How is Vevye (cyclosporine) different from Cequa?

Vevye (cyclosporine) and [Cequa (cyclosporine)](https://www.goodrx.com/cequa/what-is) are both brand-name medications that treat dry eyes and contain the same active ingredient, cyclosporine. One difference is that Cequa (cyclosporine) is made with a [different technology](https://cequapro.com/how-cequa-works/ncell-technology/) compared to other cyclosporine products. But since Vevye (cyclosporine) and Cequa (cyclosporine) haven't been directly compared, it's not known if one medication is safer or works better than the other. Talk with your provider about which option is best for you.

Can I use Vevye (cyclosporine) if I'm pregnant?

It's not known if Vevye (cyclosporine) is safe to take in pregnancy because it hasn't been studied. Animal studies done with higher than prescribed doses of oral cyclosporine (e.g., [(Sandimmune)](https://www.goodrx.com/cyclosporine/what-is), [Neoral](https://www.goodrx.com/cyclosporine-modified/what-is)) can potentially cause serious harm, including death, to unborn babies, and isn't typically recommended in pregnancy. If you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, talk to your provider about the risks and benefits of using Vevye (cyclosporine).

Vevye

cyclosporine

Used for Dry Eye

Vevye (cyclosporine) is a prescription eye drop that treats signs and symptoms of dry eyes. It's a preservative-free medication that has been shown to work after 4 weeks. You need to use it twice per day, about 12 hours apart. Common side effects include changes in vision and instillation site reactions like eye irritation or burning and stinging in the eye.

Reviewed by:

Robert Chad Hakim, PharmD, BCCCP

Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD

Last reviewed on July 31, 2023

What is Vevye (cyclosporine)?

What is Vevye (cyclosporine) used for?

Dry eyes in adults

How Vevye (cyclosporine) works

Vevye (cyclosporine) is a calcineurin inhibitor. By stopping a protein called calcineurin from working, Vevye (cyclosporine) lowers inflammation in your eyes, which helps your eyes to make tears.

Are you looking for information on cyclosporine (Restasis) for dry eyes, cyclosporine non-modified (Sandimmune) or cyclosporine modified (Neoral) for organ transplant instead?

Drug facts

Common Brands	Vevye
Drug Class	Calcineurin inhibitor
Controlled Substance Classification	Not a controlled medication
Generic Status	No lower-cost generic available
Availability	Prescription only

Common Brands

Vevye

Drug Class

Calcineurin inhibitor

Controlled Substance Classification

Not a controlled medication

Generic Status

No lower-cost generic available

Availability

Prescription only

Side effects of Vevye (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

Instillation-site reactions (e.g., eye irritation, burning and stinging in the eye) (8%)
Lower vision sharpness (3%)

Source: DailyMed

The following Vevye (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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Avg retail price

$909.00(Save 67.11%)

$299.00

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Pros and cons of Vevye (cyclosporine)

Pros

Shown to work after 4 weeks
Is a preservative-free eye drop

Cons

Needs to be taken twice per day
Might be difficult for some people to administer correctly

Pharmacist tips for Vevye (cyclosporine)

Make sure you know how to use the Vevye (cyclosporine) eye drops to avoid accidentally hurting yourself or wasting any of the medication. Ask your provider or pharmacist if you have any questions.
How to use eye drops: First, wash your hands with soap and water. Then, hold Vevye (cyclosporine) near your eyelid. Tilt your head backward and look up. Gently pull your lower eyelid down to form a small pocket and squeeze one drop of medication into this pocket. Close your eyes gently while pressing a finger against the inside corner of your eye for about 1 minute to help keep the medication in your eye.
If you get blurry vision or if your eyes become sensitive to light after using Vevye (cyclosporine), don't drive or operate machinery until these side effects go away.
The bottle and tip of Vevye (cyclosporine) must stay clean and free of bacteria. Don't touch the tip with your hands, to your eye, or to any other surface when using the eye drops. If you do, bacteria can get into the bottle or on the bottle tip, which may contaminate it. Using the medication afterwards can then cause eye infections.
Make sure to keep the Vevye (cyclosporine) bottle capped and closed tightly when you're not using it.
Don't share Vevye (cyclosporine) with anyone to prevent contamination from other people.
Store Vevye (cyclosporine) in a cool and dry place at room temperature in its original container with the cap on and keep it away from children. Don't put it in the refrigerator or the freezer.

Common questions about Vevye

In clinical studies, a higher number of people who used Vevye produced more tears when compared to those not receiving the medication. This was seen in about 10% of people taking Vevye, compared to 6% of people taking a placebo.

Vevye and Cequa (cyclosporine) are both brand-name medications that treat dry eyes and contain the same active ingredient, cyclosporine. One difference is that Cequa (cyclosporine) is made with a different technology compared to other cyclosporine products. But since Vevye and Cequa (cyclosporine) haven't been directly compared, it's not known if one medication is safer or works better than the other. Talk with your provider about which option is best for you.

Yes. If you wear contact lenses, take them out before using Vevye so that the medication can reach your eyes. After using the drops, wait at least 15 minutes to put your contact lenses back into your eyes.

Yes. If you are using another eye drop medication along with Vevye, make sure to wait at least 15 minutes between using the medications. This ensures your eyes can fully absorb each medication. Check with your healthcare provider on which medication you should use first.

It's not known if Vevye is safe to take in pregnancy because it hasn't been studied. Animal studies done with higher than prescribed doses of oral cyclosporine (e.g., (Sandimmune), Neoral) can potentially cause serious harm, including death, to unborn babies, and isn't typically recommended in pregnancy. If you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, talk to your provider about the risks and benefits of using Vevye.

There isn’t enough information in humans to support whether Vevye is safe to use during breastfeeding. Since Vevye is applied to the eye, the level of the medication in the body is likely too low to be detected. Still, if you're breastfeeding, talk to your provider about the risks and benefits of using Vevye.

Risks and warnings for Vevye (cyclosporine)

Vevye (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 bottle touch the eye, eyelid, fingers, or other surfaces. Doing so can contaminate Vevye (cyclosporine) and cause serious harm to the eye, such as infection and vision loss.

Use with contact lenses

Don't use Vevye (cyclosporine) drops when you have your contacts in. Take your contacts out before you use this medication. You can put your contacts back in after waiting at least 15 minutes.

Vevye (cyclosporine) dosage

The average cost for 1 eye dropper of 2ml of 0.1% of Vevye (cyclosporine) is $299.00 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 67.11% off the average retail price of $909.00.