Cequa Vs Restasis: What's the Difference?
speciality medications
Restasis vs. Cequa.
What’s the real difference between these two cyclosporine-based, dry-eye relieving, prescription-only treatments?
In this guide, we’ll talk about many similarities and differences between these two drugs – and, importantly, discuss the best way to save up to 72% on Cequa and Restasis costs by buying from an international and online Canadian pharmacy.
What is the Difference Between Cequa and Restasis?
While Cequa and Restasis both treat chronic eye disease, each has some specific benefits.
For example, both Cequa and Restasis have unique side effects, dosing structures, and associated costs, too – but we’ll get to that in a moment.
First, let’s talk about what each of these medications specifically does.
What is Cequa?
Cequa (cyclosporine A) is a type of prescription eye drop that doctors often recommend when patients suffer from chronic eye disease. Its active ingredient, cyclosporine A, helps suppress a runaway, overreacting immune response to common eye irritants.
As a result, patients typically experience less inflammation, less tear production, and less eye pain.
When Cequa’s manufacturer launched Cequa, it was with the intent of releasing a more convenient and effective medication for dry eyes than any other then-available alternative. Its formula allows cyclosporine to penetrate dry eye tissues very effectively.
Patients need only take Cequa once daily, instead of on an as-needed basis.
What is Restasis?
Restasis also leverages cyclosporine as an active ingredient.
However, for this medication, the active is cyclosporine, not cyclosporine A. It’s a tiny difference, but it may change the way patients experience using the product.
Much like Cequa, Restasis typically helps patients treat eye inflammation and increased tear production.
While Cequa is approved as a general dry eye treatment, regardless of what’s causing the symptoms, Restasis is a little more particular. The primary indication for Restasis is keratoconjunctivitis sicca, a type of chronic eye disease.
Patients who take Restasis will administer eye drops twice daily. It’s effective in treating chronic eye disease and reducing irritating symptoms from eye redness to itchiness and discomfort.
So, if we’re putting the two medications head-to-head – Cequa vs. Restasis – which is best for you?
The answer is simple: It depends what you’re looking for.
Here’s a quick rundown of the main differences between these two cyclosporine prescription medications:
- The two medications come in different forms. Cequa is a watery solution, clear and colorless. Restasis is an emulsion, or a type of oily mixture.
- The two medications come in different strengths. Cequa is only available in one strength, .09%. Restasis is available in .05%.
- The two medications have slightly differing lists of side effects. We’ll discuss this more in-depth later, but Cequa may cause headaches. Restasis doesn’t.
- The two medications have very slightly different active ingredients. This difference is so slight that many guides don’t mention it! The only difference between cyclosporine and cyclosporine A is enhanced absorption. Many patients don’t notice any difference in how the two prescription medications absorb into their eyes. Still, if you’re experiencing difficulties with Restasis absorption, it may be worth trying Cequa, instead.
- The two medications have different dosing schedules. Patients who take Cequa only take the med once daily. Patients taking Restasis take their medication twice.
Of course, even though these differences are pertinent, we’ve left out something.
Price is often a deciding factor when it comes to choosing chronic medications.
How do Cequa vs. Restasis compare at checkout?
Cequa vs. Restasis: Cost Comparison
The cost of both Cequa and Restasis varies due to many factors (for example, the amount of medication you’re buying, whether you have insurance, and whether any supply chain or similar issues affect the prescription medication industry.
The Price of Cequa vs. Restasis in America
Typically, American patients will pay the following for each type of medication:
- A box of 60 single-use vials, or a two-month supply, of Cequa starts at around $620.00 in the United States. That’s about $10.00 per daily dose.
- 60 droppers of Restasis, or a one month supply, starts at around $707.00. If you take Restasis twice daily, that’s well over $20.00 per day of treatment.
Fortunately, American patients have options to consider.
For example, they could ship their prescription medications across the border from Canada to the United States. It’s a more common practice than you might think, and it comes with many perks.
(For starters, you don’t need to get in your car and drive to a pharmacy; instead, you can order online and have your meds shipped to your front door.)
Another perk? Reliably low prices.
The Price of Cequa vs. Restasis at Online Canadian Pharmacies
Through NorthWestPharmacy.com, a safe, international online pharmacy, Americans pay less for prescription drugs.
Here, you can buy 15mL of Cequa, or about 60 doses and a two month supply, for about $330.00 – up to 45% in savings. That’s about $5.50 per dose.
You can also buy 120 doses of Restasis for about $400.00 through NorthWestPharmacy.com – up to 72% in savings. That’s about $3.30 per dose.
If we look at costs for Cequa vs. Restasis in the States, Cequa is more cost-effective. Through an international and online Canada pharmacy, Restasis may be the more affordable option.
Either way, both medications are more accessible through an international or Canadian drugs store.
Whether you want to experiment with both medications (with a doctor’s oversight) or save up to 72% on the medicine you know works best for you, it’s worth thinking about shipping your prescription meds from Canada.
Cequa vs. Restasis: Side Effects
These two dry eye medications have slightly different lists of side effects.
We’ll start by discussing what the two have in common. The most commonly reported side effect with Cequa and Restasis is eye pain or even burning when you first administer eye drops.
This doesn’t happen for everyone. And, when it does, it usually stops happening after patients get more comfortable administering the drug.
Other side effects associated with Cequa and Restasis include the following:
Cequa Side Effects
- Eye redness
- Eye swelling
- Eye irritation
- Headaches
- Urinary tract infections
Restasis Side Effects
- Eye redness
- Eye discharge
- Eye itching
- Stinging
- Eye blurring
With the exception of eye pain upon administration, these side effects were reported in minimal percentages (1%-5%) of surveyed patients.
This does not mean that these side effects won’t happen to you, but it does mean they rarely happen.
The other side effect we should mention is the possibility of contracting an eye infection. However, this is less a side effect of the medication and more a side effect of contaminated eye droppers. This is one reason why both Cequa and Restasis come in single-use vials. There’s less likelihood of contaminating a dropper if you only use it once!
To reduce the risk of eye infection, don’t touch the dropper tip on your vial of Cequa and Restasis on any surface. If possible, that includes your eye.
Cequa vs. Restasis: Generics?
First things first:
There is no generic alternative available for Cequa.
Cequa isn’t expected to have a generic until sometime from 2033 to 2037. It seems likely that a generic Cequa is several years away from becoming a reality.
Restasis, however, has a better outlook for those seeking lower-cost generics.
Generic Restasis – or generic cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion – is available. This product is very similar to the brand-name medication.
You can buy generic cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion through NorthWestPharmacy.com for about $90.00 for 12 mLs, or approximately 30 doses. That’s around $3.00 per dose, which is a less expensive than the cost of brand-name Restasis.
However, it’s important to remember that these drugs are not exactly the same.
Generics can be a little bit different, usually with different amounts of inactive (or “filler”) ingredients. While this doesn’t make any difference to most people, some people, perhaps those with more sensitive eyes, may be able to distinguish between the two forms of the medications.
That’s why it’s always best to find an online pharmacy and international drugstore that offers affordable prices for both brand-name and generic medications.
That way, if you find that one product doesn’t work for you very well, you’re not looking at drastic price differences when you opt for brand-name over generic.
Cequa vs. Restasis: Precautions
Cequa and Restasis are both considered safe for use. Since your eye is such a sensitive area, there are things you should know about before you start taking either drug. Your doctor should review this information or check with you to ensure these general precautions will not be an issue.
Precautions for Cequa and Restasis include:
- Allergic reactions. Both of these medications include cyclosporine. If you have a history of adverse reactions to that active ingredient, you should refrain from using Cequa or Restasis.
- Eye infections. We touched on this earlier, but it’s worth repeating. Practice good hygiene when you use your eye drops! And, if you have a history of eye infections, you may want to keep a particularly close eye on your symptoms. Make sure your doctor is aware of your tendency towards eye infections, too.
- Contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, you can still use Cequa or Restasis. Just make sure you take your lenses out before using the medication, and wait about 15 minutes (or more) after administration before putting your contacts back in.
- Breastfeeding and pregnancy. Using Restasis or Cequa while pregnant or nursing is not necessarily dangerous, but their safety has not been conclusively proven. Discuss your options with your doctor if you are dealing with dry eye symptoms during this chapter of your life. They may recommend another treatment plan or prescribe one of these medications. If you opt for the latter strategy, your doctor may advise additional supervision to monitor you and your child for any possible risks.
- Immunosuppression. Because cyclosporine suppresses the immune system, there is some risk that it will do its job too well, and your immune system’s power will be reduced. This is somewhat of a necessary risk, as cyclosporine’s immunosuppressant activity is how it provides relief. If you have increased infections or other health issues while taking Cequa or Restasis, speak with your doctor.
If you’ve read this guide and are interested in trying Cequa or Restasis for an affordable price, we have good news: You’re already in the right place.
Whether You Select Cequa or Restasis, NorthWestPharmacy.com Can Help
Dealing with chronic dry eyes takes a toll on your quality of life. After all, it’s hard to do much if you can’t see – or if seeing causes you excessive itchiness, pain, and frustration.
Fortunately, you don’t have to resign yourself to life with this symptom.
Prescription medications containing cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant that can relieve red, dry, itchy, and teary eyes, can help.
Unfortunately, you can only access that relief if you can pay for the treatment. And treatment with cyclosporine can cost a lot.
Buying your medications through NorthWestPharmacy.com and shipping them from Canada to America or from other countries to the USA can make those treatments a lot more accessible.
Here, at NorthWestPharmacy.com, we’re pleased to be able to provide reliable savings of up to 72% on brand-name prescription medications, including both Cequa and Restasis.
However, we’re even prouder of the other benefits we can provide – including a safe, private discount online drugstore and a customer service team that consistently goes above and beyond to ensure our customers have a stellar experience.
If you want to save money, time, and stress by purchasing prescriptions through NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can get started by having your doctor send your prescriptions directly to us. Then, find the medication you need, add it to your cart, and check out online.
Want to speak with a friendly, knowledgeable service rep or one of our on-staff pharmacists? Give us a call at 1-866-539-5330. Check out our Canadian online pharmacy ratings on Shopper Approved and TrustPilot.com, as well. We have a 4.8/5 rating across hundreds of thousands of reviews!
We look forward to serving you. Our international drugstore and safe Canadian online pharmacy is ready to support you and your healthcare journey.
