Compare Sandimmune vs. Prograf
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Suppresses the immune system.
Sandimmune (cyclosporine) is good at preventing rejection of an organ transplant, but it's more difficult to monitor than Neoral/Gengraf (cyclosporine modified) and isn't good for people with kidney problems.
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
- Sandimmune (cyclosporine) is good at preventing organ rejection.
- Can take Sandimmune (cyclosporine) if you’re pregnant.
- Less effect on blood sugar than other medicines in its class like tacrolimus.
- Conveniently taken once daily.
- 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, especially in the beginning, to make sure Sandimmune (cyclosporine) isn't affecting your body in a bad way.
- Can cause high blood pressure and kidney damage, especially with lifelong use.
- You might need to take other medicines to control your blood pressure while on Sandimmune (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
- 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
$156.70
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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%
- 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%
- Acne2%
- 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 Sandimmune (cyclosporine) for a long time
- Prolonged exposure to sunlight
- UV light
- Hard-to-predict absorption
- Kidney damage
- Taking Sandimmune (cyclosporine) for a long time
- Taking high doses of Sandimmune (cyclosporine)
- Poor kidney function
- Donor age 50 or older
- Taking other medicines that can damage the kidneys
- Taking medicines that interact with Sandimmune (cyclosporine)
- 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
- 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