What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Cyclosporine and dexamethasone
Dexamethasone's FDA label of June 6, 2025 names cyclosporine in its drug interactions section; cyclosporine's label does not name dexamethasone itself but warns about its class (Corticosteroids). The dexamethasone label: “Cyclosporine: Increased activity of both cyclosporine and corticosteroids may occur when the two are used concurrently.”
Check it at the source: the cyclosporine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 10, 2026, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation); the dexamethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 6, 2025, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.).
What does the cyclosporine label say about dexamethasone?
Cyclosporine's label does not name dexamethasone itself; it warns about its class (Corticosteroids):
Cyclosporine label, warningsPredisposing factors, such as hypertension, hypomagnesemia, hypocholesterolemia, high-dose corticosteroids, high cyclosporine blood concentrations, and graft-versus-host disease, have been noted in many but not all of the reported cases.
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 dexamethasone label say about cyclosporine?
Dexamethasone label, drug interactionsCyclosporine: Increased activity of both cyclosporine and corticosteroids may occur when the two are used concurrently.
Source: FDA drug label (Dexamethasone Intensol), Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., effective June 6, 2025 (SPL set b15200fb-1826-472b-a907-e677a272513b), 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
| Cyclosporine | Dexamethasone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Organ transplant rejection, Rheumatoid arthritis | Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Herpes and shingles, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, Allergies, Anemia, Pain |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $1.04 per unit 0.05% eye emulsion | $0.193 per tablet 4 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once