Have you been prescribed Cyclosporine? What you need to know about this medication

Perhaps you have recently had an organ transplant, such as a kidney or liver. Or perhaps you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that causes inflammation of the joints, or psoriasis, a skin disease. In such a case, your doctor may have prescribed you a medicine called Cyclosporine. We need to be very careful when using this medicine. So today, let's talk about the most important things you need to know about this medicine.

What kind of medicine is Cyclosporine?

Simply put, Cyclosporine is a drug that reduces or suppresses the activity of our body's immune system. This drug is commonly available under the brand names Gengraf and Neoral.

Imagine, when you have a new organ transplant, your body's immune system recognizes it as "foreign" and starts attacking it. This is what we call organ rejection. So what this medicine does is slow down that immune system a little bit and allow the new organ to settle in well.

Similarly, in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, our immune system attacks our body's healthy cells. This medicine also controls that overactivity.

Things you need to tell your doctor before starting medication

It is very important to tell your doctor about your complete health history before starting this medication. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the following:

• If you have cancer now or have had it in the past.
• If you have high blood pressure .
• If you have kidney disease or liver disease.
• If there is an existing infection .
• If you have previously received coal tar, PUVA, ultraviolet light, or radiation therapy.
• If you are pregnant or expecting a baby .
• If you are a mother who is breastfeeding .
• If you have had an allergic reaction to Cyclosporine or any other medicine, food (especially corn oil contained in Neoral), or dye.

How exactly do I use this medicine?

To get the most out of this medicine, you need to use it properly.

• Swallow the capsule completely with a full glass of water.
• Very important: Do not take this medication with grapefruit juice for any reason. Grapefruit juice can change the way the medication is absorbed by the body, which can cause dangerous side effects.
• Do not chew, break, or crush the capsule.
• Get into the habit of taking your medicine at the same time every day. If you take it at 8 am, take it at 8 am every day.
• Take your medicine in the same way as you take your food. That is, if you take your medicine before meals, take it before meals every day. If you take it after meals, take it after meals every day. Keep to this pattern.
• Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without your doctor's advice.
• Do not change the brand of medication you are prescribed without your doctor's approval (for example, switching from Neoral to Gengraf).

For children and those over 65

When giving this medicine to young children and people over the age of 65, the doctor is especially careful about the dose, because the way the medicine works in their bodies may be different.

What to do if you miss a dose and drink too much?

If you miss a dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. If you often miss a dose, talk to your doctor about it.

If you take too much medicine

If you think you have taken too much medicine, don't delay. Immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.

Things to keep in mind while taking the medicine

• Regular medical checkups: Go to the clinic on the scheduled dates as prescribed by your doctor. It is essential to have blood tests done on time to check things like your blood pressure and kidney function.
• Protection from infections: This medicine lowers your immunity, so you are more likely to get sick, especially infections. Therefore, be very careful when going to crowded places and when associating with people who are sick. If you develop a fever, cough, cold, or sore throat, do not self-medicate and call your doctor immediately.
• Drowsiness and dizziness: This medicine may make you feel drowsy and dizzy. Therefore, do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires alertness until you know exactly how this medicine affects you. Especially if you are an elderly person, be careful when standing up suddenly or getting out of bed.
• Sun protection: This medication may make your skin very sensitive to sunlight (photosensitive). So protect yourself from strong sunlight as much as possible. If you go outside, wear clothing that covers your skin well, and use a good sunscreen .
• Gum problems: Some people may experience bleeding or tender gums due to this medicine. So take good care of your teeth and oral hygiene. Be careful when brushing and flossing your teeth. See a dentist regularly to have your gums checked.
• Alcohol: Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine.

Side effects that may occur due to this medicine

Like any medicine, Cyclosporine can cause side effects. Some of these are serious, while others are common. It is important to be aware of these.

If you experience any other unusual symptoms not mentioned in this list, please inform your doctor about them as well.

Other things that may interact with this medicine (Drug Interactions)

Cyclosporine can interact with other medications, some foods, and beverages. Therefore, give your doctor a complete list of all medications you are taking (including those prescribed by other doctors), vitamins, herbs, and supplements.

Avoid taking medications like St. John's wort and tacrolimus with this medicine. Also, some pain medications (NSAIDs), cholesterol-lowering medications (statins), antifungals, antibiotics, and some high blood pressure medications can cause problems. Therefore, it is safest to give your doctor a full explanation.

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