Cyclosporin

[tamirra]

My daughter has been put on the above drug now, is it true she has to stay away from people with colds and illnesses as she will be hospitalized as she will no longer have an immunity? Thanks

[woofgang]

that depends on what it is for...best to ask the hospital what precautions she should be taking.

[thetruthhurts]

My friend is on this. Yes it does reduce you're immune system, but not to the extent that you would have to shut yourself away, just be aware of it and act accordingly ie. don't snog anyone with a cold.

[bednobs]

hi tamirra - she will have lowered immunity because that is what the drug is supposed to do to treat the illness, stop the immune reaction. However, it seems a bit extreme to say avoid people with colds or be hospitalized to me. I took cyclosporin for my RA and found it one of the best drugs - it made me feel a lot better. I didn't avoid anyone, although if someone ois coughing and sneezing it makes sense not to get in the way of their snot i suppose but the sam could be said for anyone :)
they will ask her to have regular blood tests, where they can look at her white cells (immunity) and adjust the dose if it goes too low

[thetruthhurts]

My friend takes it for Arthriris

[bednobs]

she should stay out of the sun though

[karenmac60]

My OH is on 2 different immunosuppresants (not cyclosporin, but they do the same thing). He has a lowered immune system and can sometimes come down with things more easily than others or take longer to shake a cold or whatever, but given that he has to take them for the forseeable future and he works with the public it would be impossible to stay away from other people's germs. Your daughter will just have to accept that she might be more prone to coughs and colds and they might linger a bit - although if she does get anything it might be worth a trip to the docs. OH has had to have IV antibiotics on a couple of occasions over the years.

[rowanwitch]

And as far as I remeber from my transplant nursing she mustn't have grapefruit...

[boxtops]

Interesting rowanwitch, grapefruit can be a naughty fruit - my statin tells me the same thing.

[Hopkirk]

Hooray, another excuse not to eat grapefruit.

[tamirra]

Thank you, they have started on her on a low dose to see how she goes, but if need be they will alter the dosage for her Behcet's. Thank you. xx

[tamirra]

Bednobs staying out the sun, how can you stay out the sun in the summer, plus we are going to Cyprus in Oct and its still hot there then. x What about sunbeds, she likes to go on them? xx

[bednobs]

in the caution for the drug they say "avoid excessive exposure to UV light, including sunlight"
Of course, she could ignore this advice, but as there is a higher risk of getting skin cancer while on theis drug she would be silly to.
When i say "stay out of the sun" i don't mean sit inside like a hermit, but be SENSIBLE - ie no sunbeds, use high factor sun cream, cover up with long t shirts, wear a hat