Sandimmun Injection

Reviewed By Dr. Varun Gupta, MD Pharmacology, MBBS

Last updated on 12 Nov 2024 | 01:11 AM (IST)

Sandimmun Injection is used to prevent your body from rejecting a new organ after a liver, kidney, or heart transplant. It is also used in the prevention of graft rejection following bone marrow transplantation. It works by weakening your immune system so that your body does not attack the new organ.

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1 ml Injection

General Information

Contains

Ciclosporin (50mg)

Marketer

Novartis India Ltd

Storage

Store below 30°C

The content is shown in English

Product introduction

The dose of Sandimmun Injection you take depends on your weight, medical condition, and what you are taking it for. Your doctor will work out the correct dose for you. It is given as an injection under the supervision of a doctor. Keep taking these medicine for as long as you have been told to, even if you feel well. Stopping treatment may increase the risk of your transplanted organ being rejected.

The most common side effects of this medicine include headache, nausea, unusual growth of facial or body hair, high blood pressure, diarrhea, gingival hyperplasia, and tremors. Because it suppresses your immune system, you may catch more infections than usual. You should avoid contact with people who might pass on infections such as measles, chickenpox or flu, and do not have a “live” vaccination. Tell your doctor straight away if you develop an infection. For the same reason, you may be more at risk of developing some cancers, particularly of the skin. You should limit your exposure to sunlight.

Before taking this medicine you should tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems, high blood pressure, gout (increased uric acid levels in the blood), or epilepsy. Also, tell your doctor about all other medicines you are taking as it may affect the working of this medicine. This medicine should only be used in pregnancy if it is clearly needed and is not recommended while breastfeeding. You will have frequent medical tests while taking this medicine to check your blood pressure, liver and kidney function and mineral levels. This may lead to changes in your dose.

Uses of Sandimmun Injection

Prevention of organ rejection in transplant patients
Prevention of graft rejection following Bone marrow transplantation

Benefits of Sandimmun Injection

Prevention of organ rejection in transplant patients
Sandimmun Injection belongs to a group of medicines known as immunosuppressive agents. It lowers your immune response and reduces the chance of your body attacking the transplanted organ. Organ rejection happens when your immune system treats the new organ as an invader and attacks it. This medicine suppresses the immune system and help your body accept the new organ as if it were your own.

Prevention of graft rejection following Bone marrow transplantation
Sandimmun Injection suppresses the immune response, reducing the risk of the recipient's immune system attacking and rejecting the transplanted bone marrow. This increases the success rate of the transplant and allows for the restoration of normal blood cell production and immune function.

Side effects of Sandimmun Injection

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Sandimmun

Headache
High blood pressure
Renal dysfunction
Tremors
Increased glucose level in blood
Paresthesia (tingling or pricking sensation)
Acne
Decreased white blood cell count
Increased levels of blood fat
Decreased appetite
Increased uric acid level in blood
Electrolyte imbalance
Convulsion
Flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck and trunk)
Gastrointestinal disturbance
Gingival hyperplasia
Stomach ulcer
Abnormal liver function
Excessive hair growth on face
Hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth)
Muscle cramp
Muscle pain
Fever
Fatigue

How to use Sandimmun Injection

Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.

How Sandimmun Injection works

Sandimmun Injection is an immunosuppressant. It works by suppressing your body’s immune response following transplant of an organ (e.g., liver, kidney, heart). This helps your body to accept the new organ as if it were your own.

Quick tips

Sandimmun Injection is used to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients.
It is also used to treat arthritis and immune disorders of the eyes, lungs, muscles, skin, nerves, and blood vessels.
It may take 3 to 4 months for the medication to work. Keep taking it as prescribed.
Your doctor may get regular blood tests done to check the levels of blood cells in your blood. Inform your doctor if you experience unexplained bruising or bleeding, sore throat, mouth ulcers, fever or general illness.
Your doctor may monitor your kidney function regularly. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day to help with your kidney function.
Do not stop taking Sandimmun Injection without talking to your doctor first.

Safety advice

Alcohol

SAFE

Consuming alcohol with Sandimmun Injection does not cause any harmful side effects.

Pregnancy

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Sandimmun Injection may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.

Breast feeding

UNSAFE

Sandimmun Injection is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby.

Driving

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

It is not known whether Sandimmun Injection alters the ability to drive. Do not drive if you experience any symptoms that affect your ability to concentrate and react.

Kidney

CAUTION

Sandimmun Injection should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Sandimmun Injection may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Regular monitoring of kidney function test is advised while you are taking this medicine.

Liver

CAUTION

Sandimmun Injection should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Sandimmun Injection may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Regular monitoring of kidney function test is advised while you are taking this medicine.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sandimmun Injection a steroid?

No, Sandimmun Injection is not a steroid. It belongs to a group of medicines known as immunosuppressive agents. It decreases the action of the body’s immune system.

Can Sandimmun Injection cause weight gain?

Yes, Sandimmun Injection may cause weight gain. However, the changes in weight are uncommon side effects of this medicine. Consult your doctor if these side effects worry you.

Does Sandimmun Injection cause fatigue?

Yes, Sandimmun Injection may cause fatigue as a common side effect. However, fatigue could also be due to an underlying disease. Discuss with your doctor if this side effect worries you.

Do I need to get any tests done while being treated with Sandimmun Injection?

Yes, the doctor may suggest tests to check the levels of Sandimmun Injection in your blood, especially if you have had a transplant. You may also be advised to get your blood pressure checked before the start of your treatment and regularly during treatment. In addition, liver and kidney function tests along with your blood lipids (fats), will be checked.

Can Sandimmun Injection cause cancer?

Sandimmun Injection is known to suppress the immune system. This as a result, increases your risk of developing cancers, particularly of the skin and lymphoid system. You should limit your exposure to sunlight and UV light by wearing appropriate protective clothing. Sunscreen should be applied frequently with a high protection factor.

Does Sandimmun Injection cause hair growth?

Yes, the use of Sandimmun Injection may cause abnormal hair growth (hypertrichosis) as a common side effect of Sandimmun Injection, though it does not affect everyone.

What are the side effects of Sandimmun Injection?

Sandimmun Injection may cause side effects such as headache, diarrhea, heartburn, increased hair growth on the face, arms, or back, growth of extra tissue on the gums, acne, flushing, and uncontrollable shaking of a part of your body. You may also experience burning or tingling sensation in the hands, arms, feet, or legs, muscle or joint pain, cramps, pain or pressure in the face, ear problems, breast enlargement in men, depression and difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

What is Sandimmun Injection used for?

Sandimmun Injection is used in combination with other medications which are used to prevent transplant rejection (attack of the transplanted organ by the immune system of the person who received the organ) in people who have received kidney, liver and heart transplants. These combination medicines also help to treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (a disease, affecting the joints with pain and swelling) in patients whose symptoms were not relieved by methotrexate alone. It is also used to treat psoriasis (a skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body), and atopic dermatitis (skin allergies).

Fact Box

Chemical Class

Cyclosporin Derivative

Habit Forming

Therapeutic Class

PAIN ANALGESICS

Action Class

Immunosuppressant- Calcineurin inhibitors

References

Burkhart C, Morrell D, Goldsmith L. Dermatological Pharmacology. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. p. 1821.
Wallace JL, Sharkey KA. Pharmacotherapy of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. pp. 1358-59.
Furst DE, Ulrich RW, Varkey-Altamirano C. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs, Nonopioids Analgesics, & Drugs Used in Gout. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. pp. 630-31.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 340-42.
Ciclosporine. Camberley, Surrey: Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd.; 1983 [revised 24 Jul. 2015]. [Accessed 25 Jan. 2019] (online) Available from:
Cyclosporine. East Hanover, New Jersey: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. [Accessed 06 Apr. 2019] (online) Available from:
Chaves RG, Lamounier JA. Breastfeeding and maternal medications. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2004;80(5 Suppl):S189-S198. [Accessed 03 Apr. 2019] (online) Available from:
Cyclosporine [Product Monograph]. Quebec, Canada: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.; 2023. [Accessed 16 Jun. 2023] (online) Available from:

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Patient concerns

I have Myeloma. 70% in my body. What is the best tretment?

Dr. Vijay Sharnangat

Medical Oncology and Hematology

It's chemotherapy with cyborD4 cycles followed by bone marrow transplant

No beard in my face iam 24Years old please help me

Dr. Souvik Sardar

Dermatology

Go for beard transplantationVisit a hair transplant surgeon

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Marketer details

Name: Novartis India Ltd
Address: Sandoz House, Shiv Sagar Estate, Worli Mumbai -400 018, India

Vendor Details

Country of origin: India
A licensed vendor partner from your nearest location will deliver Sandimmun Injection. Once the pharmacy accepts your order, the details of the pharmacy will be shared with you. Acceptance of your order is based on the validity of your doctor's ℞ and the availability of this medicine.

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