I've just started it to stop the inflammation of my kidneys. The side effects worry me, does it really compromise your immune system? Not happy but told it's my only option?
Thanks
It is an immunosuppressive medication. These meds are common in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. There are plenty of various immunosuppressive drugs out there that may be an alternative for your treatment, but that would require another discussion with your doctor or another for a second opinion.
If the kidney inflammation is a result of autoimmune disease, the immunosuppression is not as much a side effect, as the primary goal. When drugs of this type are given to people with immune mediated illness (Sjogren's, Lupus, RA, etc) it is given in the hope of reducing the immune system to a point of limiting the attack on the body, whichever organ or tissue is involved. unfortunately the action can't be targeted, so the suppression effect also hits any immune reaction to external attacks, like bacteria and virus.
The warnings must be posted because it is and "adverse effect" in the sense that compromising the immune system in a person with an overworked or poorly focused immune response can open them to more susceptibility to any circulating bugs, and therefore requires increased awareness and preparedness.
In the case of poorly focused immune response; where there may actually be an immune deficiency, but the response that is produced is directed inward to a persons own body; the immunosuppression slows that inward attack but may increases the possibility of catching whatever is going around, therefore people taking immunosuppressants are advised to take flue and pneumonia shots when available.