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What the FDA labels say about taking them together

Cyclosporine and ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel

Ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel's FDA label of August 27, 2026 names cyclosporine in its drug interactions section; the cyclosporine labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel. The ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel label: “Concomitant use with ethinyl estradiol-containing CHCs may increase systemic exposure of other drugs.”

Check it at the source: the cyclosporine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 10, 2026, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation); the ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 27, 2026, Exeltis USA, Inc.).

What does the cyclosporine label say about ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel?

Cyclosporine's label (effective August 10, 2026) and its 3 other brand-application labels do not name ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.

Source: FDA drug label (Neoral), Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, effective August 10, 2026 (SPL set 94461af3-11f1-4670-95d4-2965b9538ae3), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

What does the ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel label say about cyclosporine?

Ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel label, drug interactions

Concomitant use with ethinyl estradiol-containing CHCs may increase systemic exposure of other drugs (e.g., cyclosporine, prednisolone, theophylline, tizanidine, and voriconazole).

Balcoltra label (Avion Pharmaceuticals, December 5, 2025), drug interactions

Contraceptives on Other Drugs Combined oral contraceptives containing EE may inhibit the metabolism of other compounds (e.g., cyclosporine, prednisolone, theophylline, tizanidine, and voriconazole) and increase their plasma concentrations.

Source: FDA drug label (Balcoltra, NDA208612), Avion Pharmaceuticals, effective December 5, 2025 (SPL set 752ab698-4b48-4614-8016-d1d33ee7c007), via openFDA

Source: FDA drug label (Tyblume), Exeltis USA, Inc., effective August 27, 2026 (SPL set b2482d51-d606-4aaa-8af4-19e4fe2f8872), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.

Both medicines on the record

14Cyclosporine generic labelers
19Ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel generic labelers
CyclosporineEthinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel
Labeled forOrgan transplant rejection, Rheumatoid arthritisBirth control
Boxed warningYesYes
Pharmacy cost (NADAC)$1.04 per unit 0.05% eye emulsion$0.154 per tablet 28 tablet
Shortage nowNo current entryNo current entry

Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)

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