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cyclosporine vs lovastatin

Side-by-side comparison of cyclosporine and lovastatin. 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

Gemfibrozil Other fibrates Niacin (nicotinic acid) (≥ 1 g/day) Other Drug Interactions Cyclosporine The risk of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis is increased by concomitant administration of cyclosporine (see WARNINGS , Myopathy/Rhabdomyolysis ).

Recommendation: Your doctor should monitor you closely and will likely need to use a lower dose of lovastatin. Report any new muscle pain or dark-colored urine to your provider.

Drug Class
cyclosporine Calcineurin Inhibitor (Immunosuppressant)
lovastatin HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin)
Type
cyclosporine Prescription
lovastatin Prescription
Summary
cyclosporine

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

lovastatin

Lovastatin is a medicine that helps lower cholesterol levels in your blood. It belongs to a class of drugs called statins.

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.

lovastatin

Lovastatin is used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart problems. It can help prevent heart attacks, unstable angina (chest pain), and the need for procedures to open blocked arteries. It's also used to slow down the hardening of arteries in people who already have heart disease. Lovastatin can also be used in children 10-17 years of age with high cholesterol due to genetic causes.

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.

lovastatin

Lovastatin works by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol. This helps to lower the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Lowering cholesterol helps to prevent heart disease and stroke.

Common Side Effects
cyclosporine
  • Irritation where the drops are applied (8%)
lovastatin
  • Abdominal pain
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Gas
  • 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
lovastatin
  • Feeling tired 1,519
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 1,395
  • Loose, watery stools 1,250
  • Difficulty breathing 1,210
  • Feeling lightheaded 1,146
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.

lovastatin

Lovastatin can cause muscle problems, including muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis), which can lead to kidney damage. The risk is higher if you take certain other medicines with lovastatin. You should not take lovastatin if you have liver problems or are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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.

lovastatin

You should not take lovastatin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It can harm your unborn baby. If you are a woman who could become pregnant, use effective birth control while taking lovastatin.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This cyclosporine vs lovastatin Comparison

cyclosporine is classified in the Calcineurin Inhibitor (Immunosuppressant) drug class, while lovastatin sits within the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) 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 lovastatin has 6,520. 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 interferes with how your body handles lovastatin, leading to higher amounts of the drug in your system. this increases the chance of developing severe muscle problems.. 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 lovastatin - 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.