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CYCLOSPORINE (SYE kloe spor een) prevents the body from rejecting an organ transplant. It works by lowering the body's immune system response. This helps the body accept the donor organ. It belongs to a group of medications called immunosuppressants.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
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Take this medication by mouth. Take it as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day and at the same time in relation to meals. Use the specially marked oral syringe to measure each dose. Ask your pharmacist if you do not have one. Household spoons are not accurate. For the Sandimmune brand, mix your dose in milk, chocolate milk, or orange juice (at room temperature). If you are taking any other brand of cyclosporine, mix the measured dose in a glass of orange or apple juice that is at room temperature. Do not use grapefruit juice or milk. Mix in a glass container (not plastic) and stir well just before taking. Rinse the glass with more liquid and swallow to make sure you get all the dose. Try to mix with the same diluent for each dose. This will help you keep a constant amount of cyclosporine in your body. After use, dry the outside of the dosing syringe with a clean towel. Do not rinse with water or any other cleaning agent. The dosing syringe must be dry before use.
Keep taking this medication unless your care team tells you to stop.
Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. While this medication may be prescribed for children as young as 1 year of age for selected conditions (Neoral) and for children as young as 6 months for selected conditions (Sandimmune), precautions do apply.
People over 65 years of age may have a stronger reaction and need a smaller dose.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
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Do not take this medication with any of the following:
-Bosentan
-Cidofovir
-Cisapride
-Mibefradil
-Ranolazine
-Red yeast rice, monascus purpureus
-St. John's Wort
-Tacrolimus
This medication may also interact with the following:
-Acyclovir
-Allopurinol
-Amiloride
-Amiodarone
-Antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, vancomycin, trimethoprim; sulfamethoxazole, nafcillin, rifampin, rifabutin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, and uinupristin; dalfopristin
-Bromocriptine
-Carbamazepine
-Cimetidine
-Colchicine
-Danazol
-Digoxin
-Estrogen and progestin hormones
-Imatinib
-Medications for fungal infections, such as amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, terbinafine, and ketoconazole
-Medications for blood pressure, such as diltiazem, nicardipine, verapamil, enalapril, ramipril, and losartan
-Medications for cholesterol, such as lovastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin, and fenofibrate
-Medications for HIV infection, such as indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir
-Medications that suppress the immune system
-Melphalan
-Methotrexate
-Metoclopramide
-NSAIDs, medications for pain and inflammation, such as ibuprofen or naproxen
-Octreotide
-Orlistat
-Oxcarbazepine
-Phenobarbital
-Phenytoin
-Ranitidine
-Sirolimus
-Spironolactone
-Steroid medications, such as prednisone or cortisone
-Sulfinpyrazone
-Ticlopidine
-Triamterene
-Vaccines
-Voriconazole
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
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Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Do not change the brand of medication unless directed by your care team.
You may need blood work done while you are taking this medication.
This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.
This medication may increase your risk of getting an infection. Call your care team for advice if you get a fever, chills, sore throat, or other symptoms of a cold or flu. Do not treat yourself. Try to avoid being around people who are sick.
Talk to your care team about your risk of cancer. You may be more at risk for certain types of cancer if you take this medication.
This medication can cause dental problems, such as tender or swollen gums. It is important to maintain good dental health. Brush and floss your teeth twice a day. Visit your dentist on a regular basis. Talk to your dentist if you have red, swollen, or bleeding gums.
Some products may contain alcohol. Ask your pharmacist or care team if this medication contains alcohol. Be sure to tell all care teams you are taking this medication. Certain medications, such as metronidazole and disulfiram, can cause an unpleasant reaction when taken with alcohol. The reaction includes flushing, headache, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and increased thirst. The reaction can last from 30 minutes to several hours.
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If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses. Call your care team if you miss more than one dose or if you miss doses on a regular basis.
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Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
-Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
-Dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, confusion or trouble speaking
-Hemolytic anemia—unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness, headache, trouble breathing, dark urine, yellowing skin or eyes
-High potassium level—muscle weakness, fast or irregular heartbeat
-Increase in blood pressure
-Infection—fever, chills, cough, sore throat, wounds that don't heal, pain or trouble when passing urine, general feeling of discomfort or being unwell
-Kidney injury—decrease in the amount of urine, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet
-Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
-Pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet, muscle weakness, change in vision, confusion or trouble speaking, loss of balance or coordination, trouble walking, seizures
-Unusual bruising or bleeding
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
-Diarrhea
-Nausea
-Sensitive or irritated gums or teeth
-Tremors or shaking
-Unexpected hair growth
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Keep out of the reach of children and pets.
Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Do not refrigerate. Do not freeze. Keep this medication in the original packaging. Get rid of any unused medication 2 months after opening the bottle or after it expires, whichever comes first.
To get rid of medications that are no longer needed or have expired:
-Take the medication to a take-back program. Check with your pharmacy or law enforcement to find a location.
-If you cannot return the medication, check the label or package insert to see if the medication should be thrown out in the garbage or flushed down the toilet. If you are not sure, ask your care team. If it is safe to put it in the trash, empty the medication out of the container. Mix it with cat litter, dirt, coffee grounds, or another unwanted substance. Seal the mixture in a bag or container. Put it in the trash.
NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
DISCLAIMER: This drug information content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients should always consult their physician with any questions regarding a medical condition and to obtain medical advice and treatment. Drug information is sourced from GSDD (Gold Standard Drug Database ) provided by Elsevier.
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