Cequa (cyclosporine) is a brand-name eye drop that’s prescribed for dry eye in adults. As with other drugs, Cequa can cause side effects. These include eye pain and eyelid inflammation.

Cequa can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Cequa in clinical trials:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Cequa use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Cequa’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Cequa include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Cequa and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after using Cequa. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Cequa may cause serious side effects. However, serious side effects from this medication were uncommon. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Cequa’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Cequa, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

* An allergic reaction is possible after using Cequa. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Cequa may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

How do side effects of Cequa compare with those seen with Restasis or Xiidra?

Cequa, Restasis (cyclosporine), and Xiidra (lifitegrast) are all eye drops that doctors can prescribe to treat dry eye. Cequa and Restasis both contain the same active ingredient, cyclosporine. Xiidra contains a different active drug called lifitegrast.

These medications may all cause eye irritation and conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye.*

However, they may also cause different side effects from each other. For example, both Cequa and Xiidra can cause headache. This side effect was not reported in clinical trials of Restasis.

In addition, Xiidra may cause a metallic taste in your mouth. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials of Cequa or Restasis.

For more details about how Cequa compares with Restasis, Xiidra, or other dry eye treatments, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can Cequa increase your blood pressure?

No, Cequa isn’t expected to increase your blood pressure. In clinical trials, high blood pressure wasn’t a reported side effect.

However, cyclosporine (the active drug in Cequa) is also available as an oral capsule or solution. These oral forms of cyclosporine can cause high blood pressure.

It’s important to note that these forms are not approved to treat dry eye. Instead, doctors typically prescribe them for certain autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

If you notice changes in your blood pressure during your treatment with Cequa, talk with your doctor. They can help determine what may be causing this condition. They can also recommend ways to help manage your blood pressure.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Cequa may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Cequa.

Conjunctivitis

Cequa may cause conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. This was one of the most commonly reported side effects in Cequa’s clinical trials.

Symptoms of this side effect may include eye irritation, pain, or redness.

What you can do

If you notice eye inflammation, redness, or irritation during treatment with Cequa, talk with your doctor. They can help determine whether Cequa is causing this side effect. They’ll also recommend ways to manage your symptoms.

Headache

It’s possible for Cequa to cause a headache. However, this side effect wasn’t common in Cequa’s clinical trials.

What you can do

If you experience a frequent or bothersome headache while using Cequa, talk with your doctor. They can help determine whether Cequa is causing your headache.

In addition, your doctor can recommend ways to manage this side effect. For example, they may recommend taking an over-the-counter medication, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen). If your headaches are frequent or severe, your doctor may recommend a different dry eye treatment instead of Cequa.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Cequa can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Cequa. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Cequa. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Contact lenses. You shouldn’t use Cequa while wearing contact lenses. This is because contact lenses may cause or worsen dry eye, which Cequa is used to treat. If you wear contact lenses, take them out before using your Cequa eye drops. After using Cequa, wait 15 minutes before putting the contact lenses back into your eyes.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Cequa or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Cequa. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding your child, it’s unknown whether Cequa is safe for you to use. There haven’t been any clinical trials to show whether this medication is safe to use in these situations. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning for either, talk with your doctor. They can advise whether Cequa or another dry eye treatment is safe for you to use.

Alcohol consumption. If you drink alcohol, Cequa is likely safe for you to use. There are no reported interactions between Cequa and alcohol. If you have questions about drinking alcohol while using Cequa, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

It’s possible to experience side effects from using Cequa. But, in most cases, side effects from Cequa are mild.

If you’d like to learn more about Cequa, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

  • More information about Cequa. For details about other aspects of Cequa, refer to this article.
  • Drug comparison. To learn how Cequa compares with Restasis, read this article.
  • A look at dry eye. For details about dry eye, see our eye health hub.

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.