Cyclosporine : Before Using - Neoral, Sandimmune, SangCya, ciclosporin, cyclosporin A

Cyclosporine - Systemic

Brand Names

Neoral, Sandimmune, SangCya, ciclosporin, cyclosporin A Cyclosporine *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For cyclosporine, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to cyclosporine.

Pregnancy care

Studies have not been done. However, some women who received cyclosporine during pregnancy delivered their babies prematurely, and some babies were smaller than average when they were born. Additionally, some babies had birth defects. It is not certain that these birth defects occurred because of the use of cyclosporine by the mothers.

Studies in rats and rabbits have shown that cyclosporine at toxic doses - 2 to 5 times the human dose causes birth defects or death of the fetus.

Breast-feeding problem

Cyclosporine passes into breast milk. There is a risk that it could cause the same side effects in the baby that it does in people taking it. It may be necessary for you to stop breast-feeding during treat. Be sure you have discussed the chance and benefits of the drug with your family doctor.

Use for Children

This drug has been tested in child and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause various side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Elderly care

Older people are more likely to experience some side effects - high blood pressure and kidney problems than are adults people.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking cyclosporine, it is especially important that your health care professional knows if you are taking any of the following:

Amiloride - Midamor
Spironolactone - Aldactone
Triamterene - Dyrenium Since both cyclosporine and these medication increase the amount of potassium in the body, potassium levels could become too high

Allopurinol - Zyloprim
Androgens - male hormones
Bromocriptine - Parlodel
Cimetidine - Tagamet
Clarithromycin - Biaxin
Danazol - Danocrine
Diltiazem - Cardizem
Erythromycins - drug for infection
Estrogens - female hormones
Fluconazole - Diflucan
Human immunodeficiency virus - HIV protease inhibitors - Crixivan, Fortovase, Invirase, Norvir, Viracept
Itraconazole - Sporanox
Ketoconazole - Nizoral
Nefazodone - Serzone
Nicardipine - Cardene
Verapamil - Calan, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Verelan May increase effects of cyclosporine by increasing the amount of cyclosporine in the body

Azathioprine - Imuran
Chlorambucil - Leukeran
Corticosteroids - cortisone-like drug
Cyclophosphamide - Cytoxan
Mercaptopurine - Purinethol
Muromonab-CD3 - monoclonal antibody - Orthoclone OKT3 There may be an increased risk of infection and cancer because both cyclosporine and these medication decrease the body's ability to fight them

Coal tar - Balnetar, Zetar
Methoxsalen - Oxsoralen
Radiation therapy
Trioxsalen - Trisoralen There may be increased risk of some skin cancers

Lovastatin - Mevacor
Simvastatin - Zocor May increase the risk of muscle problems and kidney problems

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of cyclosporine. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Cancer
Precancerous skin changes Cyclosporine can make these conditions worse

Chickenpox - including recent exposure
Herpes zoster - shingles chance of severe disease effecting other parts of the body

High blood pressure Cyclosporine can cause high blood pressure

Hyperkalemia - too much potassium in the blood Cyclosporine can make this condition worse

Infection Cyclosporine decreases the body's ability to fight infection

Intestine problems Effects may be decreased because cyclosporine can't be absorbed into the body

Kidney disease Cyclosporine can have harmful effects on the kidney when it is taken for long periods of time

Liver disease Effects of cyclosporine may be increased because of slower removal of the drug from the body