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cyclosporine vs glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

Side-by-side comparison of cyclosporine and glecaprevir/pibrentasvir. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

moderate Known Drug Interaction

Immunosuppressants: Cyclosporine ↑ glecaprevir ↑ pibrentasvir MAVYRET is not recommended for use in patients requiring stable cyclosporine doses > 100 mg per day.

Recommendation: This combination is not recommended if you take more than 100 mg of cyclosporine per day. Your doctor may need to review your current medications before starting this treatment.

Drug Class
cyclosporine Calcineurin Inhibitor (Immunosuppressant)
glecaprevir/pibrentasvir NS3/4A/NS5A Inhibitor (HCV)
Type
cyclosporine Prescription
glecaprevir/pibrentasvir Prescription
Summary
cyclosporine

Vevye eye drops contain cyclosporine. They help treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.

glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

Mavyret is a medicine used to treat hepatitis C (HCV) in adults and children 3 years and older. It contains two drugs, glecaprevir and pibrentasvir, that work together to stop the virus from multiplying.

What It Treats
cyclosporine

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.

glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

Mavyret treats hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. It can be used in people without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis. Mavyret can also treat genotype 1 in people who have already been treated with certain other HCV medicines.

How It Works
cyclosporine

Vevye contains cyclosporine, which is an immunosuppressant. It works by decreasing inflammation in the eyes. This helps your eyes make more tears.

glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

Mavyret contains glecaprevir and pibrentasvir. Glecaprevir blocks a protein called NS3/4A protease that the virus needs to multiply. Pibrentasvir blocks a protein called NS5A, also needed for the virus to multiply. By blocking these proteins, Mavyret stops the hepatitis C virus from spreading in your body.

Common Side Effects
cyclosporine
  • Irritation where the drops are applied (8%)
glecaprevir/pibrentasvir
  • Headache
  • Feeling tired
  • Nausea
FAERS Reports
cyclosporine
  • Eye feels irritated 7,786
  • Fever 4,066
  • Eye ache 3,808
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 3,623
  • Loose stools 3,562
glecaprevir/pibrentasvir
  • Feeling tired 2,561
  • Headache 2,203
  • Nausea 1,125
  • Itching 653
  • Diarrhea 477
Serious Warnings
cyclosporine

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.

glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

Mavyret can cause hepatitis B to become active again if you have had it in the past. This can cause serious liver problems, including liver failure and death. Your doctor will test you for hepatitis B before you start Mavyret. They will also monitor you during and after treatment.

Pregnancy
cyclosporine

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.

glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

It is not known if Mavyret will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Mavyret passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking Mavyret.

How to Read This cyclosporine vs glecaprevir/pibrentasvir Comparison

cyclosporine is classified in the Calcineurin Inhibitor (Immunosuppressant) drug class, while glecaprevir/pibrentasvir sits within the NS3/4A/NS5A Inhibitor (HCV) 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 glecaprevir/pibrentasvir has 7,019. 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 moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to cyclosporine causes the levels of glecaprevir and pibrentasvir to increase in your body. this happens because cyclosporine interferes with how the body processes these medications.. 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 glecaprevir/pibrentasvir - 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.