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Indication & Dosage |
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| Intravenous |
| ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION |
| Adult:
Initially: 5-6 mg/kg/day as a single dose, infuse dose over 2-6 hr. Switch to an oral dosage form as soon as possible. |
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| Oral |
| NEPHROTIC SYNDROME |
| Child:
6 mg/kg daily, given in 2 divided doses. |
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| Intravenous |
| PREVENTION OF GRAFT REJECTION IN BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION |
| Adult:
Intially, 3-5 mg/kg/day starting on the day before transplantation and continue for up to 2 wk or until oral therapy can be initiated at a maintenance of 12.5 mg/kg/day. Continue maintenance dose for at least 3-6 mth. |
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| Oral |
| NEPHROTIC SYNDROME |
| Adult:
5 mg/kg daily, given in 2 divided doses. |
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| Oral |
| RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS |
| Adult:
2.5 mg/kg/day, in 2 divided doses. Treatment should continue for 6-8 wk. If response is insufficient, may increase dose gradually. Max: 4 mg/kg/day. |
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| Oral |
| SEVERE ATOPIC DERMATITIS |
| Adult:
Initially, 2.5 mg/kg/day, in 2 divided doses. Reduce to lowest effective dose once remission is achieved. Stop treatment if there is no sufficient improvement to max dose within 6 wk. Max: 5 mg/kg/day. |
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| Oral |
| ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION |
| Adult:
Initially, 10-15 mg/kg/day, starting 4-12 hr before procedure and continued for 1-2 wk; usual maintenance: 2-6 mg/kg/day. Lower doses may be used when combined with other immunosuppressants. |
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| Oral |
| PSORIASIS |
| Adult:
Initially, 2.5 mg/kg/day, in 2 divided doses. Reduce to lowest effective dose once remission is achieved. Stop treatment if there is no sufficient improvement to max dose within 6 wk. Max: 5 mg/kg/day. |
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| Administration |
May be taken with or without food. (Take consistently w/ regard to time of day & relation to meals. Avoid grapefruit juice.) |
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| Precautions |
Renal and hepatic impairment; hyperuricaemia; anaphylaxis; history of allergic reactions; pregnancy; monitor BP, serum electrolytes, renal and hepatic function. |
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Potentially Life-threatening
Adverse Drug Reactions |
Hypertension; hepatoxicity; tremor; paraesthesia, hypertrichosis, facial oedema, acne; gingival hypertrophy; hyperkalaemia, fluid retention; increased susceptibility to infections; GI symptoms. |
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| Adverse Drug Reactions |
Nephrotoxicity; convulsions. |
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| Interactions |
Increased ciclosporin level by diltiazem, doxycycline, erythromycin, ketoconazole, methylprednisolone (high doses), nicardipine, verapamil, oral contraceptives. Drugs which reduce ciclosporin level are carbamazepine, isoniazid, phenobarbitone, phenytoin and rifampicin. Increased risk of convulsion when used concurrently with high-dose methylprednisolone. |
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