Myasthenia Gravis

Drugs contraindicated with cyclosporine

03/30/2001 09:19PM

Question:

I am on Cyclosporine and know that I should avoid some medications that might increase it`s toxicity. Where can I find an UP TO DATE list of drugs to avoid. Also, I am having trouble getting my blood pressure controlled. Are there some blood pressure medications that work better with cyclosporine than otthers? Thank you

Answer:

Below is the most up-to-date list I have. Given the ever increasing list of medications produced, I recommend you ask your doctor if a particular medication interacts with cyclosporine or contact your local library or college library to work with a professional librarian that can assist in more sophisticated web searches of online medical data bases. I am not aware of particular medications that are better to use with cyclosporine.
Drugs that MAY cause kidney damage when combined with cyclosporine Antibiotics Gentamycin, tobramycin, vancomycin, trimethoprim (bactrim and septra), ciprofloxin Antifungals Amphotericin Ketoconazole Antivirals Acyclovir Antiulcer Cimetidine (tagamet) Ranitidine (Zantac) Nonsteroidal Diclofene (Voltarin) Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin) Piroxicam (Feldene) Indomethacin (Indocin) Chemotherapy Mephalan (Alkeran) Eroposide (VePesid) Cardiac/blood pressure Captopril Acetazolamide (Diamox) Furosemide (Lasix) Diospramide (Norpace)
Drugs that MAY raise blood cyclosporine levels Antibiotics Erythromycin Antifungals Ketoconazole Difluconazole Iatroconazole Stomache/Ulcer Metoclopromide (Reglan) Cimetidine (Tagamet) Cardiac/blood pressure Diltiazem (Cardiazem, Dilacor) Nicardipine (Cardene) Verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan) Hormones Danazol Oral contraceptives Metylprednisolone Other Bromocriptine (Parlodel)
Drugs that MAY decrease blood cyclosporine levels Antibiotics Rifampin Iminpenem Nafcillin Trimethoprim Anticonvulsants Phenytoin (Dilantin) Phenobarbital Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Drugs that MAY accumulate in the blood when cyclosporine is taken Cardiac Digoxin
Other Reactions that MAY occur Cholesterol Lowering agents Lovastatin may cause muscle damage Cardiac/blood pressure Acupril, Altace, Capoten, Lotensin, Monopril, Prinivil, Vasotec, Zestril may increase blood potassium levels.

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Response by:

Henry J Kaminski, MD
Professor
Neurological Institute
University Hospitals
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University