Ciclosporine

[Poobear69]

I was speaking to someone in clinic that is recently post transplant and he TD me that his immune suppressant was Ciclosporine. I didn't realise that this medication es still prescribed as it's one old the much older drugs? Just wondered why as I didn't think to ask him?

[Isabelle2]

Perhaps he doesn’t get on with others. I was changed from cellcept to his earlier ‘little brother’ myfortic as I was getting terrible pains. The pains are still the same but as I get on with myfortic the specialist has decided to keep me on it. It is quite a bit less expensive!

Izzy

[AndyEssex]

Hello,

I'm 2 years post transplant and also taking Ciclosporin. My kidneys failed after my liver gave up and I was switched from Tacrolimus to Ciclosporin to lessen the stress on them.

It does seem quite unusual to be prescribed Ciclosporin these days. I asked my liver surgeon why, and he was a little baffled until I reminded him that my kidneys failed and didn't start working again until 6 weeks post transplant.

The side effects I get with Ciclosporin are tinnitus, brain fog and an overall lethargic feeling every day. A very common side effect is also gum overgrowth and I have a little bit of that but it's not unsightly on me.

I started on 400mg of Ciclosporin when I was still in the Royal Free. I have been working with my consultant to reduce the dosage by 25mg every now and then and I'm now only taking 100mg a day which is great. I'll push to take 75mg per day based on my next blood tests. The lower the dosage to achieve immune suppression, the lesser the side effects.