Cequa
Cequa (cyclosporine) is an eye drop that helps relieve signs and symptoms of dry eye. It works best when used every day, twice a day, for at least 3 months. After using a dose, the vial will need to be thrown away since it doesn't contain any preservatives. The most common side effects include eye pain and eye redness. It's only available as a brand medication, so a generic version is not available.
What is Cequa (cyclosporine)?
What is Cequa (cyclosporine) used for?
- Dry eyes in adults
How Cequa (cyclosporine) works
Cequa (cyclosporine) is a calcineurin inhibitor. Calcineurin is a protein in your body that raises inflammation, including in your eyes. By blocking calcineurin from working, Cequa (cyclosporine) lowers inflammation, which then helps your eyes make more tears.
Drug facts
More on Cequa (cyclosporine) essentials
Side effects of Cequa (cyclosporine)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Eye pain (22%)
- Eye redness (6%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Eyelid swelling
- Eye irritation
- Headache
- Urinary tract infection
The following Cequa (cyclosporine) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- New or worsening eye pain, redness, irritation, or discharge
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Blurry vision
- Eye irritation or itching
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Pros and cons of Cequa (cyclosporine)
Pros
- Helps your body produce its own tears
- Can be used with other lubricating eye drops, such as artificial tears
- Designed to deliver more medication to the affected area
Cons
- Can cause eye pain during application
- It's not clear whether this medication is safe or works well for children
- Can't be used with contact lenses
Pharmacist tips for Cequa (cyclosporine)
- Always wash your hands with soap and water before using Cequa (cyclosporine). The medication should only be applied to your eyes.
- If you have to use another eye drop in the same eye(s), wait at least 15 minutes after using Cequa (cyclosporine). This gives enough time for both eye drops to absorb properly into your eye(s).
- Make sure to take your contact lenses out before using Cequa (cyclosporine). Wait at least 15 minutes before putting your lenses back in.
- Don't let the tip of the Cequa (cyclosporine) vial touch the eye or other surfaces. Doing so can contaminate the medication with bacteria.
- To use Cequa (cyclosporine), pull down your lower eyelid with one hand and hold the bottle upside down with the other. Squeeze 1 drop, then close your eye, and press your finger on the corner of your eye closest to your nose for a minute. Doing this helps the medication stay in your eye and prevents it from leaking into your nose.
- After you've used a drop of Cequa (cyclosporine) in each eye, throw the vial away. Don't save the leftover medication. Since single-use vials don't contain preservatives to prevent bacteria from growing, using leftover medication can raise your risk of an eye infection.
Common questions about Cequa (cyclosporine)
In clinical trials, about 17% of people who were treated with Cequa (cyclosporine) noticed more tear production compared to only 9% of people who were treated with placebo. If you have any questions about whether Cequa (cyclosporine) is right for you, ask your provider for more information.
No. Cequa (cyclosporine) is considered a calcineurin inhibitor, not a steroid medication.
It depends. Follow your provider's instructions and use Cequa (cyclosporine) for as long as they recommend. Even though it can start working in about 2 weeks, it might take up to 2 months before you notice improvement in your vision. And up to 3 months before you start to notice your eyes making more tears. Therefore, it's important to use this medication every day for the best results.
Both Cequa (cyclosporine) and Restasis (cyclosporine) contain the same active ingredient to help your eyes produce more tears. The manufacturer of Cequa (cyclosporine) claims that Cequa (cyclosporine) has a special delivery system that allows most of the medication to be released in the most inflamed area. In animal studies, Cequa (cyclosporine) was absorbed 3 times better into different portions of the eyes than Restasis (cyclosporine). Discuss with your provider about which medication is right for you.
No. While both Cequa (cyclosporine) and Xiidra (lifitegrast) are used to treat dry eye, they work a little differently to lower inflammation in the eye. But they do have similar instructions, apply one drop in each eye twice a day, about 12 hours apart.
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Risks and warnings for Cequa (cyclosporine)
Cequa (cyclosporine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Eye injury or infection
Don't let the tip of the vial touch the eye, eyelid, fingers, or other surfaces. Doing so can contaminate Cequa (cyclosporine) and cause serious harm to the eye, such as infection and vision loss.
Use with contact lenses
Don't use Cequa (cyclosporine) while wearing contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, consider taking them out before using this medication. You can put your contact lenses back in 15 minutes after using Cequa (cyclosporine).
Cequa (cyclosporine) dosage
Box| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 vials of 0.09% | 1 box | $609.87 | $609.87 |
Typical dosage for Cequa (cyclosporine)
Each drop of Cequa (cyclosporine) contains 0.09% of cyclosporine.
- Adults: The typical dose is to place 1 drop in affected eye(s) twice a day, 12 hours apart.
More on Cequa (cyclosporine) dosage
How much does Cequa (cyclosporine) cost?
$609.87
What are alternatives to Cequa (cyclosporine)?
