Before beginning treatment with cyclosporine, your doctor will ask you several questions, examine you, and then discuss the possible treatments and their side effects. If you and your doctor decide cyclosporine is a good choice for you, some tests will be performed, including a careful skin and physical examination, a test of your kidney function, and a complete blood cell count. In addition, your blood pressure will be measured prior to starting the medication and regularly thereafter.
Who Should Not Take Cyclosporine?
Cyclosporine might not be a good choice for you if you have kidneys that are not functioning normally, if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, or if you have an allergy to the drug.
 |
| Psoriasis Cyclosporine Side Effects |
Reasons a Psoriasis Patient Should Not Take Cyclosporine
- decrease kidney function
- uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension)
- allergy to cyclosporine
- receiving live vaccinations
- taking medications that interact with cyclosporine
- active infection
- immunodeficiency (HIV/AIDS or other)
- receiving other immunosuppressive agents
- pregnant or nursing
- unable to attend regular doctor visits or have blood tests taken to monitor for side effects
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- antibiotics (erythromycin [Eryc], clarithromycin [Biaxin], azithromycin [Zithromax], doxycycline [Vibra-Tabs])
- trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (Septra)
- immunosuppressive drugs (tacrolimus [Prograf], melphalan [Alkeran])
- oral contraceptives
- warfarin
- St. John's wort
- grapefruit, grapefruit juice
Side Effects
Cyclosporine suppresses the immune system (immunosuppressant), and there are possible side effects that are mainly related to immunosuppression. In addition, kidney toxicity, high blood pressure, and potential interaction with other drugs are other risks. Cyclosporine's risks and benefits should be carefully considered before starting the treatment. Side effects are usually reversible if treatment with cyclosporine is stopped.
Common Side Effects of Cyclosporine
- abnormal functioning of the kidney
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- tremor
- headache
- numbness, tingling
- excessive growth of hair (hypertrichosis)
- swelling of the gums in the mouth
- nausea, abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- muscle pain
- joint pain
- increased blood potassium levels
- increased blood plasma levels of cholesterol, fats
- increased risk of cancer
It is not clear if cyclosporine is entirely responsible for the increased risk of lymphoma as these other drugs could also play a role. In addition, certain studies have shown that patients with psoriasis may have an increased risk of lymphoma in general.
An increased risk of skin cancers has also been reported in patients taking cyclosporine, many of whom might have received phototherapy prior to using cyclosporine, thereby increasing the risk of skin cancer. The most common types of skin cancers in patients receiving cyclosporine therapy are squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. Fortunately, both these cancers are highly curable, particularly when detected early. Consequently, if you notice a changing area on your skin or an area that is not healing, report it to your doctor immediately so that the lesion can be checked and, if necessary, removed. Although there are reasons why a patient taking cyclosporines might develop lymphoma, it is important to recognize that medications that affect the immune system might play a role in the development of such cancers.
 |
| Psoriasis Cyclosporine Side Effects |
What Tests or Follow-ups Are Required While on Cyclosporine?
Your blood pressure will be measured prior to starting cyclosporine, then regularly during the initial and subsequent months of therapy. Blood pressure will be carefully monitored because high blood pressure is one of the side effects of this medication. Blood tests measuring how your kidneys are working will also be performed. This test works by measuring your creatinine, a waste product found in urine. A 25 percent increase from normal blood levels of creatinine can indicate mild kidney damage.
This is generally reversible when the dosage is decreased or cyclosporine therapy is discontinued. In addition, other blood tests, such as cholesterol and potassium, might be tested at the same time as the kidney tests are taken. Before you start on any other medications, consult your doctor. To find out more, you can check out Psoriasis Cyclosporine Side Effects.