Neoral (Cyclosporine)

Take this medicine by mouth with a full glass of water. Do not take with grapefruit juice. Swallow the capsules whole. Do not chew or break the capsule. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Take the capsules at the same time each day and at the same time in relation to meals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Do not stop taking except on your doctor's advice.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 1 year for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Patients over 65 years old may have a stronger reaction and need a smaller dose.

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
-allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
-changes in vision
-high blood pressure
-increased urge to urinate or frequent urination
-numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
-seizures
-severe stomach pain
-vomiting
-yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
-bleeding or tender gums, overgrowth of gum tissue
-diarrhea
-excessive hair growth on the face or body
-nausea
-tremors

Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. You will have regular blood checks. Do not change the brand of medicine unless directed by your doctor or health care professional.

If you get a cold or other infection while receiving this medicine, call your doctor or health care professional. Do not treat yourself. The medicine may decrease your body's ability to fight infections.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

This medicine can make you more sensitive to the sun. Keep out of the sun. If you cannot avoid being in the sun, wear protective clothing and use sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or tanning beds/booths.

The medicine can cause unusual growth of gum tissue and can make your gums bleed. Practice good oral hygiene, and be careful when brushing and flossing your teeth. See your dentist regularly.

Some products may contain alcohol. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider if this medicine contains alcohol. Be sure to tell all healthcare providers you are taking this medicine. Certain medicines, like 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.

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
-bosentan
-cidofovir
-cisapride
-mibefradil
-ranolazine
-red yeast rice, monascus purpureus
-St. John's wort
-tacrolimus

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
-acyclovir
-allopurinol
-amiloride
-amiodarone
-bromocriptine
-carbamazepine
-certain antibiotics
-cimetidine
-colchicine
-danazol
-digoxin
-female hormones, including contraceptive or birth control pills
-imatinib
-medicines for fungal infections like amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, terbinafine, and ketoconazole
-medicines for blood pressure like diltiazem, nicardipine, verapamil, enalapril, ramipril, and losartan
-medicines for cholesterol like lovastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin, and fenofibrate
-medicines for HIV infection like indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir
-medicines that suppress the immune system
-melphalan
-methotrexate
-metoclopramide
-NSAIDs, medicines for pain and inflammation, like ibuprofen or naproxen
-octreotide
-orlistat
-oxcarbazepine
-phenobarbital
-phenytoin
-ranitidine
-sirolimus
-spironolactone
-steroid medicines like prednisone or cortisone
-sulfinpyrazone
-ticlopidine
-triamterene
-vaccines
-voriconazole