| What is Neoral?
|
|
Neoral is given after organ transplant surgery to help prevent rejection of organs
by holding down the body's immune system. Neoral is also prescribed in
severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. |
| |
|
|
| |
| Are there any side effects associated with Neoral?
|
|
Neoral side effects may include high blood pressure, hirsutism, kidney damage, excessive growth of the gums, and tremor.
If the side effects continue or are bothersome, check with
your doctor. Other common Neoral side effects may include abdominal discomfort, acne, breathing difficulty, convulsions, coughing, cramps, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, flushing, headache, liver damage, lymph system tumor, muscle, bone, or joint pain, nasal inflammation, nausea, numbness or tingling, sinus inflammation, vomiting,
and wheezing. Less common Neoral side effects may include
abdominal distention, allergic reactions, anemia, appetite loss or increase, bleeding gums, blood disorders, brittle fingernails, confusion, conjunctivitis (pinkeye), dizziness, fever, fluid retention, frequent urination, hearing loss, hiccups, high blood sugar, indigestion, infection, insomnia, nervousness, peptic ulcer, rash and other skin disorders, ringing in the ears, stomach inflammation,
and vertigo. Rare Neoral side effects may include anxiety, blood in the urine, breast development in males, chest pain, constipation, depression, hair breaking, heart attack, itching, joint pain, lymph disorders, mouth sores, night sweats, sluggishness, stomach and upper intestinal bleeding, swallowing difficulty, tingling, visual disturbance, weakness,
and weight loss. |
| |
| How is Neoral taken?
|
|
Follow the directions for taking Neoral provided by your doctor. Take the Neoral
capsule or oral liquid at the same time every day. You may take the medication either with a meal or between meals, but be consistent. To make
Neoral oral liquid more palatable, you may mix it with room-temperature milk, chocolate milk, or orange juice. Try to use the same beverage as often as possible. Neoral oral solution may be mixed with room-temperature orange or apple juice. It does not taste good in milk. Use a container made of glass, not plastic. Never let the mixture stand; drink it as soon as you prepare it. To make sure you get your full dose, rinse the glass with a little more liquid and drink that too. You should maintain good dental hygiene and see your dentist frequently for cleaning to prevent tenderness, bleeding, and gum enlargement. After you use the dosage syringe to transfer the oral solution to a glass, dry the outside of the syringe with a clean towel and put it away. Do not rinse or wash it. If you do have to clean it, make sure it is thoroughly dry before you use it again. Neoral should start to work on rheumatoid arthritis in 4 to 8 weeks, and on psoriasis in 2 weeks. Psoriasis is usually controlled within 12 to 16
weeks. You should not take the drug for more than a year. If you miss a
dose and fewer than 12 hours have passed, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule.
Do not take two doses at once. |
| |
| Are there any effects of taking Neoral with other medications?
|
|
Some medicines may interact with Neoral. Inform your doctor of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking.
Avoid getting immunizations while you are taking Neoral. The drug may make vaccinations less effective or increase your risk of contracting an illness from a live vaccine. If taking Neoral for psoriasis, remember to avoid other psoriasis treatments. Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking this drug. Also avoid the antidepressant herb St. John's Wort. This over-the-counter herbal remedy reduces the effect of
Neoral and can lead to organ rejection. It is especially important to check
with your doctor before combining Neoral with allopurinol, amiodarone,
amphotericin B, bromocriptine, calcium-blocking heart and blood pressure medications,
carbamazepine, cimetidine, clarithromycin, colchicine, danazol, diclofenac,
digoxin, erythromycin, fluconazole, gentamicin, indinavir, itraconazole,
ketoconazole, lovastatin, melphalan, methotrexate, methylprednisolone,
metoclopramide, nafcillin, nelfinavir, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
octreotide, orlistat, phenobarbital, phenytoin, potassium-sparing diuretics,
prednisolone, quinupristin, ranitidine, rifampin, ritonavir, saquinavir,
ticlopidine, tacrolimus, tobramycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, or
vancomycin. |
| |
| How should I store Neoral?
|
|
Store Neoral at room temperature in a tightly closed container, away from heat and light. |
| |
|
Return to health network. |
|
|
