Cyclosporine modified is an immunosuppressant. The generic capsule and oral solution help treat certain health problems caused by an overactive immune system in dogs and cats. These generic versions are FDA approved for people, but vets often prescribe it off-label for pets. You usually give your pet this medication once or twice a day. Common side effects for pets are stomach problems like diarrhea, vomiting, and a low appetite.
Skin allergies and other inflammatory skin conditions in dogs and cats
Other inflammatory and immune-related conditions in dogs and cats (e.g., certain blood problems, inflammatory bowel disease)
Healing of sores around the anus in dogs
Prevention of organ rejection after transplants in dogs and cats
Cyclosporine modified is a type of immunosuppressant. More specifically, it’s a calcineurin inhibitor. It blocks a protein in the immune system called calcineurin. This protein plays a role in causing inflammation when the immune system is too active.
By blocking calcineurin, cyclosporine modified helps calm your pet’s immune system. This helps lower inflammation in their body.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Abdominal or stomach pain or tenderness
back pain
black, tarry stools
blurred vision
chills
clay colored stools
cloudy urine
dark urine
decrease in urine output or decrease in urine-concentrating ability
decreased appetite
dizziness
drowsiness
headache
headache, severe and throbbing
loss of appetite
muscle spasms (tetany) or twitching
nervousness
painful or difficult urination
pounding in the ears
shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
shortness of breath
skin rash
slow or fast heartbeat
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
swelling of the feet or lower legs
swollen glands
trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
yellow eyes or skin
Less common
Bleeding gums
blood in the urine
blood in the vomit
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
convulsions
difficulty swallowing
pale skin
pinpoint red spots on the skin
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
severe or continuing stomach pain
tightness in the chest
troubled breathing with exertion
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Abdominal or stomach discomfort
bleeding, tender, or enlarged gums
blemishes on the skin
increased hair growth, especially on the face
pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
stuffy or runny nose
Less common
Brittle fingernails
burning feeling in the chest or stomach
burning, dry, or itching eyes
continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
cramps
discharge or excessive tearing
feeling of warmth
hearing loss
redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
redness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males
Rare
Blurred or loss of vision
discouragement
disturbed color perception
double vision
fear
feeling sad or empty
halos around lights
irritability
joint pain
loss of interest or pleasure
night blindness
overbright appearance of lights
tiredness
trouble concentrating
trouble sleeping
tunnel vision
unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
weakness
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Can raise the risk that your pet gets sick from infections more easily
Might take up to a few weeks to see improvement for some pets
Can interact with other medications, such as fluconazole, fluoxetine, and itraconazole
Make sure your pet is getting cyclosporine modified, not the unmodified version of cyclosporine (Sandimmune). These two versions are not the same. Vets don’t use unmodified cyclosporine (Sandimmune) for dogs or cats because pets don’t absorb it well. Ask your vet or pharmacist if you have any questions.
For dogs: Give cyclosporine modified without food, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. This medication works best for dogs on an empty stomach. But you can give it with a small amount of food or a small treat to see if it helps with any stomach upset from the medication.
For cats: It doesn’t usually matter if you give cyclosporine modified with or without food for cats. Try to give it around the same time and in the same way each day.
If you’re pregnant, be careful and wear gloves when handling cyclosporine modified because it might harm an unborn baby. Even if you aren’t pregnant, try not to touch the medication. But if you do get it on yourself, wash the area well right away.
It’s common for pets to have diarrhea or vomit when starting cyclosporine modified. These side effects often get better with time. Make sure your pet drinks enough water to avoid dehydration. Talk to your vet before trying anything else to help because it might affect how the medication works. Your vet can help decide what’s best for your pet’s stomach problems.
Before your pet gets any vaccines, tell the vet staff that your pet is taking cyclosporine modified. Some vaccines, especially live vaccines, might not work with this medication. Ask your vet how well each vaccine might work for your pet.
Sometimes, vets prescribe an antifungal called ketoconazole with cyclosporine modified for your pet. Ketoconazole helps raise the amount of cyclosporine modified in your pet’s blood. This helps lower the dose of cyclosporine modified that your pet might need to take. Follow your vet’s directions if they use this treatment plan.
Talk to your vet before giving your pet any new medications to make sure it’s safe. Cyclosporine modified can interact with many other medications. Some examples include amlodipine, fluconazole, enrofloxacin, and phenobarbital.
If you have a small or young pet, ask your vet if cyclosporine modified is right for your pet. We don’t know if this medication is safe or works well for pets under 6 months of age, dogs that weigh less than 4 lbs, or cats that weigh less than 3 lbs. Your vet can discuss the risks and benefits of treatment for your pet with you.
Talk to a vet if your pet is pregnant or nursing. Animal studies show that cyclosporine modified can cause harm in baby rats. But it’s not clear for kittens or puppies. The vet can help you understand the risks and benefits.
Tips for the liquid form of cyclosporine modified:
Keep the cyclosporine modified liquid at room temperature (68ºF to 77ºF). Don’t put it in the refrigerator. If it gets too cold, the liquid can turn thick or clumpy. But it’ll go back to normal when you let it sit so it warms back up. Don’t use anything else to warm it up.
Follow your vet’s advice about how to give your pet the liquid medication. Don’t use household spoons to measure the dose since spoon sizes are different. Use a medication syringe or cup to measure the dose.
Discard the cyclosporine modified liquid 2 months after you open the bottle, even if there’s still some medication left.
Cyclosporine modified can cause some serious health issues. This risk might be even higher for certain pets. If this worries you, talk to your veterinarian about other options.
Risk factors: Pets that get sick often | Pets with a current infection | Cats with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or FeLV infection | Taking other medications that lower the immune system
Cyclosporine modified works by calming down your pet’s immune system. But this can also make it easier for them to get sick. Sometimes, these infections can be serious. Some infections your pet might get are urinary tract infections (UTIs) and respiratory tract infections. This medication might also be linked to a serious infection in cats called toxoplasmosis.
Be careful giving cyclosporine modified to pets that already have an infection. This is because the medication can slow healing and make the infection get worse. Also watch your pet closely if they’re taking other medications that weaken the immune system.
Call a vet if you see signs of infection in your pet. Watch for fever, low energy, pain, coughing, trouble breathing, runny nose, and eye problems. Also take note if your pet doesn’t seem to want to eat or has trouble urinating.
Risk factors: History of cancer | Taking other medications that lower the immune system | Taking cyclosporine modified for a long time
Cyclosporine modified can change the way the immune system works. It’s not clear if this affects cancer risk in pets at recommended doses. But it’s important to be aware of this risk. Pets that have cancer can’t take this medication because it might not be safe for them.
One type of cancer that dogs and cats have had while taking cyclosporine modified is lymphoma. Call your vet if you notice your pet has swollen lymph nodes, low energy, fever, or low appetite. These could be signs of cancer.
Risk factors: Low appetite | Cats that have low appetite or weight loss as side effects | Cats that are considered obese
Cats taking cyclosporine modified might eat less and lose weight as side effects. Although rare, these side effects can raise the risk of certain liver problems. The risk of liver problems is also possible but uncommon in dogs.
Tell your vet if your pet loses a lot of weight (more than 25% of their starting weight). Other signs of liver problems include being very tired, vomiting, a weak neck, and yellow eyes or skin. Talk to a vet right away if your pet shows any of these signs while taking cyclosporine modified.
Risk factors: Pets taking very high doses of cyclosporine modified | Pets with kidney failure
Pets with kidney problems or those taking high doses of cyclosporine modified might be at risk of kidney damage. These pets should take this medication with caution. Tell your vet if your pet has kidney problems before starting treatment.
Talk to a vet if you see signs of kidney problems in your pet while they’re taking cyclosporine modified. Watch for thirst, urinating more than usual, vomiting, not wanting to eat, and signs of dehydration.
The dose is based on your pet’s weight and the reason they need to take this medication.
Follow your vet’s directions on how much and how often to give cyclosporine modified to your pet. Below are some examples for a few health conditions.
Skin allergies: The typical starting dose is 5 mg/kg by mouth every 24 hours.
Sores around the anus: The typical dose is 4 mg/kg to 8 mg/kg by mouth every 12 or 24 hours.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): The typical dose is 5 mg/kg by mouth every 12 or 24 hours.
Immune-related blood problems: The typical starting dose is 7.5 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg by mouth every 12 hours.
For cats
Skin allergies: The typical starting dose is 7 mg/kg by mouth every 24 hours.
Pemphigus complex (autoimmune skin condition causing blisters on the face, ears, and feet): The typical dose is 5 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg by mouth every 24 hours.
Certain immune-related blood problems: The typical dose is 5 mg/kg by mouth every 24 hours. Some cats might need larger doses up to 20 mg/kg per day.
Note: The dose might be lower if your vet prescribes cyclosporine modified along with other medications, like ketoconazole or omega-3 fatty acids. Your vet might also change how often you give the medication, depending on how your pet is doing. Instead of once or twice a day, you might give it every other day, every 3 days, or just twice a week.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Cats with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection
Currently have or have had cancer
Skin allergies and other inflammatory skin conditions in dogs and cats
Other inflammatory and immune-related conditions in dogs and cats (e.g., certain blood problems, inflammatory bowel disease)
Healing of sores around the anus in dogs
Prevention of organ rejection after transplants in dogs and cats
Autoimmune conditions (e.g., lupus, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia)
Certain cancers (e.g., lymphoma)
By providing your email, you consent to receive marketing communications from GoodRx, which may include content and/or data related to men’s health, women's health, reproductive care, or sexual health. You agree to the GoodRx Terms of Use and acknowledge the Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.