Cyclosporine is a pill given to patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. Initially discovered in 1976, and used as an immune-suppressing drug for organ transplant patients, cyclosporine was observed to also have a beneficial effect on a series of patients who had psoriasis but who were taking the drug for an unrelated disease.
How Does Cyclosporine Work?
Cyclosporine is prescribed for the treatment of severe, resistant, plaque-type psoriasis. Many patients will use cyclosporine after they have failed topical therapies (creams and ointments), ultraviolet therapy (phototherapy), or other oral medications (methotrexate, retinoids). Cyclosporine works by inhibiting the activation of the T-lymphocyte, which is one of the key immune cells responsible for the development of psoriasis. It is highly effective in treating psoriasis, and works rapidly.
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| Cyclosporine For Psoriasis |
Patients Who May Benefit from Cyclosporine
- those with moderate to severe psoriasis who have failed to respond to phototherapy, or other systemic or biologic therapies
- those needing treatment for a psoriasis flare-up
- those who cannot tolerate or have contraindications to other systemic treatments
The medication is generally taken by mouth once daily and the dosage is based on your weight. The starting dose can begin at 2.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day, and can be increased to 5 milligrams/kilogram/day. For example, for a patient weighing 132 pounds (60 kilograms), a starting dose could be 150 milligrams per day. The medication is taken daily and it is important not to miss any doses, If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible.
Before taking cyclosporine, make sure you read the prescription label carefully. Also be sure to take the exact amount of medicine prescribed by your doctor. Your dose depends on several factors, including the type of psoriasis you have. Your doctor may change your prescribed dose, so it is important to check the label every time you fill your prescription.
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| Cyclosporine For Psoriasis |
Cyclosporine works quite quickly to improve psoriasis compared to methotrexate and retinoids. You could begin to experience improvement in the first few weeks of treatment and, within the first four to eight weeks, the clearing of large areas of psoriasis is not uncommon. However, once treatment with cyclosporine is discontinued, psoriasis will, in all likelihood, recur over several weeks to months. For this reason, it is important that the medication not be stopped abruptly as psoriasis can flare up quickly. Before you stop taking this medication, discuss this step with your doctor as she or he will want to either taper the medication by gradually decreasing the dosage or substitute another treatment. It is also important to understand that cyclosporine is usually discontinued after a year as it can cause kidney damage. To find out more, you can check out Cyclosporine For Psoriasis.