Cequa Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Cequa (cyclosporine) is a medicated eye drop that can help with the symptoms of chronic dry eye. Although some eye drops and other remedies for dry eye can be found over the counter, Cequa is only available with a prescription. It’s FDA-approved to treat chronic dry eye (also called dry eye disease or keratoconjunctivitis sicca) by increasing tear production.

There are other prescription-only eye drops for treating dry eye. These include Restasis and Verkazia. All three products — Cequa, Restasis, and Verkazia — contain the active ingredient cyclosporine. But the amount of medication per drop differs. In this article, we’ll focus only on Cequa.

If you’ve been prescribed Cequa, it’s important to know how to take it correctly in order for it to be as effective as possible. Be sure to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions. Below, we’ll review the manufacturer’s recommended Cequa dosages.

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Note: Cequa is only approved for adults. It hasn’t been well-studied in children. So we’ll only cover adult dosage information here.

What’s the typical Cequa dosage for adults?

The usual Cequa dosage is 1 drop in each eye twice daily. The dosing times should be about 12 hours apart, if possible. Cequa works best when used consistently every day. Unlike many over-the-counter eye drops, it’s not meant to be used only when you have symptoms.

Cequa comes in single-use dropper vials. One vial contains enough to administer one drop in each eye. Use the medication as soon as you open the vial. Then discard the vial when you’re finished with your dose — even if there’s liquid left inside. Cequa doesn’t contain any preservatives. So once opened, it could become contaminated with bacteria or other germs.

When you’re giving yourself a dose of Cequa, handle the dropper vial carefully. Be sure the tip doesn’t touch your eye or any other surface. This helps avoid eye injuries and contamination.

If you’re using a lubricating eye drop such as artificial tears in addition to Cequa, wait for 15 minutes between using the two products. If you also use a lubricating eye ointment, such as Systane (hypromellose), you should use Cequa first. Wait at least 15 minutes before applying the ointment.

You shouldn’t put Cequa drops in your eyes while wearing contacts. Make sure to take them out before your dose. Then wait at least 15 minutes before putting them back in.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

No, there are no recommended dosage adjustments for Cequa based on health conditions. Some medical conditions, such as kidney or liver disease, affect how certain medications work in the body. But since Cequa is an eye drop, very little of the medication makes it to your bloodstream. This means that organs like the liver or kidneys aren’t involved in breaking the medication down and clearing it from your body.

What happens if you miss a dose of Cequa?

It can be easy to forget to take a dose of your eye drops. If you miss a Cequa dose, just use it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next scheduled dose, just skip the dose you forgot. Don’t try to make up for missed doses by taking extra.

If you’re having trouble remembering to take Cequa, there are ways to help you keep track of it. One way is to use Cequa around the time of routine activities, such as meals. Medication reminder apps can also be helpful.

What should you do if you take too much Cequa?

It’s possible to accidentally use too much Cequa. But since the medication comes in individually packaged vials, there’s not a lot of extra medication in each vial. This makes it harder to accidentally use a large amount of Cequa. If you accidentally get an extra drop or two of Cequa in your eye, it’s unlikely to cause serious harm. You may temporarily experience more side effects, like eye pain and redness.

If you or someone else applies a large amount of Cequa to the eyes, or takes the medication by mouth, talk to a healthcare provider or contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. They can provide guidance on the next best steps to take.

How to save on Cequa

There are ways to save on Cequa, which is only available as a brand-name medication. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible for a copay savings card from the manufacturer that could lower your prescription cost to $0.

If your insurance doesn’t cover Cequa, or if you have government-sponsored insurance such as Medicare or Medicaid, you can sign up for Cequa Direct Pricing. The cost of a one-month supply with this pricing is $89.

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Written by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Reviewed by:

Kieu-My Huynh, PharmD Candidate

Before embarking on her journey in pharmacy, Kieu-My honed her skills as a researcher at Stanford University, delving deep into scientific exploration to advance healthcare. This experience instilled in her a profound love for science and a desire to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and patient care, ultimately maximizing the benefits for all those in need.

Reviewed by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

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