Cyclosporine

Pronunciation

Brand Names

Canadian/Mexican Brand Names

Therapeutic Categories

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used to prevent your body's rejection of a solid organ transplant such as a kidney, liver, lung, heart, or bone marrow.
• Other uses include treatment of nephrotic syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis.
• Talk to healthcare provider if your diagnosis is not here. There are other uses not listed here.

How does it work?

• Cyclosporine decreases the body's response to a foreign object. This could be a transplanted organ. It could also decrease the body's response to diseases affecting the immune system.

How is it best taken?

• Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice within 2 hours of using medicine.
• Mix Neoral® solution in glass with orange or apple juice at room temperature.
• Mix Sandimmune® solution in glass with 1 cup of milk, chocolate milk, or orange juice at room temperature.
• Drink right after mixing.
• Rinse glass with water and drink to get all the medicine.
• Do not put in plastic or styrofoam. Put in glass only.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Do not change dose, brand, or stop taking medicine without talking with healthcare provider.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• Avoid alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Can affect cyclosporine in the body.
• The risk of cancer is higher after taking this medicine.
• Use caution with high blood pressure. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Do not change brand of cyclosporine. Check to make sure you have the same one each time.
• Check all medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• Make sure to tell all healthcare providers you are on this medicine.
• Vaccinations may be less effective. Avoid the use of live vaccines.
• Do not use over-the-counter products that may affect blood pressure. This includes cough or cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like products and certain herbs or supplements. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
• Do not use if you are breast-feeding.

What are the common side effects of this medicine?

• High blood pressure.
• Hair growth.
• Worsening kidney function.
• Shakiness.

What should I monitor?

• Check temperature. Watch for signs of infection.
• Check blood pressure regularly.
• Check blood work. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Fever and/or chills, sore throat, or sore mouth.
• Changes in thinking clearly and logically.
• Severe headache.
• Not passing much urine.
• Any rash.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store in original container at room temperature.
• Throw away opened solutions after 2 months.
• Neoral® solutions may gel at temperatures less than 68°F. Allow solution to warm up to room temperature.

General statements

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs, vitamins).

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