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RESTASIS

Generic: cyclosporine

Verified·Apr 23, 2026
Manufacturer
AbbVie
NDC
0023-5301
RxCUI
2572292
Route
OPHTHALMIC
ICD-10 indication
H04.129

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About RESTASIS

What is this medication?

Restasis is a prescription eye drop used to increase the eyes' natural ability to produce tears. It is specifically indicated for patients whose tear production is suppressed due to ocular inflammation associated with a condition called keratoconjunctivitis sicca, which is more commonly known as chronic dry eye. The active ingredient, cyclosporine, acts as an immunomodulator that helps reduce inflammation on the surface of the eye. By addressing this underlying inflammation, the medication helps the tear glands function more effectively rather than simply providing temporary lubrication like over-the-counter artificial tears.

The medication is generally packaged in single-use vials and is intended for use twice daily, approximately twelve hours apart in each eye. Patients are advised to use the drops consistently to see results, as it often takes several weeks or months for the full benefits of increased tear production to become apparent. It is important to remove contact lenses before using the drops and wait at least fifteen minutes before reinserting them. As with any prescription treatment, users should consult with an eye care professional to ensure it is the appropriate solution for their specific ocular health needs.

Copay & patient assistance

  • Patient Copay Amount: As little as $0 for a 90-day supply
  • Maximum Annual Benefit Limit: Not Publicly Available (Note: Monthly maximums may apply)
  • Core Eligibility Restrictions: Available to patients with commercial insurance coverage for RESTASIS single-dose vials or MultiDose bottles. Not available to patients receiving prescription reimbursement under any federal, state, or government-funded insurance programs (e.g., Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, Medicaid, TRICARE, Department of Defense, or Veterans Affairs programs).
  • RxBIN, PCN, and Group numbers: Not Publicly Available

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Prescribing information

From the FDA-approved label for RESTASIS. Official source: DailyMed (NLM) · Label effective Aug 21, 2025

Indications and usage
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE RESTASIS MULTIDOSE ® ophthalmic emulsion is indicated to increase tear production in patients whose tear production is presumed to be suppressed due to ocular inflammation associated with keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Increased tear production was not seen in patients currently taking topical anti-inflammatory drugs or using punctal plugs. RESTASIS MULTIDOSE is a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant indicated to increase tear production in patients whose tear production is presumed to be suppressed due to ocular inflammation associated with keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Increased tear production was not seen in patients currently taking topical anti-inflammatory drugs or using punctal plugs. ( 1 )
Dosage and administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Instill one drop of RESTASIS MULTIDOSE ophthalmic emulsion twice a day in each eye approximately 12 hours apart. RESTASIS MULTIDOSE can be used concomitantly with lubricant eye drops, allowing a 15-minute interval between products. Prime by squeezing two drops onto a tissue before initial use. ( 2.1 ) Instill one drop of RESTASIS MULTIDOSE ophthalmic emulsion twice a day in each eye approximately 12 hours apart. ( 2.2 ) Pull off the clear shipping cover by pulling straight up. Throw the shipping cover away. Do not use RESTASIS MULTIDOSETM if shipping cover or pull tab are damaged or missing. Remove the pull tab on the olive green colored protective cap by pulling the end of the pull tab away from the bottle then winding it counterclockwise. Throw away the pull tab. Remove the olive green colored protective cap by pulling it straight up. Keep the colored protective cap. Prime the bottle for first-time use by squeezing two drops onto a tissue. Do not let the bottle tip touch the tissue. The bottle is now ready for use. After use, recap the bottle with the olive green colored protective cap by pushing it straight down onto the bottle. Turn the bottle upside down a few times before giving your dose to make sure the medicine is mixed well. 2.1 Preparation for First-Time Use Step 1: Pull off the clear shipping cover by pulling straight up. Throw the shipping cover away. Do not use RESTASIS MULTIDOSE if shipping cover or pull tab are damaged or missing. Step 2: Remove the pull tab on the olive green colored protective cap by pulling the end of the pull tab away from the bottle then winding it counterclockwise. Throw away the pull tab. Step 3: Remove the olive green colored protective cap by pulling it straight up. Keep the colored protective cap. Step 4: Prime the bottle for first-time use by squeezing two drops onto a tissue. Do not let the bottle tip touch the tissue. Step 5: The bottle is now ready for use. After use, recap the bottle with the olive green colored protective cap by pushing it straight down onto the bottle. 2.2 Preparation for Use Step 6: Turn the bottle upside down a few times before giving your dose to make sure the medicine is mixed well. Step 7: Instill one drop in the affected eye. Replace the olive green colored protective cap.
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS RESTASIS MULTIDOSE is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in the formulation [ see Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . Hypersensitivity ( 4 )
Warnings and precautions
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS To avoid the potential for eye injury and contamination, be careful not to touch the bottle tip to your eye or other surfaces. ( 5.1 ) 5. 1 Potential for Eye Injury and Contamination Be careful not to touch the bottle tip to your eye or other surfaces to avoid potential for eye injury and contamination. 5.2 Use with Contact Lenses RESTASIS MULTIDOSE should not be administered while wearing contact lenses. Patients with decreased tear production typically should not wear contact lenses. If contact lenses are worn, they should be removed prior to the administration of the emulsion. Lenses may be reinserted 15 minutes following administration of RESTASIS MULTIDOSE ophthalmic emulsion.
Adverse reactions
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Potential for Eye Injury and Contamination [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] The most common adverse reaction following the use of cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% was ocular burning (17%). ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact AbbVie at 1-800-633-9110 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In clinical trials, the most common adverse reaction following the use of cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion, 0.05% was ocular burning (17%). Other reactions reported in 1% to 5% of patients included conjunctival hyperemia, discharge, epiphora, eye pain, foreign body sensation, pruritus, stinging, and visual disturbance (most often blurring). 6.2 Post-marketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion, 0.05%. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Reported reactions have included: hypersensitivity (including eye swelling, urticaria, rare cases of severe angioedema, face swelling, tongue swelling, pharyngeal edema, and dyspnea); and superficial injury of the eye (from the bottle tip touching the eye during administration).
Use in pregnancy
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Clinical administration of cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% is not detected systemically following topical ocular administration [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] , and maternal use is not expected to result in fetal exposure to the drug. Oral administration of cyclosporine to pregnant rats or rabbits did not produce teratogenicity at clinically relevant doses [see Data] . Data Animal Data At maternally toxic doses (30 mg/kg/day in rats and 100 mg/kg/day in rabbits), cyclosporine oral solution (USP) was teratogenic as indicated by increased pre- and postnatal mortality, reduced fetal weight and skeletal retardations. These doses (normalized to body surface area) are 5,000 and 32,000 times greater, respectively, than the daily recommended human dose of one drop (approximately 28 mcL) of cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% twice daily into each eye of a 60 kg person (0.001 mg/kg/day), assuming that the entire dose is absorbed. No evidence of embryofetal toxicity was observed in rats or rabbits receiving cyclosporine during organogenesis at oral doses up to 17 mg/kg/day or 30 mg/kg/day, respectively. These doses in rats and rabbits are approximately 3,000 and 10,000 times greater, respectively, than the daily recommended human dose. An oral dose of 45 mg/kg/day cyclosporine administered to rats from Day 15 of pregnancy until Day 21 postpartum produced maternal toxicity and an increase in postnatal mortality in offspring. This dose is 7,000 times greater than the daily recommended human dose. No adverse effects in dams or offspring were observed at oral doses up to 15 mg/kg/day (2,000 times greater than the daily recommended human dose).

Label text is reproduced as-is from the FDA-approved label. We do not paraphrase, summarize, or omit. Content above is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your prescribing clinician or pharmacist before making decisions about your medication.

Conditions we've indexed resources for

Click a condition to see copay cards, grants, and PA rules specific to it. For the full list of FDA-approved indications, see Prescribing information above.

Medicare Part D coverage

How RESTASIS appears across Medicare Part D plan formularies nationally. Source: CMS monthly Prescription Drug Plan file (2026-04-30).

Covered by plans

60%

3,317 of 5,509 plans

Most common tier

Tier 3

On 86% of covering formularies

Prior authorization required

0%

of covering formularies

TierFormularies on this tierShare
Tier 1 (preferred generic)24
14%
Tier 2 (generic)1
1%
Tier 3 (preferred brand)151
86%

Step therapy: 0% of formularies

Quantity limits: 52% of formularies

Coverage breadth: 176 of 65 formularies

How to read this:plans on the same formulary share tier + PA rules. Your specific plan's copay depends on (a) the tier above, (b) your plan's cost-share for that tier, (c) whether you're in the initial coverage phase or past the 2026 $2,000 out-of-pocket cap. For your exact plan, check its Summary of Benefits or log in to your Medicare.gov account. Copay cards don't apply to Medicare (federal law).

Prior authorization & coverage

PayerPAStep therapyCopay tier

Medicare Part D

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How this page is sourced

  • Drug identity verified against openFDA NDC Directory.
  • Label text (when shown) originates from NLM DailyMed.
  • Copay and assistance URLs verified periodically; if you hit a broken link, tell us.