Eylea does not have any known drug interactions. However, it’s still important to talk with your doctor about all medications, supplements, and vitamins you use before starting treatment with Eylea.
Eylea is prescribed for certain eye conditions in adults:
Eylea is also prescribed for retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants.
Eylea comes as a solution that’s injected into the back of the eye. Another version of Eylea, called Eylea HD, is also available. Eylea HD also comes as a solution that’s injected into the back of the eye, but it contains a higher strength of the active ingredient (aflibercept) than Eylea.
An interaction occurs when one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. By learning about possible Eylea interactions, you can work with your doctor to ensure Eylea will be safe and effective for you to use.
Eylea isn’t known to interact with other medications. However, that doesn’t mean interactions aren’t possible. For example, other drugs may be approved in the future that may have interactions with Eylea.
Before you start treatment with Eylea, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.
To learn whether Eylea interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Eylea and other interactions” section.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Eylea due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. Below are the contraindications of Eylea.
Note: Before you start treatment with Eylea, it’s important to tell your doctor if these contraindications apply to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Eylea.
Having an eye infection
Doctors typically will not prescribe Eylea if you have an infection in or around your eye.
If you have an active eye infection, your doctor will likely wait to give your Eylea injection until the infection has cleared. They may prescribe antibiotics or antiviral treatment depending on the cause of the infection. Once the infection is gone, they can determine when it’s safe to receive your Eylea injection.
Talk with your doctor if you have or think you may have an eye infection before receiving an Eylea injection.
Having inflammation in your eye
Doctors typically will not give an Eylea injection if you have inflammation in your eye.
If you have active eye inflammation, your doctor will likely wait to give your injection until the inflammation is managed. They may recommend anti-inflammatory treatments, such as steroid eye drops or oral medications to treat the inflammation. Your doctor can decide when it’s safe to give your Eylea injection. They may also recommend a different treatment option for your condition.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about eye inflammation before starting treatment with Eylea.
Having had an allergic reaction to Eylea or any of its ingredients
If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Eylea or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Eylea. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
There are no known interactions between Eylea and alcohol.
If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Eylea, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Eylea may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or lab tests.
Here are some potential interactions with Eylea. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all possible Eylea interactions.
Eylea interactions with supplements
It’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs.
Eylea interactions with herbs
There are no specific reports of herbs interacting with Eylea. However, that doesn’t mean herbal interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Eylea treatment.
Eylea interactions with vitamins
There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Eylea. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Eylea.
Eylea interactions with food
There were no reports of food interactions with Eylea. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Eylea, talk with your doctor.
Eylea interactions with vaccines
There aren’t any known interactions between Eylea and vaccines. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to check whether you’re due for any vaccines.
Eylea interactions with lab tests
Eylea isn’t known to interact with lab tests. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.
EYLEA INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBDCannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Eylea. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Eylea. The impact of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Eylea treatment plan.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Eylea. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Eylea may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.
Health conditions or factors that might interact with Eylea include:
- Glaucoma: If you have glaucoma (high eye pressure), Eylea could make your glaucoma worse. This is because Eylea can increase eye pressure in some people. Talk with your doctor before starting Eylea if you have high eye pressure. They can determine if Eylea is right for you.
- History of blood clots: Eylea may raise the risk of blood clots, which can lead to serious conditions like heart attack or stroke. If you have a history of blood clots, talk with your doctor before starting Eylea. They can determine if Eylea is a safe treatment option for you.
- Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Eylea or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Eylea. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
- Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to receive Eylea while breastfeeding. There isn’t enough information to determine whether the drug passes into breast milk or what effects Eylea may have on a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Eylea. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed a child other than breastfeeding.
- Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Eylea treatment is safe while pregnant. Animal studies show that the drug may cause congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) or pregnancy loss. However, it’s important to note that animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Eylea. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.
Here are some frequently asked questions about Eylea and possible interactions.
Can I continue taking my glaucoma eye drops while using Eylea?
Yes, you can usually continue using glaucoma eye drops while receiving Eylea injections. In fact, since Eylea may temporarily raise eye pressure, your doctor may recommend adjusting your glaucoma treatment to better manage your eye pressure.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about using eye drops for glaucoma during treatment with Eylea.
Do antibiotics interact with Eylea?
Eylea does not have any known interactions with antibiotics. However, if you have an eye infection, your doctor may delay your Eylea injection until the infection is gone. This is because injecting into an infected eye can prevent proper healing and worsen the infection. Waiting until after the infection clears may reduce your risk of this complication.
If you have any questions about taking an antibiotic during treatment with Eylea, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Eylea. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reaching out to them before starting treatment is a helpful first step. For example, it’s important that you plan to do the following:
- Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
- Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
- Create a
medication listTrusted Source , which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.
It’s also important to read the Eylea label and other
If Eylea doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
You can also help prevent interactions with Eylea by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
