A nurse is caring for a patient prescribed to cyclosporine. The nurse should monitor the patient for which common side effects?
Explanation
• Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant used to prevent organ rejection after a transplant, severe rheumatoid arthritis, or severe psoriasis.
• The most common side effects are renal dysfunction (leading to hyperkalemia), tremor, hirsutism, acne, hypertension, immunosuppression (which increases the risk of infection), and gingival (gum) hyperplasia.
• Muscle pain (myalgia) and hypotension are not common side effects of cyclosporine. However, leg cramps are a common side effect.