Sandimmune

Special warnings about Sandimmune

When your immune system is suppressed by Sandimmune, you are at increased risk of infection and of certain malignancies, including skin cancer and lymph system cancer.

High-dose Sandimmune is toxic to the liver and kidneys and may cause serious kidney damage. Because this toxicity has symptoms similar to those of transplant rejection, you must be monitored closely. If your body is trying hard to reject a transplanted organ, your doctor will probably allow the rejection to occur rather than give you a very high dose of Sandimmune.

This drug can raise blood pressure, especially in older people. If high blood pressure develops while you are taking Neoral for transplant rejection, the doctor will prescribe blood pressure medication. If it develops while you are taking the drug for arthritis or psoriasis, the doctor may lower your dose.

Sandimmune and Neoral are not directly interchangeable. Your doctor may need to adjust the dosage if you switch.

Brain disorders have developed in patients taking this drug, sometimes leading to convulsions, loss of movement, vision problems, impaired consciousness, and psychiatric disturbances. The chance of convulsions is greater if you are taking high doses of steroid drugs, particularly methylprednisolone (Medrol). Brain-related disorders usually clear up once Sandimmune is discontinued.

Use a barrier method of contraception, such as diaphragms or condoms, during Sandimmune therapy. Do not use oral contraceptive pills without your doctor's approval.

Do not try to change dosage forms without consulting your doctor.

If you take Neoral for arthritis or psoriasis, the condition will eventually return when you stop taking the drug, generally within 1 or 2 months. Neoral treatments for psoriasis should be replaced with other types of therapy after 1 year.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Sandimmune

Avoid getting immunizations while you are taking Sandimmune. The drug may make vaccinations less effective or increase your risk of contracting an illness from a live vaccine.

If taking Neoral for psoriasis, remember to avoid other psoriasis treatments.