Does cyclosporine work for hives at all?

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.