Compare cyclosporine vs. Prograf
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Suppresses the immune system.
Neoral (cyclosporine) is good at preventing rejection of a transplanted organ, and is also used for treating rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.
Prevents rejection of a transplanted organ.
Prograf (tacrolimus) is a good medicine that prevents rejection of an organ transplant, but you will need to be on it lifelong.
Upsides
- Neoral (cyclosporine) is safe for pregnant women to use.
- Neoral (cyclosporine) does not affect blood sugar levels as much as others in the same drug class.
- Prevents your body from rejecting a transplanted organ.
- Available as an extended-release pill, so it can be taken just once daily.
- Less cosmetic side-effects than other anti-rejection medicine like cyclosporine.
Downsides
- You'll need regular blood tests to make sure Neoral (cyclosporine) isn't affecting your body negatively.
- Neoral (cyclosporine) can cause high blood pressure and kidney damage, especially with lifelong use.
- You might need to take other medications to control your blood pressure while on Neoral (cyclosporine).
- Regular blood tests are required for monitoring while on Prograf (tacrolimus).
- Can cause a lot of side-effects, such as high blood sugar, high blood pressure, mental status changes, and kidney damage, especially with lifelong use.
- Increases your risk of infection and certain cancers.
Used for
- Prevention of heart transplant rejection
- Prevention of kidney transplant rejection
- Prevention of liver transplant rejection
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriasis
- Prevention of lung transplant rejection
- Ulcerative colitis
- Graft-versus-host disease
- Prevention of heart transplant rejection
- Prevention of liver transplant rejection
- Prevention of kidney transplant rejection
- Lung transplant rejection
- Bowel transplant rejection
- Graft-versus-host disease
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Liquid
- Pill
- Extended release
- Injection
Price
Lowest price
$31.91
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$573.26
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Side effects
17possible side effects
- High blood pressure53%
- Abnormal kidney function38%
- Tremor31%
- Abnormal hair growth28%
- Acne20%
- Headache15%
- Nausea/vomiting10%
- Liver damage7%
- Stomach discomfort7%
- Low white blood cells6%
- Blood cell tumor6%
- Gum swelling5%
- Uncontrolled shaking4%
- Diarrhea4%
- Swelling of breasts4%
- Common cold symptoms3%
- Burning or tingling in hands, arms, legs, or feet2%
13possible side effects
- High blood pressure62%
- Kidney Function Abnormal56%
- Anemia50%
- Low white blood cells48%
- Viral infection32%
- Diabetes Mellitus26%
- Infection24%
- High blood sugar23%
- High cholesterol18%
- Bronchitis17%
- Urinary Tract Infection16%
- Fluid around the heart15%
- Tremor15%
Risks and risk factors
- Cancer
- Taking Neoral (cyclosporine) for a long time
- Prolonged exposure to sunlight
- UV light
- Serious infections
- Taking other immunosuppressants
- Age 60 or older
- Weak immune system
- High blood pressure
- High blood pressure
- Taking other medicines that can raise blood pressure
- Kidney damage
- Taking Neoral (cyclosporine) for a long time
- Taking high doses of Neoral (cyclosporine)
- Poor kidney function
- Donor age 50 or older
- Taking other medicines that can damage the kidneys
- Taking medicines that interact with Neoral (cyclosporine)
- Drug interactions
- Taking multiple medicines
- Serious infections
- Taking other immunosuppressant drugs
- Age 60 or older
- Weak immune system
- Cancer
- Taking Prograf (tacrolimus) for a long time
- Heart problems
- History of heart problems
- Taking drugs that interact with Prograf (tacrolimus)
- High Prograf (tacrolimus) blood levels
- Kidney damage
- Poor kidney function
- Taking other drugs that can damage the kidneys
- Taking drugs that interact with Prograf (tacrolimus)
- Diabetes
- African-American descent
- Hispanic descent
- Increased risk of death in female liver transplant patients taking extended-release Prograf (tacrolimus)
- Females using Astagraf XL
- Liver transplantation