cyclosporine vs ezetimibe/simvastatin
Side-by-side comparison of cyclosporine and ezetimibe/simvastatin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
major Known Drug Interaction
Cyclosporine, Danazol, or Gemfibrozil Clinical Impact: The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use of cyclosporine, danazol, or gemfibrozil with VYTORIN. Intervention: Concomitant use of cyclosporine, danazol, or gemfibrozil with VYTORIN is contraindicated [see Contraindications (4) ] .
Recommendation: You should not take these two medications together at the same time.
Neoral, Sandimmune, Restasis
Vytorin
Vevye eye drops contain cyclosporine. They help treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.
Vytorin is a combination medicine that contains ezetimibe and simvastatin. It helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) in your blood.
Vevye treats the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. Dry eye can cause discomfort, stinging, and blurred vision. This medicine can help reduce these symptoms.
Vytorin is used along with a healthy diet to lower high LDL cholesterol. It is used in adults with primary hyperlipidemia and in adults and children 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). Vytorin can also be used with other cholesterol-lowering treatments for adults with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). Simvastatin, one of the drugs in Vytorin, can also lower the risk of heart problems like heart attack and stroke in adults with heart disease, blood vessel disease, or diabetes.
Vevye contains cyclosporine, which is an immunosuppressant. It works by decreasing inflammation in the eyes. This helps your eyes make more tears.
Ezetimibe reduces the amount of cholesterol your body absorbs from food. Simvastatin belongs to a class of drugs called statins. Statins lower cholesterol by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol.
- • Irritation where the drops are applied (8%)
- • Headache
- • Increased liver enzyme (ALT)
- • Muscle pain
- • Upper respiratory tract infection
- • Diarrhea
- Eye feels irritated 7,786
- Fever 4,066
- Eye ache 3,808
- Feeling sick to your stomach 3,623
- Loose stools 3,562
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,008
- Feeling tired 771
- Feeling lightheaded 731
- General pain 702
- Muscle pain 669
To avoid eye injury or contamination, do not touch the bottle tip to your eye or any other surface. Do not use Vevye while wearing contact lenses. If you wear contacts, remove them before using the drops. You can put them back in 15 minutes after using Vevye.
Vytorin can cause muscle problems, including myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Tell your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever or feel sick. Vytorin can also cause liver problems. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking Vytorin and while you take it.
It is not known if Vevye will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Cyclosporine can pass into breast milk after being taken orally, but it is unknown if it passes into breast milk from eye drops. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Do not take Vytorin if you are pregnant. It can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, as it is not recommended during treatment with Vytorin.
How to Read This cyclosporine vs ezetimibe/simvastatin Comparison
cyclosporine is classified in the Calcineurin Inhibitor (Immunosuppressant) drug class, while ezetimibe/simvastatin sits within the Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitor / Statin Combination class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, cyclosporine has 22,845 submissions while ezetimibe/simvastatin has 3,881. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to cyclosporine causes a large increase in simvastatin levels in your blood, which can lead to a dangerous condition where muscle tissue breaks down.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between cyclosporine and ezetimibe/simvastatin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.