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Cyclosporine Modified

This form:

Pronounced

"sye-klo-SPORE-een MY-crow-ee-MULL-shun"

Common brand names:

Neoral

Uses

Cyclosporine is used to prevent organ rejection in people who have received a liver, kidney, or heart transplant. It is usually taken along with other medications to allow your new organ to function normally. Cyclosporine is also used to treat severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis and plaque psoriasis. In these conditions, the body's defense system (immune system) attacks healthy tissues. Cyclosporine belongs to a class of drugs known as immunosuppressants. It works by weakening the immune system to help your body accept the new organ as if it were your own (in the case of an organ transplant) and to prevent further damage to your joints (in the case of rheumatoid arthritis) or skin (in the case of psoriasis).

Other Uses

This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.

This drug may also be used to reduce the risk of rejection in other types of organ transplants (such as cornea, pancreas) or bone marrow transplant. It may also be used for other conditions that are affected by the body's immune system (such as Crohn's disease).

How to Use This Medication

Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually twice daily. You may take this medication with or without food, but it is important to choose one way and take this medication the same way with every dose.

The dosage is based on your weight, medical condition, lab tests, and response to treatment.

Carefully measure the dose using the medicine syringe provided. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose. To help improve the taste, you should mix the measured dose with a glass of orange or apple juice that is at room temperature. Do not switch juices often. Do not mix this medication with milk since it may cause it to have a bad taste. Make sure to use a glass cup and not a plastic cup. Drink all of the mixture right away. Do not prepare a supply in advance. To make sure you have taken all of the medication, rinse the glass with more juice, then mix and drink. Consult your pharmacist if you have any questions.

Dry the outside of the syringe after use. Do not rinse it with water. If the syringe must be cleaned, make sure that it is completely dry before using it again.

Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication unless your doctor or pharmacist says you may do so safely. Grapefruit can increase the chance of side effects with this medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same times each day.

It may take up to 4 months before you get the full benefit of this drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

Tell your doctor if your condition does not get better (in 4 to 8 weeks for arthritis and in 2 to 4 weeks for psoriasis) or if it gets worse.

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Drug information is selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First DataBank, Inc. This is a summary and does not contain all possible information about this product. For complete information about this product or your specific health needs, ask your healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your healthcare professional if you have any questions about this product or your medical condition. This information is not intended as individual medical advice and does not substitute for the knowledge and judgment of your healthcare professional. This information does not contain any assurances that this product is safe, effective or appropriate for you.

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