Side effects of cyclosporine

Cyclosporine

Cyclosporine is a medication which is used after organ transplantation. It is usually given after heart, liver of kidney transplant. Your immune system treats a new organ as a foreign body, and it tries to fight, which often leads to rejection of the transplanted organ. Cyclosporine lowers your immune system in order to prevent the rejection of the new organ. Cyclosporine can also be used in severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

Side Effects

Cyclosporine has a number of side effects. The side effects which are not serious are headache, ache in the entire body, tingling sensation, numbness, tremors, constipation, diarrhea, sickness, vomiting and excessive growth of hair. In case of more serious side effects you may experience urine retention, fatigue, dizziness, excessive thirst, changes in mood and behavior, shortness of breath and seizures. You may also have acne, pain behind your eyes, severe headache, pain or weakness in the muscles and irregular pulse. Side effects of Cyclosporine may resemble to symptoms of flu, such as sore throat, weakness, fever, chills and cough. Pain in the stomach, vomiting, paleness of the skin, itchiness, loss of appetite and jaundice are also some of the side effects of Cyclosporine. In rare cases, side effects such as blood in the stool and urine, pain in the chest, irregular pulse, redness in the face, burning sensation in the chest or abdomen, muscle cramps, unusual appearance of the moles or lumps on the skin, changes of the skin texture, vision impairment and gum disease may occur during the treatment with Cyclosporine. An allergic reaction to Cyclosporine may include swelling of the lips, tongue or face, itchiness and skin rash, and breathing difficulties.

Overdose

If you overdosed with Cyclosporine, you may feel nausea and pain in the stomach. You may also vomit and develop jaundice and urine retention. Another sign of Cyclosporine overdose includes loss of appetite.

Precautions

Cyclosporine is not recommended for the patients who have any type of cancer, extremely high blood pressure and kidney disease. You must inform your doctor whether you have already received any treatment for psoriasis or if you are taking any other medications, because the dose of Cyclosporine should be adjusted. Your doctor should also know if you are pregnant or you are breastfeeding because Cyclosporine may jeopardize the health of your baby. Since Cyclosporine affects your immune system, avoid people who are sick while you are taking this medication. You should also avoid excessive exposure to sunlight because your skin becomes more sensitive with Cyclosporine.