cyclosporine side effects

[viperphil11]

Ive been taking cyclosporine for over a month and just recently have had severe headaches and my vision is blurred and its very hard to see. Has anyone else have has the same thing?

[Karenish]

lots of side effects with cyclo - but always get them checked out with your consultant! are you on any other medication. I am also on exjade and I have to see an optomologist every 4 months as this drug can cause premature cataracts. Headaches can come from low blood counts, I get them if I drop to 8hb always on the left hand side at the back which moves over the top! once the counts climb back up the headaches go. Lots of people on cyclo get headaches so I think it is a side effect but you could also have high blood pressure so do get it all checked out. xxx good luck xxx

[evansmom]

Hello,

This could be a very serious side effect of cyclosporin called PRES. Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome. This is somewhat rare and often misdiagnosed until it is rather advanced. Cases often end up in the ICU and on life support at times, not to scare you but rather to alert you to this potential cause.
Click HERE and read more about it but a vision change, to me, is very serious and requires immediate attention - bring the wikipedia definition of PRES with you to your doctors ASAP. Your blood pressure is quite possibly very high right now.

[JWT]

I had the same side effects with the blurred vision, headaches, along with several other issues. Turned out my Cyclosporine levels were 3x higher than they should have been. I stopped my dose for 7 days (Dr. orders) to bring it back down to around 300mg and feel much better!! Make sure you are not taking your dose before getting your levels checked. The levels need to be at a trough or at the lowest level just before you are to take your next dose to get an accurate level.