Cyclosporine
About
Cyclosporine belongs to the class of medicines called 'immunosuppressant' used to prevent organ rejection after a transplant. Also, it helps to reduce the pain/inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis conditions and in the treatment of psoriasis. Organ rejection occurs when patient’s immune system recognizes the donor organ as foreign and tries to eliminate it.
Cyclosporine contains 'cyclosporine' which works by suppressing the body's immune system. Thereby, prevents organ rejection. It helps decrease pain and swelling, thus providing relief from the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Take Cyclosporine as prescribed. You are advised to take Cyclosporine for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you depending on your medical conditions. In some cases, Cyclosporine may cause headache, vomiting nausea, high blood pressure, loss of appetite (feeling unwell and upset stomach), and diarrhoea. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
Before taking Cyclosporine inform your doctor if you have any allergy, kidney disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or any type of cancer. Consult your doctor before taking Cyclosporine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Cyclosporine increases the risk of infections and skin cancer. Therefore, stay cautious and avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Inform your doctor about your health condition and medicines you are taking to rule out any unpleasant side effects.
Uses of Cyclosporine
Medicinal Benefits
Cyclosporine belongs to the class of medicines called 'immunosuppressant' used to prevent organ rejection after a transplant. Also, it helps to reduce the pain/inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and is used in the treatment of severe cases of skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, nephrotic syndrome (kidney disease), and eye problems such as endogenous uveitis and Behçet's uveitis. Cyclosporine works by suppressing the body's immune system. Thereby, prevents organ rejection. Also, it reduces the function of the cells that cause inflammation, especially in the joint tissues. Thereby, decreasing pain, inflammation, slowing down the joint damage and disease progression over time.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Cyclosporine
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- High blood pressure
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Do not take Cyclosporine if you are allergic to any of the components. Let your doctor know before using Cyclosporine if you have liver or kidney problems, high blood pressure, low levels of magnesium, and high levels of potassium. Cyclosporine may make you more susceptible to infections; consult your doctor if you develop any signs of severe conditions such as fever, sore throat, breathlessness, jaundice, unexplained bleeding, or bruising. Before taking Cyclosporine inform your doctor if you have any type of cancer. Do not take Cyclosporine if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy. Cyclosporine should not be taken by breastfeeding mothers as it passes into breast milk. Inform your doctor about your health condition and medicines to rule out any unpleasant side effects.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Cyclosporine may have interaction with other immunosuppressant medicines (tacrolimus), anti-gout (thiopurine), water pills/diuretics (amiloride, spironolactone), blood pressure-lowering pills (aliskiren), cholesterol-lowering pills (atorvastatin, pitavastatin, simvastatin). antibiotics (such as erythromycin or azithromycin), antifungals (voriconazole, itraconazole), medicines used for heart problems or high blood pressure (diltiazem, verapamil, amiodarone), used to treat menstrual problems (danazol), medicines used to treat gout (allopurinol), used to treat hepatitis C (colchicine, telaprevir).
Drug-Food Interaction: Avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking Cyclosporine.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Cyclosporine may cause interactions with disease conditions such as high blood pressure, liver, and kidney disease.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionYou are recommended to avoid alcohol consumption while taking Cyclosporine. It could lead to increased dizziness.
Pregnancy
cautionCyclosporine belongs to pregnancy category C. Consult your doctor before taking Cyclosporine if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy.
Breast Feeding
unsafeCyclosporine passes into breast milk. Avoid breastfeeding while taking Cyclosporine.
Driving
cautionCyclosporine may cause dizziness. Drive or operate machinery only if you are alert.
Liver
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Please consult your doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Please consult your doctor if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Children
unsafeCyclosporine is not recommended for children as efficacy and safety have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat foods rich in quercetin (a flavonoid) such as apples, cherries, broccoli, spinach, and blueberries.
- Consuming food rich in probiotics helps in developing the ing immune system against allergies.
- Limit intake of food that might trigger allergies such as dairy products, soy, eggs, and nuts.
- Avoid consumption of foods with excess sugar as flare-up inflammation.
- Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and fish in your diet.
- Reducing stress and maintaining a regular sleep pattern would be helpful.
- Avoid getting in contact with harsh soaps, detergents, and rough fabrics.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Organ transplant rejection: When you get a new organ transplanted to your body, your body recognizes it as a foreign element, tries to attack and reject it because it is not originally part of your body. So, immunosuppressant drugs like cyclosporine are given to such patients to suppress the immune system, thereby preventing an attack on a newly transplanted organ.
Rheumatoid arthritis: It is an autoimmune disease (the body's immune system attacks its tissue) that leads to joint pain and damage. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include pain, inflammation of joints, difficulty moving, and swelling.
Psoriasis: It is a long-lasting, inflammatory skin illness. It is not infectious but has a tendency to run in families. It causes itchy and red patches on the skin.
FAQs
Cyclosporine acts as an immunosuppressant, which helps in reducing inflammation and prevents joint stiffness, thereby provides relief from rheumatoid arthritis.
If you miss a dose of Cyclosporine, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the scheduled dose instead.
Diarrhoea might be a side effect of Cyclosporine. Drink lots of fluids and eat non-spicy food if you experience diarrhoea. If you find blood in stools (tarry stools) or if you experience severe diarrhoea, consult your doctor. Do not take anti-diarrheal medicine on your own.
Yes, the use of Cyclosporine may cause abnormal facial and body hair growth as a common side effect. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
Cyclosporine is known to suppress the immune system. As a result, it increases the risk of infections and developing cancers, especially of the skin. Therefore, avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight by wearing suitable protective clothing and use sunscreen regularly.
