Restasis (cyclosporine) is prescribed for chronic dry eye. This drug has no known drug interactions. But when used with certain eye agents, studies found it’s not effective at improving dry eye symptoms. These include Acular.
Restasis is used in adults and certain children to treat chronic (long-term) dry eye.
The active ingredient in Restasis is cyclosporine. Restasis is available as eye drops, as follows:
- Restasis: single-use vial (one dose per vial)
- Restasis MultiDose: bottle with multiple doses
Both forms of Restasis have the same interactions. In this article, we use “Restasis” to refer to both forms.
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.
Keep reading to learn about Restasis’s possible interactions. And for more information about Restasis, including details about its uses, see this article.
Before you start using Restasis, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Restasis interacts with herbs or vitamins and supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Restasis?” section.)
Restasis currently has no reports of interacting with drugs. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with drugs won’t be recognized in the future. If you have questions about possible interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
See the “Does my health history affect whether I should use Restasis?” section for important factors to consider when using this drug.
Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you use Restasis. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Restasis for you. These are known as contraindications. A contraindication of Restasis is:
- If you’ve had an allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Restasis or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Restasis for you. This is because using the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.
Before you start using Restasis, talk with your doctor if the factor above applies to you. Your doctor can determine whether Restasis is safe for you to use.
Restasis is not known to interact directly with alcohol. But alcohol can worsen dry eye disease, which Restasis treats. So consuming alcohol could worsen your dry eye symptoms, which can make it appear as if Restasis isn’t working. Because of this, your doctor may suggest a minimal amount of alcohol or avoiding it if you have dry eye disease.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol while using Restasis, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Restasis may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details. Note that this information does not include all other interactions possible with Restasis.
Does Restasis interact with supplements?
Before you start using Restasis, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs or vitamins and supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Restasis and herbs
Restasis currently has no reports of interacting with herbs. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with herbs won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while using Restasis.
Restasis and vitamins
Restasis currently has no reports of interacting with vitamins. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with vitamins won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while using Restasis.
Does Restasis interact with food?
Restasis currently has no reports of interacting with food. If you have questions about eating certain foods during your treatment with Restasis, talk with your doctor.
Does Restasis interact with vaccines?
Restasis currently has no reports of interacting with vaccines. If you have questions about getting certain vaccines during your Restasis treatment, talk with your doctor.
Does Restasis interact with lab tests?
Restasis currently has no reports of interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about having certain lab tests during your treatment with Restasis, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test.
Does Restasis interact with cannabis or CBD?Restasis currently has no reports of interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Restasis.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Restasis. Before using Restasis, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Restasis is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Restasis include:
Contact lenses: If you wear contact lenses, be sure to remove them each time before using Restasis. Wait at least 15 minutes after using Restasis before reinserting your contact lenses.
Anti-inflammatory agents: Anti-inflammatory agents reduce or prevent inflammation. Examples of anti-inflammatory eye drops are Acular (ketorolac) and BromSite (bromfenac). When used along with anti-inflammatory agents, studies found Restasis was not effective at improving dry eye symptoms. If you use Restasis, be sure to let your doctor know before using an anti-inflammatory agent or eye drop.
Punctal plugs: Punctal plugs are a treatment for dry eye. They help stop the loss of tears from the ducts in your eyes. When used along with punctal plugs, studies found Restasis was not effective at improving dry eye symptoms.
Pregnancy: It’s not known for certain whether Restasis is safe to use during pregnancy. But the drug is not absorbed by your body after inserting a dose. So using Restasis is not expected to affect a pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before using Restasis.
Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Restasis while breastfeeding. It’s not known whether the drug passes into breast milk. In turn, side effects that might be possible in a child who’s breastfed also aren’t known. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor about your options.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Restasis or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Restasis. This is because using the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Restasis. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis
- other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs (they can also help you fill out a medication list)
- what to do if you start taking a new drug during your Restasis treatment
It’s also important to understand Restasis’s
If you have difficulty reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Using Restasis exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
Disclaimer: Healthline 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.