NEORAL (CYCLOSPORINE)

Neoral Description

If you are scheduled to undergo a kidney, liver, or heart transplant, your doctor may recommend a prescription to purchase Neoral or generic Cyclosporine that can be taken with other drugs to help prevent the risk of organ rejection. The generic alternative is not manufactured by the company that makes the brand product.

The human body is amazing and even though everyone’s organs perform the same job and they look the same, your body will know that the organ you had transplanted is not your own. Your immune system will go into attack mode and try desperately to reject this foreign intruder. Immunosuppressant drugs such as Neoral may need to be taken long-term in order to increase the chances of a successful transplant.

Inhibit the Helper T-Cells to Help Prevent Organ Rejection

Neoral inhibits the action of T-cells (lymphocytes) during their cell cycle and restrains the production and release of lymphokines that are protein mediators produced by T-cells. There are two kinds of T-cells. One type is the killer T-cells that are able to see inside the body’s own cells, allowing them to spot and destroy any cells that are infected or have become cancerous. The second type is the helper T-cells that are able to coordinate an immune response when danger is detected. It is the helper T-cells that need to be suppressed so they cannot attack the transplanted organ.

Conditions Treated by Neoral

Neoral is also prescribed to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis after other treatments have failed to produce significant improvements. Both of these conditions are autoimmune diseases which cause your immune system to attack healthy cells in your own body in error.

RA doesn’t just affect your joints and cause painful, swollen knees or fingers. It can also cause skin nodules, a rash, brittle bones, and inflammation of the whites of your eyes. With psoriasis, your immune system causes a malfunction in the cycle of new skin cell production and the old cells dying and shedding. Instead, new skin cells are being made faster than the old cells are sloughing off, which causes the cells to build-up and form the itchy, red patches of flaky skin .

Before Neoral is Prescribed

Your doctor can explain any risks associated with taking Neoral if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast feeding. To determine if Neoral is right for your situation, tell your doctor about other medical conditions or allergies you have and list any OTC and Rx drugs you take, including herbal remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements.

Neoral Precautions

Taking medications that suppresses your immune system can leave you more susceptible to other infections or cancer, so follow your doctor’s instructions and report any signs of infection or other symptoms that may indicate something else is going on. Do not have any vaccinations while taking Neoral. You should not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit as this can intensify the effects of Neoral. Until you know how Neoral will affect you, do not drive or perform any tasks considered unsafe.

Possible Side Effects of Neoral

• Nausea
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Runny nose