cyclosporine vs nicardipine

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Side-by-side comparison of cyclosporine and nicardipine. 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

Cyclosporine Concomitant administration of oral or intravenous nicardipine and cyclosporine results in elevated plasma cyclosporine levels though nicardipine inhibition of hepatic microsomal enzymes, including CYP3A4. Plasma concentrations of cyclosporine should therefore be closely monitored, and its dosage reduced accordingly, in patients treated with nicardipine.

Drug Class
cyclosporine Calcineurin Inhibitor (Immunosuppressant)
nicardipine Calcium Channel Blocker
Type
cyclosporine Prescription
nicardipine Prescription
Summary
cyclosporine

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

nicardipine

Nicardipine is a drug that helps to lower blood pressure and treat chest pain. It belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers.

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.

nicardipine

Nicardipine treats chronic stable angina, which is chest pain that happens when you exert yourself. It can be used alone or with beta-blockers to manage this condition. Nicardipine also treats high blood pressure, and it can be used alone or with other blood pressure medications.

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.

nicardipine

Nicardipine works by blocking calcium from entering certain cells in your heart and blood vessels. This helps to relax and widen your blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. It also reduces the workload on your heart, which can help to relieve chest pain.

Common Side Effects
cyclosporine
  • Irritation where the drops are applied (8%)
nicardipine
  • Swelling in your feet or ankles
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Weakness
  • Flushing (redness of the skin)
FAERS Reports
cyclosporine
  • Eye Irritation 7,786
  • Pyrexia 4,064
  • Eye Pain 3,808
  • Nausea 3,623
  • Diarrhoea 3,562
nicardipine
  • Acute Kidney Injury 226
  • Premature Baby 205
  • Foetal Exposure During Pregnancy 194
  • Maternal Exposure During Pregnancy 180
  • Drug Interaction 167
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.

nicardipine

If you have advanced aortic stenosis, you should not take this medication. Lowering blood pressure in this case could worsen oxygen balance to the heart. Use caution if you have congestive heart failure.

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.

nicardipine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if nicardipine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking nicardipine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This cyclosporine vs nicardipine Comparison

cyclosporine is classified in the Calcineurin Inhibitor (Immunosuppressant) drug class, while nicardipine sits within the Calcium Channel Blocker 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 22,843 submissions while nicardipine has 972. 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 nicardipine blocks the liver's ability to break down cyclosporine, which can lead to high levels of cyclosporine in the body.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for cyclosporine or nicardipine.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.