Cyclosporine

Common use

Cyclosporine is used to prevent organ rejection after a kidney, heart, or liver transplant. 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 also used to treat severe psoriasis or severe rheumatoid arthritis.

Dosage and direction

Use the medicine exactly as directed. Cyclosporine oral is taken by mouth. 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.

Precautions

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 breastfeed while you are using cyclosporine.
Grapefruit may interact with cyclosporine and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.
Avoid drinking alcohol.
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Contraindications

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.

Possible side effect

Cyclosporine may cause serious side effects. 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; liver problems; or signs of infection.
Common side effects of cyclosporine may include: tremors or shaking; acne, increased growth of facial or body hair; increased blood pressure; nausea, diarrhea; or swollen or painful gums.

Drug interaction

Cyclosporine can harm your kidneys, especially if you also use certain medicines for infections, cancer, osteoporosis, organ transplant rejection, bowel disorders, high blood pressure, or pain or arthritis (including Advil, Motrin, and Aleve).

Missed 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.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep away from children.