cyclosporine (oral/injection)
What is the most important information I should know about cyclosporine?
You may not be able to use cyclosporine if you have certain medical conditions or are using certain medicines or receiving phototherapy or radiation treatments. MAKE SURE ALL DOCTORS INVOLVED IN YOUR CARE KNOW YOU ARE USING CYCLOSPORINE.
Cyclosporine may increase your risk of developing serious infections, cancer, or transplant failure. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medication.
What is cyclosporine?
Cyclosporine weakens your body's immune system, to help keep it from "rejecting" a transplanted organ such as a kidney. Organ rejection happens when the immune system treats the new organ as an invader and attacks it. Cyclosporine is used to prevent organ rejection after a kidney, heart, or liver transplant. Cyclosporine is also used to treat severe psoriasis or severe rheumatoid arthritis. Cyclosporine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before using cyclosporine?
You should not use cyclosporine if you are allergic to it. You may not be able to use cyclosporine if you have:
- kidney disease;
- untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure; or
- any type of cancer.
If you are being treated for psoriasis, you should not receive ultraviolet light therapy (PUVA or UVB), radiation treatments, coal tar, or drugs that weaken the immune system (such as methotrexate) while you are receiving cyclosporine.
Cyclosporine affects your immune system, and may cause certain white blood cells to grow out of control. This can lead to cancer, severe brain infection causing disability or death, or a viral infection causing kidney transplant failure. Talk with your doctor about the risks of using this medicine.
MAKE SURE ALL DOCTORS INVOLVED IN YOUR CARE KNOW YOU ARE USING CYCLOSPORINE.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- liver or kidney disease;
- high blood pressure; or
- if you are scheduled to receive any vaccine.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
You should not breast-feed while you are using cyclosporine.
How should I use cyclosporine?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Cyclosporine injection is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection if you are unable to take the medicine by mouth. You will be watched closely for at least 30 minutes after an injection, to make sure you do not have an allergic reaction. You may take oral cyclosporine with or without food, but take it the same way each time. Take the medicine at the same time each day. Measure liquid medicine carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, and make sure it is completely dry before measuring your dose.
Sandimmune oral solution may be mixed with milk, chocolate milk, or orange juice at room temperature to make the medicine taste better. Neoral "modified" (microemulsion) oral solution should be mixed with orange juice or apple juice that is at room temperature.
Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using only the form and strength your doctor prescribes.
Use all medications as directed and read all medication guides you receive. Do not change your dose or dosing schedule without your doctor's advice.
You will need frequent medical tests. You must remain under the care of a doctor while you are using cyclosporine.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while using cyclosporine?
Grapefruit may interact with cyclosporine and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using cyclosporine. The vaccine may not work as well and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and zoster (shingles).
What are the possible side effects of cyclosporine?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- problems with speech, thought, vision, or muscle movement (may start gradually and get worse quickly);
- a seizure;
- severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears;
- pale skin, easy bruising, unusual bleeding;
-
high potassium level --nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement;
-
kidney problems --little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath;
-
liver problems --loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
-
signs of infection --fever, chills, flu symptoms, mouth sores, skin sores, sore throat, cough, trouble breathing.
Common side effects may include:
- tremors or shaking;
- acne, increased growth of facial or body hair;
- increased blood pressure;
- nausea, diarrhea; or
- swollen or painful gums.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect cyclosporine?
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
Cyclosporine can harm your kidneys, especially if you also use certain medicines for infections, cancer, osteoporosis, organ transplant rejection, bowel disorders, or pain or arthritis (including aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, and Aleve).
Many drugs can affect cyclosporine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about cyclosporine.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 8.01. Revision date: 9/25/2018.
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