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Dr. Anurag Maheshwari of the Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease at Mercy

Dr. Anurag Maheshwari, Institute For Digestive Health And Liver Disease, Discusses Liver Transplants And Anti-Rejection Medications On "The Woman's Doctor"

While many live transplant patients take anti-rejection medications for the rest of their lives, some do decide to try to get off them due to side effects.

The number of liver transplants preformed in the U.S. has doubled over the last 10 years, and thousands of people are still waiting on the transplant list.

Naita Saunders was put on the transplant list in 2001. She got her new liver in 2003, but six years of anti-rejection drugs were damaging her kidneys, and she felt bad.

"I don't know how to explain it. I just hurt all over," she said.

Mercy Medical Center’s Dr. Anurag Maheshwari said anti-rejection medications are a delicate balance and that some people do try to come off them because of serious side effects.

"There's actually a conscious movement and effort to minimize anti-rejection meds, and maybe taking them off. There are problems associated with them," he said.

"I remember talking to him and asked if any patients had gotten off anti-rejection drugs, and he said that would take a great step of faith," Saunders said.

But faith was something she had in great supply, so Dr. Maheshwari weaned her off her medications. She's been off since September 2009 and is doing well.

"I can't explain it. Everything came to life to me, and I just feel incredibly better," Saunders said.

According to Dr. Maheshwari, to come off the drugs is risky business because too much is unknown.

"We cannot tell patients with confidence that you will be successful coming of rejection meds," he said.

Dr. Maheshwari discussed the risks and rewards of trying to come off anti-rejection medications on WBAL-TV11’s Woman’s Doctor. He has two patients off them and doing well.

To hear more of his interview, click on the video links below: http://www.wbaltv.com/video/22335644/index.html (Dr. Maheshwari's extended interview)
http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/22335683/detail.html (Dr. Maheshwari's Woman's Doctor segment)