Cyclosporin A

Cyclosporin A is not recommended for use during pregnancy or lactation. Immunosuppressant drug should not be given, where possible, to patients with acute infection, dosage reduction or withdrawal should be considered if infection develops, until the infection has been controlled. Blood counts and measurement of hemoglobin concentration should be carried out routinely; it helps to predict the onset of bone marrow depression. It must be handled with great care and avoid contact with skin and eyes and should not be inhaled. Cyclosporine can cause infection and possibly lymphoma, and is toxic to the kidneys. The use of this drug along with other drugs that are toxic to the kidneys must be closely monitored. It should be ingested and swallowed in its capsule without breaking the capsule. The liquid solution should only be mixed in a glass container. Pregnant or nursing women should not take this drug, and patients taking this drug will be more susceptible to infection. Therefore, crowds of people should be avoided, and no live vaccines should be adminstered to the patient without consulting the patient's doctor. Patients should inform their doctor of any hypersensitivities or drug allergies they have before taking this drug. (Cyclosporine in both liquid and capsule form has some castor oil components in it, which could cause an allergic reaction for some.) Some allergic reactions to the I. V. solution may be severe. This drug has not been specifically studied for use with the elderly.