Question 1

How can I lower the cost of my cyclosporine

Accepted Answer

You can lower cost of your cyclosporine using one of the 4 following drug savings programs: Rx Advantage Card for cyclosporine, Canadian Prescription Savings for cyclosporine, cyclosporine Drug Coupons, cyclosporine Patient Assistance Programs

Question 2

What dosages is cyclosporine available in?

Accepted Answer

cyclosporine is available as a 25mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg oral capsule and a 100 mg/ml oral solution.

Question 3

What is cyclosporine used for?

Accepted Answer

cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant and is used to treat the following:  Prevent organ rejection of kidney, liver, or heart transplant Rheumatoid arthritis Psoriasis

Question 4

How does cyclosporine work?

Accepted Answer

cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant, which means it lowers (or suppresses) the activity of your immune system. When you receive an organ transplant, your body recognizes the new organ as a foreign object, and your immune system fights to reject the new organ. cyclosporine also works to treat conditions caused by an overactive immune system, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions are known as autoimmune diseases, where your immune system mistakes healthy tissue in your body as a foreign object and attacks it. cyclosporine works by weakening your immune system and preventing your body from rejecting the new organ or attacking healthy cells in your body.

Question 5

How do I take cyclosporine?

Accepted Answer

cyclosporine is dosed based on the organ, your weight, your risk of rejection, how well you tolerate the medication, and the level of cyclosporine cyclosporine in your body based on lab work.

Question 6

Is it safe for me to take cyclosporine?

Accepted Answer

cyclosporine is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you. You should not use this medication if you have a hypersensitivity to cyclosporine or to any of the ingredients of the formulation. Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis patients with abnormal renal function, uncontrolled hypertension, or malignancies
should not receive cyclosporine.

Question 7

cyclosporine Common Side Effects

Accepted Answer

Common side effects of cyclosporine:  Kidney problems Shaking Excessive hair growth on face, back, and chest Urinary tract infection Viral infections High blood pressure Skin and wound infections Overgrowth of gums Nausea/vomiting Headache Stomach pain Upper respiratory tract infection Muscle cramps Numbness, tingling, or burning in arms or legs Pain Diarrhea High triglycerides

Question 8

cyclosporine Serious Side Effects

Accepted Answer

Serious side effects are rare with cyclosporine. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.  High blood pressure: headache, difficulty breathing, chest pain or pressure, blurred vision, fast heart beat, nose bleed, confusion Kidney damage: lower urine production, swelling in feet or legs, shortness of breath, tiredness, weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, confusion Liver damage: yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), stomach pain or swelling, loss of appetite, dark urine, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, weakness, confusion Serious viral infections (polyoma virus infections): muscle weakness, loss of interest or emotion, confusion, memory problems, loss of balance or coordination, paralysis Brain damage: vision problems, loss of vision, loss of muscle control, movement problems, mental conditions, seizures, loss of consciousness Swelling of optic nerve: blurred vision, double vision, loss of vision, headache, nausea, or vomiting

Question 9

Effects of other drugs, drug classes and over-the-counter products on cyclosporine

Accepted Answer

The following medications may interact with cyclosporine:  Cyclosporine is extensively metabolized by CYP 3A isoenzymes, in particular CYP3A4, and is a substrate of the multidrug efflux transporter P-glycoprotein. Various agents are known to either increase of decrease plasma and whole blood cyclosporine concentrations usually by inhibition or induction of CYP3A4 or P-glycoprotein transporter or both. Compounds that decrease cyclosporine absorption such as orlistat should be avoided Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID): Clinical status and serum creatinine should be closely monitored when cyclosporine is used with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents in rheumatoid arthritis patients Cyclosporine may reduce the clearance of digoxin, colchicine, prednisolone, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) and etoposide Cyclosporine may increase the levels and effects of methotrexate

Question 10

Who makes cyclosporine?

Accepted Answer

Various FDA-approved generic manufacturers

Question 11

Is cyclosporine safe in pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

cyclosporine isn’t recommended in pregnancy. There aren’t enough studies that looked at the safety of cyclosporine in human pregnancy, but animal studies showed that it can serious harm and death to babies. If you’re pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant, discuss the risks and benefits of using the medication with your healthcare provider and only use it if absolutely necessary.

Question 12

What is the brand name for cyclosporine?

Accepted Answer

NEORALGENGRAFSANDIMMUNERESTASIS

Question 13

How can NowPatient help me to lower the cost of my cyclosporine prescription?

Accepted Answer

After you create a FREE account with NowPatient, you will have access to 4 programs that can help lower the cost of your cyclosporine prescription

Applicability to each program will be dependent on your insurance status.

Question 14

How do the NowPatient cyclosporine savings programs work?

Accepted Answer

After you have created your FREE account with NowPatient, you can access the various programs from your account dashboard. Each program has clear instructions on how to check your eligibility. You can see how the process works by clicking on the feature link below and seeing the ‘How it works’ steps.

Drug Coupon and Patient Assistance Programs require an eligibility quiz to be completed.

Question 15

Are the NowPatient cyclosporine savings programs suitable for everyone, regardless of insurance status?

Accepted Answer

No. Each program has its own eligibility and applicability requirements. The table below shows if a program is available to you, based on your insurance status.

	Rx Advantage Card* for cyclosporine	Canadian Prescription Savings* for cyclosporine	cyclosporine Drug Coupon*	cyclosporine Patient Assistance Program*
Insured (federal, state or government)	Available	Available	Not Available	Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company
Insured (Commercial or Private)	Available	Available	Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company	Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company
Uninsured	Available	Available	Not Available	Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company
Insured but without pharmacy benefit or drug coverage	Available	Available	Not Available	Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company

*This is not insurance.

Question 16

Are the NowPatient drug savings programs suitable for brand and generic versions of cyclosporine?

Accepted Answer

No. Each program has applicability requirements. Please see below

	Rx Advantage Card* for cyclosporine	Canadian Prescription Savings* for cyclosporine	cyclosporine Drug Coupon*	cyclosporine Patient Assistance Program*
Brand	Yes	Yes	Yes, If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company	Yes, If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company
Generic	Yes	Yes	No	No

*This is not insurance.

Question 17

If you have Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage and none of the cyclosporine savings options are applicable or affordable for me, what can you do?

Accepted Answer

If you are insured with Medicare and the cyclosporine drug savings options are not applicable to you and still remain unaffordable, then you can check Medicaid eligibility in your state by following the instructions at HealthCare.gov.

The government site is easy to use and after you have selected your state, it will navigate you to the appropriate contact point to make the application. State Medicaid programs may cover the full cost of your medication.

People who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid are called ‘dual eligibles’.

If you are denied Medicaid for cyclosporine, and you are still unable to afford your copay or co-insurance element (for example if you are in the coverage gap or Donut Hole) then you may be eligible for a federal support program like Low Income Subsidy. To be eligible for Low Income Subsidy, you need to be a resident in one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia. You can check eligibility online at SSA Medicare D Extra Help. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Question 18

I am uninsured or underinsured and none of the cyclosporine prescription saving options are applicable or affordable for me, what can I do?

Accepted Answer

If you are uninsured or underinsured (for example, cyclosporine is not covered by your plan) and the drug savings options are not applicable or still unaffordable, then you can check Medicaid eligibility in your state by following the instructions at HealthCare.gov.

The government site is easy to use and you can select your state and it will navigate you to the appropriate contact point to make the application. State Medicaid programs may cover the full cost of your medication.

If you are denied and all else fails, and if you have been prescribed cyclosporine for an FDA-approved indication, you can call the pharmaceutical company to see if they have any other assistance programs.

Question 19

I am commercially or privately insured and none of the cyclosporine prescription saving options are applicable or affordable for me, what can I do?

Accepted Answer

If your medication is not covered by your plan, you can appeal your insurance company’s decision. Sometimes, a formal appeal can result in the drug being covered if it is deemed medically necessary.

If you cannot afford your copay contribution, then you can check Medicaid eligibility in your state by following the instructions at HealthCare.gov.

However, being privately insured might complicate your eligibility for Medicaid, as having private insurance may be considered in the financial eligibility assessment.

The government site is easy to use and you can select your state and it will navigate you to the appropriate contact point to make the application. If you qualify, state Medicaid may cover the full cost of your medication.

Question 20

If I have federal, state or commercial insurance and none of the cyclosporine prescription saving options are applicable or affordable for me, are there any other support organisations that can help me with my co-insurance or copay contributions?

Accepted Answer

If you have already tried Medicaid and received a denial letter or if you are insured with Medicare and have been denied Low-Income Subsidy, then you can try one of the following organizational support programs:

1. Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN) assistance for cyclosporine

If you are having trouble paying for your cyclosporine medication due to unaffordable copays or deductibles, the Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN), may be able to assist you. To qualify for PAN assistance for cyclosporine you will need to meet one or all of the following criteria:

Your income is below 400% of the federal poverty level
cyclosporine is prescribed for an approved FDA indication
You live in and receive treatment in the United States or U.S. territories, even if you do not have U.S. citizenship
You have Medicare insurance coverage that covers cyclosporine
If cyclosporine is listed on PAN’s list of covered medications

You can check the Patient Access Network Foundation Website for more information.

2. HealthWell Foundation Copay Program for cyclosporine

If you are having trouble paying for your cyclosporine medication due to unaffordable copays or deductibles, the HealthWell Foundation Copay Program may be able to assist you. To qualify for assistance for cyclosporine you will need to meet the following criteria:

You live in and are being treated in the United States
You are insured and your plan covers cyclosporine
If cyclosporine is listed on the HealthWell Foundation’s list of covered medications

You can check the HealthWell Foundation Website for more information.

3. Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Program for cyclosporine

Patient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief program exists to help reduce the financial distress you or your family may face when paying for your cyclosporine treatment. If you qualify and can demonstrate the need, the foundation will provide you with direct payment covering co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles. To qualify for assistance for cyclosporine you will need to meet the following criteria:

You must be currently insured and have coverage for cyclosporine
You must have a confirmed diagnosis and treatment plan
You must reside and receive treatment in the United States
Your Income must fall at or below 300% or 400% of the Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG) with consideration for the Cost of Living Index (COLI) and number in the household
Applications can also be completed by contacting the program sponsor, toll-free at 866-512-3861.

You can check the Patient Advocate Foundation Website for more information.