Sandimmune (Cyclosporine) for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Overview
Sandimmune is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help prevent organ rejection in people who have received kidney, liver, and heart transplants. Sandimmune is sometimes prescribed off-label to treat rheumatoid arthritis when other medicines are not working. Sandimmune is also referred to by its drug name, cyclosporine.

Sandimmune is an immunosuppressant, or in other words, a drug that suppresses the immune system. Sandimmune is also considered a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). Sandimmune is believed to work by inhibiting T cells, a type of white blood cell involved in autoimmune attacks.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Sandimmune is taken orally as a capsule or solution. Sandimmune should be taken exactly as prescribed by a physician.

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking Sandimmune.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Sandimmune lists common side effects including high blood pressure, kidney dysfunction, tremors, excessive hair growth, and gum tissue overgrowth.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Sandimmune include kidney damage, liver damage, blot clots, high blood potassium levels, increased risk of lymphoma and other cancers, nerve damage, and severe allergic reactions.

You may be more likely to contract infections, including serious and life-threatening infections, due to decreased immune system function while taking Sandimmune. Contact your doctor if you develop signs of infection such as fever, cough, trouble breathing, white patches in the mouth, or unusual vaginal discharge.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf) — American College of Rheumatology
https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Car...

Sandimmune — Drugs.com
https://www.drugs.com/mtm/sandimmune.html