What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- Gout
- High blood pressure
- Infection
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Recent vaccinations
- An unusual or allergic reaction to cyclosporine, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- Breastfeeding
What may interact with this medication?
Do not take this medication with any of the following:
- Bosentan
- Cidofovir
- Cisapride
- Mibefradil
- Ranolazine
- Red yeast rice, monascus purpureus
- St. John's Wort
- Tacrolimus
This medication may also interact with the following:
- Acyclovir
- Allopurinol
- Amiloride
- Amiodarone
- Bromocriptine
- Carbamazepine
- Certain antibiotics
- Cimetidine
- Colchicine
- Danazol
- Digoxin
- Estrogen and progestin hormones
- Imatinib
- Medications for fungal infections, such as amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, terbinafine, and ketoconazole
- Medications for blood pressure, such as diltiazem, nicardipine, verapamil, enalapril, ramipril, and losartan
- Medications for cholesterol, such as lovastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin, and fenofibrate
- Medications for HIV infection, such as indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir
- Medications that suppress the immune system
- Melphalan
- Methotrexate
- Metoclopramide
- NSAIDs, medications for pain and inflammation, such as ibuprofen or naproxen
- Octreotide
- Orlistat
- Oxcarbazepine
- Phenobarbital
- Phenytoin
- Ranitidine
- Sirolimus
- Spironolactone
- Steroid medications, such as prednisone or cortisone
- Sulfinpyrazone
- Ticlopidine
- Triamterene
- Vaccines
- Voriconazole
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Your condition will be carefully monitored while you are taking this medication. You may need blood work while you are receiving this medication.
This medication may increase your risk of getting an infection. Call your care team for advice if you get a fever, chills, sore throat, or other symptoms of a cold or flu. Do not treat yourself. Try to avoid being around people who are sick.
Tenderness, swelling, or minor bleeding of the gums may occur. Talk to your dentist if this happens. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly may reduce the risk of side effects. Visit your dentist on a regular basis. Tell your dentist about any medications you are taking.
Talk to your care team if you wish to become pregnant or think you might be pregnant. This medication can cause serious birth defects.
Talk to your care team about your risk of skin cancer. You may be more at risk for skin cancer if you take this medication.
Some products may contain alcohol. Ask your pharmacist or care team if this medication contains alcohol. Be sure to tell all care teams you are taking this medication. Certain medications, such as metronidazole and disulfiram, can cause an unpleasant reaction when taken with alcohol. The reaction includes flushing, headache, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and increased thirst. The reaction can last from 30 minutes to several hours.
What are the most serious risks of this medication?
If you get this medicine for an organ transplant, it should be started in the hospital, a clinic, or in a healthcare treatment setting.
This medicine should only be given by a healthcare provider who is trained to treat your illness. You will get tests to make sure the right amount of medicine is in your blood. Your healthcare provider will monitor you closely to make sure this medicine is working right.
This medicine will make your immune system weak. A weak immune system puts you at risk of serious infections and of cancer. Your healthcare provider will monitor you closely.