Abemaciclib and Cyclosporine Ophthalmic: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Aug 8, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Cyclosporine Ophthalmic
Abemaciclib
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
What happens
Increased abemaciclib plasma concentration
Interaction Deep Dive
Concomitant use of abemaciclib (a CYP3A4 substrate) and a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor may result in increased plasma levels of abemaciclib and its active metabolite, and may lead to increased toxicity. If coadministered, monitor for adverse reactions and consider reducing the dose of abemaciclib in 50-mg increments (for patients receiving 150 mg twice daily: first reduction to 100 mg twice daily; second reduction to 50 mg twice daily; discontinue use if 50 mg twice daily is not tolerated; for patients receiving 200 mg twice daily: first reduction to 150 mg twice daily; second reduction to 100 mg twice daily; third reduction to 50 mg twice daily; discontinue use if 50 mg twice daily is not tolerated)1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Inhibition of CYP3A4-mediated abemaciclib metabolism
Literature reports
1 report — tap to read
a) In drug interaction studies, concomitant use of abemaciclib with verapamil and diltiazem (moderate CYP3A inhibitors) is predicted to increase the AUC of abemaciclib plus its active metabolites (M2, M18 and M20) by approximately 1.6-fold and 2.4-fold, respectively 1.
Common questions
Can I take Abemaciclib and Cyclosporine Ophthalmic together?
Increased abemaciclib plasma concentration Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Abemaciclib and Cyclosporine Ophthalmic interaction?
It is rated moderate. Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "theoretical". Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Abemaciclib or Cyclosporine Ophthalmic need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there anything you'd monitor while I'm on both?
References (1)
- Product Information: VERZENIO(TM) oral tablets, abemaciclib oral tablets. Lilly USA LLC (per FDA), Indianapolis, IN, 2018. DailyMed
Keep reading about Cyclosporine Ophthalmic
Keep reading about Abemaciclib
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