What Is the Difference Between Cyclosporine Modified & Neoral?

Cyclosporin is an immunosuppressive drug first discovered in 1972 and approved for use in the U.S. in 1983 under the brand name Sandimmune. The drug is given to patients in post-allogenic transplantation and to decrease or eliminate organ rejection. Neoral was released as an improved microemulsion version of the drug to be given orally.

Similarities

• Cyclosporine and Neoral are similar in toxicity and efficacy. Both are used to suppress the immune system during the transplant process and are available to patients in oral formats.

Differences in Pharmacokinetics

• Neoral was developed to absorb better and faster in the body, while Neoral also was designed to work better across a wider cross-section of people with less variability. Patients may need a lower dose of Neoral if they were previously on cyclosporine.

Function

• Cyclosporine and Neoral are similar in toxicity and efficacy. Both are used to suppress the immune system in the process of transplants. Both are available in oral formats for patients. Only Sandimmune is available intravenously.

Warning

• Neoral cannot be used interchangeably with Sandimmune without the supervision of a physician, as they both contain cyclosporine but consist of different formulations. Both drugs can cause toxicity in the liver and kidney.

Further Warnings

• Patients converting from Neoral to Sandimmune must be monitored for dosing problems because the drugs are not equal in cyclosporine composition. Neoral patients must also be given serum creatinine.