Immunosuppression: Is Your Medication Making You Sick?

Your immune system is like a fine-tuned machine. When things are working correctly, all the parts are in play. You have strength. You have efficiency. You’re able to stay healthy and not fall ill due to pesky viruses and bacteria. If your immune system is robust, you know it.

But what happens when the immune system is suppressed? What happens when something you’re doing, day in and day out, is slowly but surely weakening your body?

What if you don’t even know it?

While we’ve all heard of ways to boost our immune systems - eating healthy, getting sleep, exercising, etc. - there’s something else we aren’t being told. Something that is changing the bodily processes that keep us healthy.

For some people, in some cases, there’s only one explanation: drugs.

Medications And Immunosuppression

While recreational drug use can be extremely problematic for long-term health, sometimes, it’s the drugs that we’re prescribed that cause our problems. In some cases, medications are actually designed to suppress our immune systems. These immunosuppressive meds are usually used to treat auto-immune conditions. In other words, they help regulate the immune system.

Remember, the immune system is a powerful and extremely complex network. From white blood cells and proteins to organs and organ systems, it truly is a system. But there’s a catch. Oftentimes, we speak of having a “strong immune system” or a “weak immune system.” This commonly means that we’re able to fight off illnesses and infections, or we’re not.

People with strong immune systems may report rarely getting sick, while those with weaker immune systems may report repeated illness and disease.

However, the words “strong” and “weak” can be misleading. After all, having a powerful immune system is not always exactly what you want. Consider the case of autoimmune disorders, for example. In some cases, a person’s immune system will attack itself. It may overreact to pathogens. It may go into overdrive when it simply doesn’t need to.

It’s like bringing a bomb to a knife fight. Yes, that bomb might take out the others, but you could also blow yourself up in the process!

Ideally, what people want is an efficient immune system. One that responds to all sorts of invaders proportionately. One that remembers old invaders and knows exactly how to target them. Unfortunately, some common medications can make these processes very difficult. In fact, certain medications make you more likely to not just get a bacterial or viral infection, but a fungal infection.

Fungal Infections and Weakened Immune Systems

One way to determine if you have a weakened immune system is by looking at your infection rate and type. It is well known that fungal infections increase in people who are immunosuppressed. This happens because the immune system can no longer fight off these indoor and outdoor fungi.

What might normally be harmless or cause a minor rash can become something very severe. Some fungal infections affect your skin, while others get underneath. The worst fungal infections can get into your blood and organs and are known as deep fungal infections.

The symptoms of such infections range from superficial itchiness and discoloration to fevers, headaches, shortness of breath, muscle aches, joint pain, and beyond.

Two classes of medications, in particular, can make you more vulnerable to these fungal infections.

Corticosteroids and TNF

Two commonly prescribed medications that weaken your immune system and lead to fungal infections are corticosteroids and TNF (tumor necrosis factor) inhibitors. You’ve probably heard of corticosteroids, as they are frequently used to treat everything from allergies to asthma, arthritis, and inflammatory diseases.

TNF inhibitors, meanwhile, are prescribed specifically for autoimmune disorders. These conditions include everything from rheumatoid arthritis to psoriasis. TNF inhibitors may increase the likelihood of severe fungal infections, especially medications such as Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade.

Similarly, corticosteroids can increase the risk of severe fungal infections. Categorized as either inhaled or oral, these medications include Prednisone, Cortisone, Advair, Symbicort, and others.

If you’re struggling with immunosuppression and believe your medicine is to blame, be sure to tell your doctor. In many cases, you can make lifestyle changes to boost your immune system. One way to deal with potential fungal infections is by limiting your exposure. Make sure to keep your indoor spaces clean and reduce time spent in dusty and dirty areas, like construction sites or places where waste accumulates.

You should also be sure to wear proper clothing when doing work out in nature. With a proactive approach to healthy living habits, you may be able to continue taking your meds while keeping your immune system in check!