MarrowkidzInformation and advice for children affected by aplastic anaemia Welcome to MarrowKidz from The Aplastic Anaemia Trust. Here you can find resources for children affected by aplastic anaemia. Whether you have been diagnosed with aplastic anaemia yourself, or someone in your family or a friend has been diagnosed, this is where you'll find expert information about what's happening, and advice from other children who have been through aplastic anaemia too! A note for adults and teens: We've moved some things around! You'll now find treatment information, resources for parents, schools and teenagers on our main website. Marrowkidz About your AA and treatment Advice from other children Support a friend or family member Watch videos More goodies Ciclosporin What is ciclosporin? Ciclosporin is a type of medicine that might be given to you if you have aplastic anaemia. It is often given along with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) treatment. Your bone marrow is like a factory where your stem cells are made. These stem cells will develop into different kinds of blood cells. Your immune system works to keep your body safe and protect against diseases and infections. With aplastic anaemia, your immune system can end up working too hard and begin fighting against your bone marrow. This can mean that the bone marrow does not make enough of the stem cells you need. Ciclosporin works by quietening down your immune system for a while. This gives your bone marrow time to get better and start making stem cells normally for you. You will usually be given ciclosporin in tablets or maybe as a liquid. How long do I have to take ciclosporin for? It takes a while for ciclosporin to start making a difference in your body, so you will usually take ciclosporin for six months or more. Your doctors will keep checking the number of different types of blood cells you have (called your blood count). When your blood count starts to go up, they will know the ciclosporin is starting to work. They will then ask you to keep taking it for a while longer, but you might not have to take as much. It is important that you do not stop taking ciclosporin too soon, so your body can get used to the changes. Do I need any special checks while taking ciclosporin? Your doctors will keep checking your blood pressure, your blood counts and how much ciclosporin there is in your blood. They will also check that your kidneys and liver are working properly. These checks will let the doctors know if you need to be taking more or less ciclosporin. What changes might I notice while taking ciclosporin? A lot of people might feel different or notice changes in their body when they start taking ciclosporin. These are called side effects. Side effects might include feeling sick or being sick, and having aches and pains. If you have too much ciclosporin in your blood, you might get some other side effects like headaches, putting on weight, swelling (puffiness) in some places, spots, or having shaky hands. The doctors might lower the amount of ciclosporin you take if these things are happening and your levels are too high. It is important that you tell your parent or carer if you notice any changes in your body or if you feel poorly at any time while you are taking ciclosporin. They can talk to your doctors about this and make sure that you are taking the right amount. Is there anything I can’t do while I’m taking ciclosporin? There are a few things you shouldn’t do while you’re taking ciclosporin: Don’t drink grapefruit juice As this can make your body take in more ciclosporin than it needs. Don’t take any other medicines, including herbal ones, without your parents or carers talking to your doctor about it first. Some medicines will stop ciclosporin from doing its job properly or can cause problems. Don’t have any immunisations without your parents or carers talking to your doctor about it first. As your immune system is quietened down, it isn’t safe for you to have immunisations that include small doses of live viruses. Staying positive We understand that you might be worried about taking ciclosporin and the changes it might make to your body. Remember that not everyone gets side effects, and if you do, they don’t last for very long. Keep talking to your family and friends about how you feel, as this will help. You can also talk with your doctors or nurses about your treatment and anything that is worrying you. They will be able to answer any questions you have. You can also find lots of helpful information here on the MarrowKidz website and hear from other children who have had aplastic anaemia and understand how you might be feeling right now. Would you like this as a book? You can also order this information as a free printed booklet, or ask a parent to order one for you here: Order one now Manage Cookie Preferences