The 5 main things I learnt about Cyclosporine in 2016

My experiences with Cyclosporin 2016

At the end of 2015 I reached my lowest point with my battle with MG thus far. I agreed to my Neurologists recommendation that I start a new immunueosupressent, Cyclosporin.

In South Africa, it is dispensed through Novartis, under the trade name Neural. It is recommended for MG warriors that have severe and resistant MG. 1 

Here are the five most important facts I have learned over the regarding Cyclosporin over the last year. 

1) It takes time to start working

Once I started Cyclosporin, I did not feel an immediate change. After approximately two months I started to feel some positive spin-offs. I was no longer struggling to swallow and I was strong enough to walk short distances with a cane. After 4 months I felt strong enough start driving short distances and walking independently. Every week since, I could feel my strength improving. I still have flares and bad days, but with pacing, lifestyle changes and rest, Cyclosporin has changed my life, little by little. 

2) Keep your kidney function in check 2 

Regular blood tests are required to ensure good kidney function.  Cyclosporin does not normally cause permanent, generally kidney damage. Due to vasoconstriction (restriction of blood flow), kidney function can decrease. However, no relevant changes in tubular function occur. Your doctor will measure your kidney function before you start and periodically throughout your treatment.  

3) Interactions due to everyday items in your kitchen 

Avoid Grapefruit in any form!3 
A drug interaction exists between cyclosporine and grapefruit juice. This is noted to  likely take place at the level of intestinal drug absorption.
Grapefruit juice increases the bioavailability of Cyclosporin, therefore it increases the rate at which it is absorbed. When it is absorbed too quickly it is not as effective as it needs to be. 

Avoid St. Johns Wort 
This over the counter drug used to help reduces anxiety, however, it has shown to decrease Cyclosporin  levels. 


4) How to take it. 4 

Prepare yourself to swallow a HUGE tablet. 
My husband asked at one stage, 'Are you sure that those aren't suppositories?'. Cyclosporin is by far the biggest tablet I have had to swallow. It is not recommended to be crushed. It needs to be taken at the same time daily as to maintain a consistent level in your blood stream. 
Keep them stored in their packaging, which to me looks like a metal air pocket. I use a pair of scissors or helpful husband to open them as I struggle to press them out with my thumb. 

5) Future plans 

You can fall pregnant, but not breastfeed 5 
Cyclosporine is listed as a category C medication, therefore risk cannot be ruled out. It can cause premature birth and low birth weight. Cyclosporin passes into breast milk and therefore breastfeeding is not recommended.

References
1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15740576
2)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1503631
3)http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/j.1875-9114.1998.tb03822.x/abstract
4)http://www.medicinenet.com/cyclosporine-oral_capsule/page3.htm
5)www.drugs.com/pregnancy/cyclosporine.html

Comments

  1. Unknown25 November 2016 at 18:40

    Wow, those pills are huge! I would have a hard time swallowing them I think.

    ReplyDelete
  2. creative peptides25 December 2018 at 14:54

    Cyclosporin A is a cyclic undecapeptide from an extract of soil fungi. It is a powerful immunosupressant with a specific action on T-lymphocytes. It can bind to the cyclophilin and then inhibits calcineurin. Thus, it is widely used in organ transplantation to prevent rejection. Cyclosporin A

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Exercise for Myasthenia Gravis: a necessity not a luxury

Image
Exercise: a necessity not a luxury. If I saw this post a year ago, I would never have clicked on it. I was always tired and felt like a barely made it through the day. When people traditionally talk about exercise routines words like 'sweat' 'pushing the limits' 'weight loss' 'body building' jump to mind. While most chronic Warriors would love to engage in this type of exercise, it is unrealistic for the majority of us. A regular exercise routine has helped me to improve my health, therefore I wanted to share my insight with you.  Suffering from Myasthenia Gravis, exercise can sometimes be seen as contradictory. In short, the strain on our voluntary muscles makes them weaker. However, we still need our muscles to move and engage in life or we risk becoming complete couch potatoes. Therefore a guided balance is needed. Literature notes the following benefits of exercise therapy for chronic diseases:   1 2 3   -          Impr
Read more

All you need to know about shelf-life and storage of Mestinon

Image
Mestinon: Storage and Shelf-life http://www.meda.co.za/ Mestinon (pyridostigmine)  is a lifeline for Myasthenia Gravis Warriors such as myself. I rely on it to keep my muscles functioning and take it every 4 hours. Without it, I can feel my eyes drooping and my muscles slowly turning to mush. When we had a postal strike in South Africa, I ran out of Mestinon. ‘Perhaps in three weeks’ I would receive my medication was their verdict. I had to go from pharmacy to pharmacy trying to source Mestinon at my own cost. After this, I vowed to always have some spare. So on a good day, I would stretch out my doses. I now have about a month’s supply extra. My concern was:  What is the shelf life of Mestinon and can I take it if it says it’s expired. Firstly Storage of Mestinon is essential as to maintain the drug's potency. -          Keep your tablets in the bottle until it is time to take them. I pack my medication out weekly in a medication dispenser. This helps me save
Read more

Therapeutic Journaling

Image
Therapeutic Journaling Need a confidential, non-judge mental support system? Don't have a friend to call or a shoulder to cry on? Feel like you need an emotional detox? Why not try journaling? When I was first introduced to therapeutic journaling I was a sceptic. I had all the what ifs to back me up. What if someone finds it and reads it? What if I'm not disciplined enough to do it daily? What if I just don't have anything to write about? What if it's only negative? As a therapist I want to be honest with my clients. I will not suggest anything unless I see the benefit in it. Therefore, I needed to experience journaling for myself. I must admit, I was surprised by my experience and wanted to share my findings.   1)    Set the scene Before starting, make sure your sensory and physical needs are taken care of. I would never be able to focus in front of a TV or with a full bladder. I found a quiet environment suited me best. Whether it was in
Read more