cyclosporine vs hydroxychloroquine
Side-by-side comparison of cyclosporine and hydroxychloroquine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
7.6 Cyclosporine An increased plasma cyclosporine level was reported when cyclosporine and hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets were co-administered. Monitor serum cyclosporine levels closely in patients receiving combined therapy.
Recommendation: Your doctor should check your cyclosporine blood levels often and may need to change your dose.
Neoral, Sandimmune, Restasis
Plaquenil
Vevye eye drops contain cyclosporine. They help treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.
Hydroxychloroquine is a drug used to treat or prevent malaria, and to treat certain autoimmune diseases. It works by interfering with the immune system and by killing malaria parasites.
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.
This medicine can treat uncomplicated malaria caused by certain parasites. It can also prevent malaria in areas where the parasites are not resistant to the drug. Hydroxychloroquine also treats rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and chronic discoid lupus erythematosus.
Vevye contains cyclosporine, which is an immunosuppressant. It works by decreasing inflammation in the eyes. This helps your eyes make more tears.
Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial and antirheumatic drug. It is thought to work by interfering with the immune system's activity. It also stops the growth of malaria parasites in red blood cells.
- • Irritation where the drops are applied (8%)
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Diarrhea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Fatigue
- Eye feels irritated 7,786
- Fever 4,066
- Eye ache 3,808
- Feeling sick to your stomach 3,623
- Loose stools 3,562
- Rheumatoid arthritis 12,921
- Pain 10,409
- Joint pain 9,276
- Tiredness 8,853
- Swollen joint 8,528
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.
This drug can cause heart problems, including a weakened heart muscle and irregular heartbeats. It can also cause irreversible damage to your retina, so regular eye exams are needed. This medicine can also cause serious skin reactions. If you have psoriasis or porphyria, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine. It can also cause liver and kidney problems.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This drug can cross the placenta, but studies haven't shown a risk of major birth defects. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant. Hydroxychloroquine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
Compare hydroxychloroquine with
How to Read This cyclosporine vs hydroxychloroquine Comparison
cyclosporine is classified in the Calcineurin Inhibitor (Immunosuppressant) drug class, while hydroxychloroquine sits within the Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) 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 hydroxychloroquine has 49,987. 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 minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to hydroxychloroquine can cause the amount of cyclosporine in your blood to rise to higher levels.. 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 hydroxychloroquine - 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.