Ciclosporin

Common indications

• Severe acute ulcerative colitis refractory to corticosteroid treatment
• Severe active rheumatoid arthritis (administered on expert advice)
• Severe active rheumatoid arthritis [in combination with low-dose methotrexate, when methotrexate monotherapy has been ineffective] (administered on expert advice)
• Short-term treatment of severe atopic dermatitis where conventional therapy ineffective or inappropriate (administered on expert advice 
• Short-term treatment of very severe atopic dermatitis where conventional therapy ineffective or inappropriate (administered on expert advice)
• Severe psoriasis where conventional therapy ineffective or inappropriate (administered on expert advice)
• Organ transplantation (used alone) 
• Bone-marrow transplantation, Prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease
• Nephrotic syndrome

 

Mechanisms of action

• Ciclosporin inhibits production and release of lymphokines, thereby suppressing cell-mediated immune response.

 

Important adverse effects

 

Warnings

 

Important interactions

 

Monitoring

• Trough levels immediately before dose