[Lisa V]

This is a really common problem with cyclosporine, rschem. As Marlene says, if it's not extremely high it can probably be controlled by drinking lots of fluids. My husband carries a bottle of water with him everywhere and is up to about a gallon a day. It's a bother, but it's cheap, non-toxic and readily available, and sure beats the alternative, which is loss of kidney function.

Sounds like your lab records creatinine a bit differently than ours does. We get readings like 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, etc. without any further decimals. When it's 1.2 we're happy, 1.3 is borderline but not worrisome, and 1.4 means better start pumping the fluids harder!

His doctor said that at 1.4 you've lost about 25% of your kidney function. He's gotten as high as 1.7 and even 1.8, at which point we decreased his cyclo dosage. Even a decrease of 25mg per day can make a difference, and if you're taking 350mg/day it sounds like you've got some wiggle room to tinker with it. Ken's been taking 175 mg/day for the last few years and he weighs about 175. Hopefully they are monitoring your blood cyclo level too, and between that and the creatinine, will determine if you need to decrease your dosage. Try the water first, though!