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Autoimmune SupportAutoimmune Support

This category covers medicines that dampen an overactive immune system, used in autoimmune disease and after organ transplant. They need careful monitoring because they also lower defences against infection. Because these medicines reduce immune defence, infection risk and blood counts are watched throughout, and doses are adjusted rather than fixed.

Plaquenil

Hydroxychloroquine

200 · 400mg

Hydroxychloroquine 200mg and 400mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. A DMARD.

From$0.53/ tabletView

Methotrexate Tablets

Methotrexate

2.5mg

Methotrexate 2.5mg tablets, used in the management of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn's disease. A folic acid antagonist blocking dihydrofolate reductase.

From$0.73/ tabletView

Olumiant

Baricitinib

4mg

Baricitinib 4mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata. A JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor.

From$119.00/ tabletView

Arava

Leflunomide

10 · 20mg

Leflunomide 10mg and 20mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. A DMARD that blocks pyrimidine synthesis.

From$1.54/ tabletView

Prograf

Tacrolimus

0.5 · 1 · 5mg

Tacrolimus 0.5mg, 1mg and 5mg hard capsules, used in the management of transplant rejection. A calcineurin inhibitor that holds T-cells back.

From$3.75/ tabletView

Protopic

Tacrolimus

0.03 · 0.1%

Tacrolimus 0.03% and 0.1% ointment, applied to the skin for atopic dermatitis. A calcineurin inhibitor rather than a topical steroid.

From$15.13/ tubeView

Imuran

Azathioprine

25 · 50mg

Azathioprine 25mg and 50mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of transplant rejection, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. A purine analogue.

From$0.85/ tabletView

Neoral

Ciclosporin

25 · 100mg

Ciclosporin 25mg and 100mg soft capsules, used in the management of transplant rejection, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. A calcineurin inhibitor.

From$4.82/ tabletView

Cyclomune

Ciclosporin

0.05 · 0.1%

Cyclomune is ciclosporin 0.05% and 0.1% eye drop emulsion for keratoconjunctivitis sicca. A calcineurin inhibitor that damps T-lymphocyte activation.

From$40.46/ bottleView

Cellcept

Mycophenolate Mofetil

500mg

Mycophenolate mofetil 500mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of transplant rejection. A prodrug of mycophenolic acid, and an immunosuppressant.

From$4.50/ tabletView

Rapamycin

Sirolimus

1mg

Sirolimus 1mg tablets, used in the management of transplant rejection. An mTOR inhibitor that holds T-cells and B-cells back from activation.

From$3.96/ tabletView

Key points

  • These medicines deliberately dampen immune activity, which is both the point of the treatment and its main risk.
  • Regular blood monitoring is part of the treatment rather than an optional extra.
  • The same agents are used after transplant and in autoimmune disease, at different doses and schedules.

Classes and ingredients in this category

Two overlapping groups appear here, differing in how broadly they suppress the immune response:

Conditions it covers

These medicines are used for rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis and transplant rejection. Dose, interval and monitoring differ by condition and organ function, so ongoing specialist supervision is expected.

Further reading