cyclosporine vs tacrolimus topical
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of cyclosporine and tacrolimus topical. 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
( 7.1 , 7.2 , 7.3 ) 7.1 Mycophenolic Acid When tacrolimus extended-release capsules is prescribed with a given dose of a mycophenolic acid (MPA) product, exposure to MPA is higher with tacrolimus extended-release capsules co-administration than with cyclosporine co-administration with MPA, because cyclosporine interrupts the enterohepatic recirculation of MPA while tacrolimus does not.
Neoral, Sandimmune, Restasis
Protopic
Vevye eye drops contain cyclosporine. They help treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.
Tacrolimus extended-release capsules help prevent organ rejection in kidney transplant patients. It works by suppressing your immune system.
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 is used to prevent your body from rejecting a new kidney after a transplant. It is for adult patients who can swallow capsules whole. You will take it with other medicines that also suppress your immune system.
Vevye contains cyclosporine, which is an immunosuppressant. It works by decreasing inflammation in the eyes. This helps your eyes make more tears.
Tacrolimus belongs to a class of drugs called calcineurin inhibitors. It lowers the activity of your immune system. This helps prevent your body from attacking your new kidney.
- • Irritation where the drops are applied (8%)
- • Diarrhea
- • Constipation
- • Nausea
- • Swelling in your arms and legs
- • Tremors
- Eye Irritation 7,786
- Pyrexia 4,064
- Eye Pain 3,808
- Nausea 3,623
- Diarrhoea 3,562
No adverse event reports.
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 medicine can increase your risk of serious infections and certain cancers. These problems could lead to hospitalization or even death. This drug is not approved for liver transplants and may increase the risk of death in female liver transplant patients.
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.
Tacrolimus can harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. There is a pregnancy registry to track outcomes in women who take tacrolimus during pregnancy.
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How to Read This cyclosporine vs tacrolimus topical Comparison
cyclosporine is classified in the Calcineurin Inhibitor (Immunosuppressant) drug class, while tacrolimus topical sits within the Calcineurin Inhibitor (Topical) 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 tacrolimus topical has 0. 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 these drugs change how medicines move through your digestive system and liver in different ways, which can affect your blood levels.. 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 tacrolimus topical.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.