, headache or confusion.

Spironolactone
Explantion: Is a diuretic drug of the aldosterone-antagonist type. It is also potassium-sparing and so can be used in conjunction with other types of diuretic, such as the thiazides, which cause loss of potassium, to obtain a more beneficisal action. It can be used to treat oedema (accumulation of fluid in the tissues) associated with aldosteronism (abnormal production of aldosterone by the adrenal gland), in congestive heart failure treatment, kidney disease and fluid retention and ascites caused by liver disease.
Possible Side-Effects: Gastrointestinal disturbances, impotence and gynaecomastia (enlargements of breats) in men; irregular periods in women; skin rashes, raised blood potassium and lowered blood sodium levels.

Sucralfate
Explantion: Is a drug that is a complex of aluminium hydroxide and sulphated sucrose. It can be used as a long-term treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers. It has very little antacid action, but is thought to work as a cytoprotectant by forming a barrier over an ulcer, so protecting it from acid and the enzyme pepsin and allowing it to heal.
Possible Side-Effects: Constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, indigestion, gastric discomfort, dry mouth, skin rash and itching.

Tacrolimus
Explantion: It is a IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT drug (a MACROLIDE ANTIBIOTIC) that is used particularly to limit tissue rejection during and following organ transplant surgery (particularly of liver or kidney).
Possible Side-Effects: See Cyclosporin

Ursodeoxycholic Acid
Explantion: A drug that can dissolve some gallstones in situ. Administration is oral in the form of capsules or tablets.
Possible Side-Effects: Diarrhoea and itching, mid liver dysfunction and changes in blood enzymes.