Brand Names

How to Use

Take this drug only as directed by your family doctor . Do not take more or less of it and do not take it more often than your family doctor ordered. The exact amount of drug you need has been carefully worked out. Taking too much may increase the risk of side effects, while taking too little may not improve your condition.

To help you remember to take your drug, try to get into the habit of taking it at the same time each day. This will also help cyclosporine work better by keeping a constant amount in the blood.

Absorption of this drug may be changed if you change your diet. This drug must be taken consistently with respect to meals. You must not change the type or amount of food you eat unless you discuss it with your health care professional. If this drug upsets your stomach, your family doctor may recommend that you take it with meals. However, check with your family doctor before you decide to do this on your own.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may increase the effects of cyclosporine by increasing the amount of this drug in the body You must not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are taking this drug .

This drug is to be taken by mouth even if it comes in a dropper bottle. The amount you must take is to be measured only with the specially marked dropper provided with your prescription. The dropper must be wiped with a clean towel after it is using and stored in its container.

To make Sandimmune"reg " taste better, mix it in a glass container with milk, chocolate milk, or orange juice - preferably at room temperature. To make Neoral"reg " taste better, mix it in a glass container with apple juice or orange juice - preferably at room temperature. Do not use a wax-lined or plastic disposable container. Stir it well, then drink it immediately. After drinking all the liquid containing the drug, rinse the glass with a little more liquid and drink that also, to make sure you get all the drug. Dry the dropper using to measure the cyclosporine, but do not rinse it with water.

Do not stop taking this drug without first checking with your family doctor . You may have to take drug for the rest of your life to prevent your body from rejecting the transplant.

Dosage

The number of capsules or teaspoonfuls of oral solution that you take depends on the strength of the drug. Always the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses and the length of time you take the drug depend on the medical problem for which you are taking cyclosporine .

• For oral dosage forms - capsules, oral solution:
  • For transplant rejection:
    • Adults, teenagers, or children: Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose in the beginning is 12 to 15 milligrams - mg per kilogram - kg - 5.5 to 6.8 mg per pound of body weight a day. After a period of time, the dose may be decreased to 5 to 10 mg per kg - 2.3 to 4.5 mg per pound of body weight a day.
  • For rheumatoid arthritis:
    • Adults or teenagers: Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 2.5 to 4 mg per kg - 1.1 to 1.8 mg per pound of body weight a day.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
  • For psoriasis:
    • Adults or teenagers: Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 2.5 to 4 mg per kg - 1.1 to 1.8 mg per pound of body weight a day.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For transplant rejection:
    • Adults, teenagers, or children: Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 2 to 6 mg per kg - 0.9 to 2.7 mg per pound of body weight a day.

Missed dose If you miss a dose of cyclosporine and remember it within 12 hours, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose, go back to your regular dosing schedule and check with your family doctor. Do not double doses.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
• Do not store the oral solution in the refrigerator.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.