Poison ivy, oak, and sumac

In severe reactions, monitor the patient over several weeks to ensure there is no flare-up on tapering the dose of oral corticosteroids. If the patient is taking azathioprine, it is advisable to monitor complete blood count and liver function tests weekly for 6 weeks, then fortnightly. Once the dose is stable, this could be reduced to monthly and then 3-monthly after the first 6 months. Similarly, with cyclosporine, it is prudent to monitor renal function, liver function, and blood pressure weekly for the first month and at regular intervals thereafter. If the blood pressure is refractory to pharmacologic therapy, cyclosporine may have to be discontinued.