Clonidine and Cyclosporine Ophthalmic: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Aug 8, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Clonidine
Cyclosporine Ophthalmic
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
An increased risk of cycloSPORINE toxicity (renal dysfunction, cholestasis, paresthesias)
Interaction Deep Dive
In a study comparing nephrotoxicity in allogeneic bone marrow transplant patients who received cycloSPORINE and clonidine with autologous and allogeneic transplant patients who did not receive clonidine, cycloSPORINE levels were significantly lower in control patients than in those receiving clonidine2. One case report describes a 3-year-old male renal transplant recipient who experienced cycloSPORINE toxicity when clonidine was introduced for blood pressure control 1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Unknown
Literature reports
1 report — tap to read
a) Clonidine therapy was instituted in a 3-year-old male who had received a cadaver donor kidney transplant when other antihypertensive therapy caused unpleasant side effects. Despite the cycloSPORINE daily dose being lowered, the patient's whole blood cycloSPORINE level peaked at 927 mcg/L five days after clonidine was started. Levels quickly fell back into the therapeutic range when clonidine was discontinued. Although the exact mechanism for this interaction is not known, the authors speculated that clonidine must be partially metabolized via the cytochrome P450 pathway 1.
Common questions
Can I take Clonidine and Cyclosporine Ophthalmic together?
An increased risk of cycloSPORINE toxicity (renal dysfunction, cholestasis, paresthesias) Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Clonidine 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 "delayed". Effects tend to build up gradually over days to weeks.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "probable". Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
From our Q&A
Real reader questions about these medications, each personally answered by our pharmacist:
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Clonidine 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 (2)
- Gilbert RD, Kahn D, & Cassidy M: Interaction between clonidine and cyclosporine A (letter). Nephron 1995; 71:105. PubMed
- Luke J, Luke DR, Williams LA, et al: Prevention of cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxicity with transdermal clonidine. Clin Pharm 1990; 9:49-53.
Keep reading about Clonidine
Keep reading about Cyclosporine Ophthalmic
These medications also interact with supplements
Prescription drugs aren't the whole picture — herbal and dietary supplements can interact with them too. From the evidence-graded Natural Medicines database:
major · moderate · minor — check everything you take with our drug–supplement interaction checker.
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