Restasis generic availability, cost, and more

In this article:

• Generic Restasis
• Generic vs. brand-name Restasis
• Generic Restasis cost
• Off-label uses
• Is Restasis covered by insurance?
• How to get coverage?
• Generic alternatives
• How to switch
• Expert takeaway

In this article

• Generic Restasis
• Generic vs. brand-name Restasis
• Generic Restasis cost
• Off-label uses
• Is Restasis covered by insurance?
• How to get coverage?
• Generic alternatives
• How to switch
• Expert takeaway

Restasis is an eye drop that contains the active ingredient cyclosporine. It’s used to treat chronic dry eye disease by managing eye inflammation and stimulating natural tears, especially in conditions like keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Generic Restasis eye drops became available in the United States after FDA approval in 2022. The generic version can be a more affordable alternative to the brand-name Restasis, which can otherwise cost nearly $800 for a 30-day supply without insurance.

Restasis generic availability
Generic name	Cyclosporine
FDA approval date of generic version	Feb. 2, 2022
Is there a generic available for sale in the U.S.?	Yes

Is there a generic for Restasis?

Yes. There is a generic form of Restasis: cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2022. Since then, other generic options have come onto the market.

For the most part, cyclosporine is more accessible than brand-name Restasis. Dana Manning, Pharm.D., RD, LDN, associate professor of pharmacy practice at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, says generic drugs can be made by various manufacturers after a brand-name drug’s patent is completed, which usually means generics are cheaper and more likely to be covered by insurance companies at a lower copay. 

“But this isn’t true for all generic drugs,” Dr. Manning says. “The cost and availability of a drug are based on many factors, like manufacturer shortages, wholesaler and distributor practices, and an individual’s insurance coverage, including their deductible and copay plan.”

Keep in mind that only Restasis single-use vials are available in a generic form. Restasis is also available as a multi-dose bottle, currently brand-name only. 

What are the differences between generic vs. brand-name Restasis?

Brand name and generic Restasis are very similar. According to Dr. Manning, generic drugs must demonstrate to the FDA that they have the same active ingredients, safety, and efficacy as their brand-name counterparts before they are allowed on the market. Generic Restasis contains the same active ingredient (cyclosporine) in the same concentration (0.05%) as brand-name Restasis but is less expensive because it can be made by other manufacturers. 

That doesn’t mean the formulation is exactly the same between brand-name and generic Restasis, however. “There can be differences in the other ingredients contained in the eye drop, like the emollients, synthetics, and other liquids added,” says Benjamin Bert, MD, an ophthalmologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.

Because these inactive ingredients can vary from one generic formulation to another, Dr. Manning says some people may discover they are sensitive or allergic to generic Restasis. You also might feel you respond differently to generic Restasis versus the brand name, or simply prefer the feel or experience of using one product over another.

How much does generic Restasis cost?

Many people turn to generic medications to save money. While generic cyclosporine is cheaper than Restasis, the difference isn’t as significant as you might expect: A 30-day supply still costs $785 on average without insurance.

“Usually when we see a medication go from brand name to generic, it’s less expensive and more readily covered by insurance companies, but that hasn’t been the case with Restasis,” Dr. Bert says. 

If your insurance covers some or all of the costs, you’ll obviously spend far less. And, of course, SingleCare coupons can also help you save money on cyclosporine, with the lowest price costing less than $100 for a 30-day supply.

Brand vs. generic Restasis prices
	Brand-name Restasis	Restasis generic (cyclosporine)
Average cost without insurance	$820 for a 30-day supply of 0.05% single-use vials of Restasis (Typical dosage is two single-use vials per day)	$785 for a 30-day supply of 0.05% single-use vials of cyclosporine
SingleCare’s lowest price	$535 for a 30-day supply of 0.05% single-use vials of Restasis	$87 for a 30-day supply of 0.05% single-use vials of cyclosporine
Free coupons	Restasis coupons	Cyclosporine coupons

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Feb. 24, 2026. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available.

What are the off-label uses for Restasis?

According to Dr. Bert, the most common off-label uses for Restasis include other conditions triggered by an overactive immune response. Because cyclosporine has immunomodulatory effects, he explains, it can help with conditions like eye allergies or even more serious conditions, like ocular graft versus host disease. 

Restasis may be used off-label for severe inflammatory eye conditions related to allergies, such as vernal keratoconjunctivitis and atopic keratoconjunctivitis, and for certain cases of keratitis (inflammation of the cornea).

Is Restasis covered by insurance?

Coverage for Restasis depends on your plan and its formulary. In many cases, commercial insurance plans and Medicare provide some level of coverage for Restasis. Since Restasis is a brand-name drug, however, it’s typically found on a higher tier of formularies or preferred drug lists. That means the cost is usually higher than generic alternatives.

Since generic cyclosporine became available, many insurance companies now prefer to cover it as a lower-cost alternative. Generic versions are typically covered at lower copay tiers, making them more affordable for most patients.

How do you get Restasis covered by insurance?

If your insurance plan denies coverage for Restasis, it may be because it requires prior authorization. In other words, your healthcare provider will have to provide documentation about your medical condition and why Restasis is medically necessary. They may also only cover the generic version of Restasis.

If brand-name or generic Restasis isn’t covered by insurance, there are still different options to help save money. For example, you can look to apply for patient assistance programs or manufacturer savings cards. If you don’t have coverage, a prescription discount card like SingleCare could help reduce the retail cost of the drug. 

Generic alternatives to Restasis

If Restasis isn’t the right choice due to effectiveness, side effects, or cost, other options are available. Restasis alternatives include other prescription medications that may help improve inflammation and increase natural tear production. However, most alternatives to Restasis are only available as a brand-name drug.

Alternatives to Restasis include:

• Xiidra (lifitegrast)
• Tyrvaya (varenicline)
• Cequa (cyclosporine)
• Vevye (cyclosporine)
• Miebo (perfluorohexyloctane)

It’s best to discuss potential alternatives with a healthcare provider. They can offer guidance on the best treatment option based on your overall condition, medical history, and preferences on cost and method of administration. 

How to switch from Restasis to cyclosporine

“Because both drugs contain the same amount of the active ingredient, you can switch immediately from brand-name Restasis to generic cyclosporine without tapering off or slowly transitioning from one drug to the other,” Dr. Bert says. 

If you’re curious about switching, the first step is to talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you determine whether a generic form of the drug is right for you and assist you with troubleshooting any allergic reactions or sensitivities to generic versions. 

Allergies and sensitivities are among the primary reasons why a healthcare provider might not want you to make the switch, according to Dr. Bert. “The main concern with switching is the potential to have an adverse reaction to other inactive ingredients.”

This is important to keep in mind when filling any prescription for Restasis. Dr. Manning says pharmacists may—under law—dispense a generic drug rather than a brand-name one unless the prescribing provider says the brand-name drug is medically necessary for that patient. In other words, your local pharmacy could give you generic cyclosporine instead of brand-name Restasis, and if you’ve never had a generic version before, it’s possible you could experience a reaction. 

The good news is that stopping Restasis or cyclosporine for a short time (if you need to recover from an allergic reaction or wait for a new prescription to be filled) isn’t likely to disrupt your treatment much. 

“It typically takes a while for cyclosporine to have a noticeable effect—and a while for that effect to fade away once you stop the medication,” Dr. Bert says. He adds that not using your eye drops regularly could cause some of your symptoms to return, but that’s unlikely with a small number of missed doses.

Expert takeaway

Generic Restasis is now widely available and can be a good alternative to the brand-name form. However, inactive ingredients matter with generics, as they can affect effectiveness or cause irritation in some people.