cyclosporin
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Sandimmun.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
The information in this leaflet was last updated on the date listed on the final page. More recent information on the medicine may be available.
You should ensure that you speak to your pharmacist or doctor to obtain the most up to date information on the medicine. You can also download the most up to date leaflet from www.novartis.com.au.
Those updates may contain important information about the medicine and its use of which you should be aware.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Sandimmun against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What Sandimmun is used for
Sandimmun is used for people who have had a kidney, heart or liver transplant, to prevent the body from rejecting the new organ. It does this by blocking the development of special cells which would normally attack the transplanted tissue.
Sandimmun is also used to treat several other conditions which are thought to be caused by a problem with the immune system:
a kidney disease, called nephrotic syndrome
severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis (a disease, affecting the joints with pain and swelling)
severe cases of :
psoriasis (a skin disease with thickened patches of red skin, often with silvery scales)
atopic dermatitis (skin allergies)
Sandimmun contains the active ingredient, cyclosporin. It belongs to a group of medicines called immuno-suppressive agents. These medicines help to control your body's immune system.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
Sandimmun is only available with a doctor's prescription. It is not addictive.
Before you are given Sandimmun
When you must not have it
You must not have Sandimmun if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any of the following:
cyclosporin, the active ingredient in Sandimmun
Cremophor® EL, a castor oil derivative in Sandimmun concentrate (which may cause severe allergic reactions)
alcohol
any of the other ingredients of Sandimmun listed at the end of this leaflet
If you think you may be allergic to Sandimmun, ask your doctor for advice.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include hives or an itchy skin rash, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, faintness, wheezing or troubled breathing.
Do not have Sandimmun after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
In that case, return it to your pharmacist.
Do not give Sandimmun to a child under 16 years of age to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis or atopic dermatitis.
There is not enough information to recommend its use for these diseases in children under 16 years of age. However, Sandimmun can be used in children younger than 16 who have had an organ transplant or who have nephrotic syndrome.
Before you are given it
If you have been prescribed Sandimmun for nephrotic syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis or atopic dermatitis, tell your doctor if you also have any of these health problems/medical conditions:
high blood pressure that is not controlled
any uncontrolled infection
a poorly functioning immune system
problems with your kidneys or liver
severe heart, lung or blood vessel disease
any type of cancer, including skin cancer
Your doctor may not want you to have Sandimmun or may want to take special precautions if you have any of these conditions.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Experience with Sandimmun in pregnancy is very limited. The use of immunosuppressant medicines, including cyclosporin, during pregnancy has been shown to increase the risk of problems in the mother and the unborn child. If it is necessary for you to take this medicine, your doctor will discuss with you the benefits and risks of taking it during pregnancy.
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
Breast-feeding is not recommended since cyclosporin, the active ingredient in Sandimmun, passes into breast milk and may affect your baby.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Many other medicines may be affected by Sandimmun or they may affect how well Sandimmun works. This includes:
St John's wort, an ingredient in many medicines that you can buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, health food shop or supermarket
methotrexate, a medicine to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis, some types of cancers, and psoriasis
antibacterial amino glycoside-type agents (e.g. gentamicin, tobramycin)
antifungal agents containing amphotericin B
antibacterial agents containing ciprofloxacin
cytostatics containing melphalan
agents used to treat urinary tract infection containing trimethoprim
medicines used to treat pain (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g. diclofenac )
acid secretion inhibitors of the H2-receptor antagonist type (e.g. cimetidine, ranitidine), which are used to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach
other drugs which may affect the kidneys
antibacterial agents of the macrolide type (e.g. clarithromycin, azithromycin, erythromycin)
antifungal agents of the azole type (e.g. fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole) or terbinafine
oral contraceptives (Levonorgestrel and Norethisterone)
protease inhibitors, used to treat or prevent infections caused by viruses
imatinib, a medicine used to treat some cancers
anthracycline anticancer medicines, such as doxorubicin
certain blood pressure reducing agents of the calcium antagonist type (e.g. nifedipine, amlodipine, verapamil, diltiazem, amiodarone) or of the endothelin receptor antagonist type (e.g. bosentan, ambrisentan)
certain anticonvulsives, used to prevent fits or seizures (e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin)
digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart failure
colchicine, used to treat gout disease with painful, swollen joints
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) or fibric acid derivatives, which are used to treat high cholesterol
prednisolone, a corticosteroid used to treat inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, asthma, colitis
etoposide, used to treat cancer
repaglinide, used to treat Type II diabetes
aliskiren, used to treat high blood pressure
potassium sparing drugs or potassium containing drugs
triclopidine (a medicine that is used after a stroke)
octreotide, a medicine used to treat excess growth hormone, relieve the symptoms of certain types of cancer, or having surgery on the pancreas
orlistat, used to help with weight loss
danazol, a medicine used to treat menstrual disorders
allopurinol, a medicine used to treat gout (a disease with painful, swollen joints caused by uric acid crystals)
metoclopramide, a medicine used to prevent nausea and vomiting
cholic acid and derivatives, which are used to treat gallstones
tacrolimus, everolimus, or sirolimus, which are medicines that lower your immunity
dabigatran, an anticoagulant medicine used to prevent stroke
You may need to take different amounts of your medicines or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while having Sandimmun.
If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell him/her before you have Sandimmun.
Administering Sandimmun
You will be given Sandimmun by a slow infusion. Sandimmun will be diluted with normal saline or 5% glucose before use.
Your doctor will adjust your dose to one that is ideal for you. To do this you will need to have regular blood tests and visits to the hospital, particularly after transplantation. This will give you the chance to talk to your doctor about your treatment and mention any problems that you may have.
Sandimmun is different from Neoral®
There is another medicine called Neoral which also contains cyclosporin.
However, there are important differences between these two medicines.
Because of these differences, you must not change from Sandimmun to Neoral or from Neoral to Sandimmun unless it is under the strict supervision of your doctor.
Do not have Sandimmun and take Neoral at the same time.
How much to have
The dose of Sandimmun is worked out for each person. It will depend on how much you weigh, what condition is being treated, how well Sandimmun works for you, and whether you have any side effects from this medicine.
Your dose may be changed from time to time. Your doctor will work out the correct dose of Sandimmun for you.
How it will be given
Concentrate for intravenous infusion:
Sandimmun can be given by intravenous infusion (drip) for a short time after transplant surgery or in other cases where the medicine cannot be taken by mouth. The dose is given in hospital, usually over 2-6 hours.
How long treatment will last
This medicine will be given for as long as your doctor recommends.
The length of treatment will depend on what medical condition you have.
For transplant patients:
You will need to take one or more immunosuppressant medicines for as long as you have the transplanted organ.
For nephrotic syndrome:
You may be given Sandimmun for 3 months to start with. If it helps your condition, your doctor may decide to continue Sandimmun treatment for as long as it helps you and does not cause serious side effects.
For severe rheumatoid arthritis:
You will usually be given Sandimmun for 3 months to start with. It may take this long to know whether Sandimmun will help your condition. If Sandimmun is effective, your doctor may then lower the dose and you will continue treatment at the lowest dose that is suitable for you.
For severe psoriasis:
You will usually be given Sandimmun for up to 6 weeks to start with. If your condition improves, your doctor may want you to continue treatment at the lowest effective dose. You can only expect to benefit from this medicine while you continue to be given it.
For severe atopic dermatitis:
You will usually be given Sandimmun for up to 8 weeks to start with. Once your condition has improved, the dose may be slowly reduced, and in some cases, may even be stopped. Once treatment has stopped, your condition is likely to return, although this may take several weeks or months. Your doctor may then want you to start having Sandimmun again.
If you think that you have been given too much (Overdose)
Immediately tell your doctor or telephone the Poisons Information Centre (telephone number 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Sandimmun. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Keep the telephone numbers for these places handy.
While you are being given Sandimmun
Things you must do
Sandimmun must be given exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
You must be given this medicine exactly as prescribed so that it will work properly and to prevent unwanted side effects.
Make sure that you keep all of your doctor's appointments and have any tests done that are ordered by your doctor.
Your doctor may ask you to have tests from time to time to check how well your kidneys and liver are working. It may be necessary to measure the amount of cyclosporin, as well as the levels of other chemicals (eg. potassium) in your blood. Your blood pressure will also be checked regularly.
Avoid eating large amounts of foods that are high in potassium.
In some people having Sandimmun, the amount of potassium in the blood can increase (called hyperkalaemia). The amount of potassium in the blood can also be increased by eating certain foods. Your doctor can tell you which foods to avoid.
If you become pregnant while having Sandimmun, tell your doctor.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks of taking it while you are pregnant.
If you develop lumps anywhere on/in your body, or develop any moles, or you notice changes in existing moles, tell your doctor.
This may be an early sign of a cancer. Immunosuppressant medicines, including Sandimmun, may increase the risk of developing certain cancers, including skin cancer and lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system).
Limit your exposure to sunlight and UV light. If you go out in the sun, wear a hat, appropriate protective clothing and a sunscreen with a high protection factor.
This will help to prevent the development of skin cancer.
If you have psoriasis or atopic dermatitis, you must be especially careful about developing skin cancer. Visit your skin specialist regularly for check-ups.
Take special care of your teeth and gums.
If you experience any symptoms of infection (e.g.fever, sore throat), inform your doctor immediately. People taking immunosuppressant medicines are at a greater risk of getting infections.
Taking good care of your teeth and gums will help to prevent dental and mouth infections.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are being given Sandimmun.
Tell any other doctor, dentist or pharmacist who treats you that you are being given Sandimmun.
Things you must not do
Do not have any vaccinations without first checking with your doctor.
Some vaccines may be less effective or they may cause unwanted side effects while you are being given Sandimmun.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving, operating machinery or doing jobs that require you to be alert while you are being given Sandimmun until you know how it affects you.
This medicine can cause tiredness, lack of energy or confusion in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Sandimmun concentrate for infusion contains 34.4 % v/v alcohol (27.8 % w/v). A 100 mg dose of Sandimmun concentrate contains about half a gram of alcohol, equivalent to about 14 mL of beer or 6 mL of wine .
Alcohol may be harmful for those suffering from alcoholism, epilepsy, brain injury or liver disease as well as pregnant or breast-feeding women and children.
Like other medicines that dampen the immune system, cyclosporin may influence your body's ability to fight against infection and may cause tumours or other malignancies, particularly of the skin.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given Sandimmun, even if you do not think it is connected with the medicine.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects. Your doctor may be able to relieve some of the side effects of Sandimmun by lowering the dose.
If you are over 65 years old, you should be especially careful while being given this medicine. Report any side effects promptly to your doctor.
As people grow older, they are more likely to get side effects from medicines.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
tiredness, lack of energy
burning feeling in hands and feet, usually during the first week of treatment
excessive growth of body and facial hair
overgrown, thickened, swollen or bleeding gums
stomach upset, including nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, stomach ulcer
tremor (shaking)
headache, including migraine
sensitivity to light
weight loss or gain
feeling depressed (sad)
flushing of face, acne, darkening of skin
painful menstrual periods or lack of periods
increase in size of breasts in males and females
muscle cramps, tenderness or weakness
blocked or stuffy nose
pain of lower extremities
The above side effects are not usually serious.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
fever (temperature above 37°C)
constant "flu-like" symptoms such as chills, sore throat, aching joints, swollen glands, or any other signs of infection
unusual bleeding or bruising
signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other part of the body; shortness of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing
new lumps or moles, or changes to existing moles, anywhere on the body
swelling of the eyelids, hands or feet due to excess fluid
a change in the amount of urine passed or in the number of times you urinate, pain on urinating; dark, bloody or smelly urine
yellowing of the skin and/or eyes (jaundice) often accompanied by generally feeling unwell (for example, tiredness, lack of energy, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, pain in the abdomen)
severe pain or tenderness in the stomach or abdomen
vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds; black sticky bowel motions or bloody diarrhoea
unusual tiredness or weakness, which may be accompanied by dizziness, spots before the eyes, shortness of breath and pale skin
numbness or "pins and needles" in the hands and feet
a disturbance in brain function which may cause a variety of symptoms, including personality changes, confusion, disorientation, agitation, inability to sleep, decreased responsiveness, weakness and loss of coordination in arms and legs with or without abnormal speech or eye movements, seizures (fits), clumsiness, memory loss, difficulty speaking or understanding what others say, visual hallucinations (seeing things that are not there) or other problems with vision, coma, paralysis of part or all of the body, stiff neck
buzzing or ringing in the ears, difficulty hearing
The above are serious side effects that need medical attention.
Some side effects may not give you any symptoms and can only be found when tests are done. Some of these side effects include:
changes in kidney or liver function, or liver injury (with or without yellow eyes or skin)
raised blood pressure
increase in the amount of potassium or cholesterol in the blood
decrease in the amount of magnesium in the blood
increase in the amount of uric acid in the blood, which can lead to gout
increase in blood sugar
low white blood cell count
low levels of red blood cells
low levels of platelets in the blood
Your doctor will make sure that tests are done regularly to watch for these side effects.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
If you notice any other side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.
Other side effects not listed here may happen in some people.
After using Sandimmun
Storage
Sandimmun is usually stored in the doctor's surgery or clinic, or at the pharmacy. However, if you need to store Sandimmun:
Keep the medicine where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep Sandimmun in the original pack until it is time for it to be given.
Disposal
If you no longer need Sandimmun or it has passed its expiry date, return any unused medicine to your pharmacist.
Product description
What it looks like
Sandimmun concentrate for intravenous infusion is a clear, brown-yellow oily liquid in 1 mL or 5 mL glass ampoules; packs of 10.
Ingredients
Sandimmun concentrate for intravenous infusion contains:
50 mg cyclosporin per mL of infusion solution.
It also contains:
Macrogolglycerol ricinoleate/polyoxyethylated castor oil (Cremophor® EL)
ethanol (alcohol)
