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Cyclosporine Description




Cyclosporine Description

Generic Name: CYCLOSPORINE

Pronunciation: (sye' kloe spor een)

Trade Name(s): Immosol, Imusporin, Panimun Bioral, Sandimmun Conc, Sandimmun Neoral, Zymmune

Why it is prescribed: Cyclosporine is used to prevent rejection of kidney, liver, and heart transplants. It also is used investigationally to prevent rejection problems in bone marrow and other transplants.

When it is to be taken: Cuclosporine is usually taken once a day. Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully. If you take cyclosporine once a day, take it at the same time that you do something else each day, such as brushing your teeth in the morning, to help your remember it.

How it should be taken: Cyclosporine comes in the form of oral liquid. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose. A special syringe with markings for measuring the oral liquid dose is provided. Remove the protective cover from the syringe and carefully measure the dose. Place the dose in a glass container and dilute it with milk, chocolate milk, or orange juice. Cyclosporine has an oily taste, but dilution improves it. Stir the mixture well and drink it immediately. Do not allow it to stand. After taking the dose, rinse the glass with a second portion of just the beverages and drink it to be sure that you receive the entire dose. Dry the outside of the syringe with a clean towel after each use and replace the protective cover. Do not rinse the syringe with water.

Special Instruction:
1. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will want to monitor your response to the cyclosporine, with frequent visits and blood tests for liver and kidney functions.
2. Your dose probably will be adjusted frequently. Cyclosporine makes you scratches clean.
3. Use good personal hygiene, particularly for your mouth, teeth, skin, hair, and hands.
4. Contact your doctor if you develop signs of an infection (e.g., fever, sore throat, chills and frequent and painful urination).
5. Contact your doctor immediately if you have decreased urination, swelling, weight gain, fever, headache, and a general feeling of illness, discomfort, or lack of energy.
6. When you start to take cyclosporine, ask your doctor what you should do if you forget a dose. Write these instructions down so that you can refer to them later. If you miss more than one dose, contact your doctor.

Side Effects:
1. Nausea, vomiting, Diarrhea, loss of appetite. Take this drug with food. If these effects persist or become severe, contact your doctor.
2. Increased hair growth. Use hair removers.
3. Tremors, overgrowth of the gums, breast enlargement, sinusitis. Contact your doctor.
4. Unusual bleeding or bruising, sore throat, fever, chills, yellowing of the skin or eyes, seizures. Contact your doctor immediately.

Other Precautions:
1. Before you take cyclosporine, tell your doctor your entire medical history. Before you take cyclosporine, tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking, particularly acyclovir, amiloride, amphotericin, azathioprine, diclofenac, diltiazem, erythromycin, ketoconazole, methotrexate, methylprednisolone, phenobarbital, phenytoin, prednisolone, rifampin, spironolactone, and triamterene.
2. If you are pregnant, think that you may be pregnant, or wish to become pregnant, discuss this matter with your doctor.
3. Cyclosporine is passed from a mother to her unborn baby and to a breast-fed baby.
4. Do not breast-feed if you take cyclosporine.
5. Do not allow anyone else to take this medication.

Storage Conditions:
1. Keep this medication in the container it came in and out of the reach of children.
2. Protect it from heat, but do not refrigerate it.
3. Do not keep cyclosporine for more than two months after opening the container.













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