Cyclosporine and dental care

Cyclosporine is a recognized cause of drug-induced gingival overgrowth, and gingival hyperplasia is listed as an adverse reaction in the current cyclosporine prescribing information. Overgrowth tends to be more severe in transplant patients who are also taking a calcium channel blocker such as amlodipine or nifedipine, because both drug classes are independently associated with the effect. Cyclosporine also suppresses immunity, which affects healing and oral-infection risk, and it has multiple drug interactions that matter for dental prescribing — particularly clarithromycin and azole antifungals, which can raise cyclosporine exposure and should be coordinated with the clinician managing the medication.