Cequa (cyclosporine) is a brand-name drug prescribed to treat dry eye in adults. Cequa comes as an eye drop that’s typically used twice per day.
Cequa belongs to a drug class called calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressants. (An immunosuppressant is a medication that reduces the activity of your immune system.) Cequa isn’t available in a generic version.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Cequa, including its strength and how to use the medication. For a comprehensive look at Cequa, see this article.
Note: This article describes the typical dosage for Cequa provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When using Cequa, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Below is more detailed information about Cequa’s dosage.
Cequa form
Cequa comes as an ophthalmic solution (eye drops) in single-use vials. Each vial contains 0.25 milliliters (mL) of solution.
Cequa strength
Cequa comes in one strength of 0.09%. This is 0.9 milligrams (mg) cyclosporine per mL of solution. (Cyclosporine is the active drug in Cequa.)
Typical dosage
The following information describes the dosage that’s commonly prescribed or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for dry eye
The dosage for dry eye is one drop of Cequa per eye two times per day.
Long-term treatment
Cequa is meant to be a long-term treatment for dry eye. If you and your doctor determine that Cequa is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term.
If you have questions about your treatment plan, talk with your doctor for more information.
Cequa eye drop solution comes in single-use vials. Open one vial and put a single drop of solution in each eye. After you give yourself your dose in both eyes, throw the vial away. You’ll open a new vial for your next dose. You should take your Cequa doses about 12 hours apart, so you’ll use two vials per day.
Be sure not to let the tip of the vial touch your eye or any other surface. Also, do not save or reuse the vial for a future dose, even if there’s some solution left inside. Always open a new vial for each dose. If you have questions about using Cequa, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: If you wear contact lenses, remove them before using Cequa. Then wait 15 minutes before reinserting your contact lenses.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERSSome pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you miss a dose of Cequa, talk with your doctor or pharmacist for guidance. In some cases, they’ll recommend taking the missed dose as soon as you remember. But they may advise you to skip the missed one and take your next dose as scheduled.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your bathroom mirror or bedside table. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
The dosage in this article is the typical dosage provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Cequa for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Cequa without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Cequa that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Cequa. These additional articles might be helpful:
- More about Cequa. For information about other aspects of Cequa, refer to this article.
- Side effects. To learn about side effects of Cequa, see this article. You can also look at the Cequa prescribing information.
- Drug comparison. To find out how Cequa compares with Restasis, read this article.
- Details about your condition. For details about your condition, see our eye health hub and list of dry eye articles.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.