Cyclosporine for rheumatoid arthritis

Examples

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Brand Name	Generic Name
Sandimmune	cyclosporine

Cyclosporine is given orally (by mouth).

How It Works

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Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressive medicine, which means that it decreases the action of your body's immune system. By interrupting the immune process, cyclosporine reduces inflammation and slows damage to your joints. Cyclosporine is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), which means that it slows the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. DMARDs are also called slow-acting antirheumatic drugs (SAARDs).

Why It Is Used

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Cyclosporine is sometimes used for severe rheumatoid arthritis that has not responded to most other DMARD treatment.

How Well It Works

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Cyclosporine can be effective for severe rheumatoid arthritis for short periods of time. Its use is limited because of its toxicity and because it may interact with other medicines you are taking.¹

Side Effects

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Because cyclosporine decreases the activity of your body's natural immune system, fever and chills are considered serious side effects that should be reported to your health professional immediately.

Side effects of cyclosporine include:

• Reduced kidney function.
• Increased blood sugar levels (diabetes).
• Increased cholesterol levels.
• Sleep problems.
• Headache, tremor, or tingling of the fingers and feet.
• High blood pressure.
• Increased hair growth.

Rare side effects include:

• Depression.
• Allergic reaction.
• Kidney failure.
• Liver inflammation.
• Low blood counts.
• Seizures.

While you are taking cyclosporine, your blood pressure and kidney function should be checked regularly.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about drinking grapefruit juice while you are taking cyclosporine. Grapefruit juice can increase the level of this medicine in your blood. Having too much medicine in your blood increases your chances of having serious side effects.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

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In general, cyclosporine is more toxic than other DMARDs, such as methotrexate, and should be used only under the supervision of a specialist in rheumatoid disease (rheumatologist) who is completely familiar with its side effects.

Cyclosporine is most often used to prevent the body from rejecting a newly transplanted organ.

Talk to your health professional before taking cyclosporine if you are breast-feeding, pregnant, or thinking about becoming pregnant.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

References

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Citations

1. Kwoh CK, et al. (2002). Guidelines for the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis and Rheumatism, 46(2): 328–346.

Credits

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Author	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology
Last Updated	August 18, 2008