Does cyclosporine work on hives?

Yes.: Cyclosporine and other potent immunosuppressant agents are very effective for hives. They are reserved for patients whose hives are resistant to medications with fewer side-effects and that require less on-going monitoring for safety.

Yes as last resort: Before trying cyclosporin you should, under an allergist's supervision, try Cetirizine 10 mg, 1-4 tabs per day and ranitidine (type 2 antihistamine) 300 mg per day. If this doesn't work then additional antihistamines can be added to the regimen. An allergist should be able to guide you through these steps, and others, before cyclosporin is considered.

Possible: Hives can be challenging to treat. If antihistamines are not helpful and the cause of the hives is unknown then other medications may be tried. These other medications include: prednisone, cyclosporin, dapsone, xolair and others. These medications have more significant side effects and should be used only in special cases.

Yes: Cyclosporine is a "second line" medication for hives. It is useful for chronic hives in people who will need long-term treatment, and has more side effects than the "first line" treatments such as antihistamines. It is only used when first line medications don't work - that is, when the benefits of the drug outweigh its risks.