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| Pronunciation |
|
 (SYE
kloe spor
een) |
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| Brand Names |
|
| Gengraf™; Neoral®;
Sandimmune®; Sandimmune® Oral; SangCya™(No Longer
Available as of
7/00) |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
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| Consupren (Mexico); Sandimmun Neoral
(Mexico) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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|
Immunosuppressant Agent |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
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|
- You will have an increased risk of getting infections. Avoid crowds
and people with infections, colds, or flu. There are different brands of this
medicine. One brand cannot safely be exchanged for another. Any change must be
directed by your healthcare provider. If you are taking this medication for
psoriasis AND you have received certain medications to treat this condition,
your risk of skin cancer may be increased. Increases in blood pressure or damage
to the kidney are possible side effects of this medication. Your healthcare
provider will need to monitor for these
closely.
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil (in
cyclosporine capsules and solution for microemulsion), cyclosporine, or any
other part of the medicine.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used to prevent your body's rejection of a solid
organ transplant such as a kidney, liver, lung, heart, or bone marrow.
- Other uses include treatment of nephrotic syndrome, rheumatoid
arthritis, and severe psoriasis.
- Talk to healthcare provider if your diagnosis is not here. There are
other uses not listed here.
|
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| How does it work? |
|
|
- Cyclosporine decreases the body's response to a foreign object. This
could be a transplanted organ. It could also decrease the body's response to
diseases affecting the immune
system.
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| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice unless healthcare provider is
monitoring effects.
- Do not put in plastic or styrofoam. Put in glass only.
- Mix Neoral® solution in glass with orange or
apple juice at room temperature.
- Mix Sandimmune® solution in glass with 1 cup of
milk, chocolate milk, or orange juice at room temperature.
- Drink right after mixing.
- Fill glass with water and drink to get any medicine left inside the
glass.
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|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose, brand, or stop taking medicine without talking
with healthcare provider.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Practice good oral hygiene to decrease gum inflammation. See dentist
regularly.
- Avoid alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor). May increase
side effects of cyclosporine in the body.
- The risk of cancer is higher after taking this medicine.
- Use caution with high blood pressure. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Do not change brands of cyclosporine. Check to make sure you have the
same brand each time.
- Check all medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not
mix well with other medicines.
- Make sure to tell all healthcare providers you are on this medicine.
- Vaccinations may be less effective. Avoid the use of live vaccines.
- Do not use over-the-counter products that may affect blood pressure.
This includes cough or cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like
products, and certain herbs or supplements. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- High blood pressure.
- Hair growth.
- Worsening kidney function.
- Shakiness.
- Headache.
- Nausea and belly pain.
- Diarrhea.
- Infection.
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| What should I monitor? |
|
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- Check temperature. Watch for signs of infection.
- Check blood pressure regularly.
- Check blood work. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Signs or symptoms of infection.
- Changes in thinking clearly and logically.
- Severe headache.
- Not passing much urine.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store in original container at room temperature.
- Throw away opened solutions after 2 months.
- Neoral® solutions may gel at temperatures less
than 68°F. Allow solution to warm up to room
temperature.
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| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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