Queen Buyalos is a pharmacist and freelance medical writer in Virginia. Queen has a son who is a childhood cancer survivor. To encourage health and wellness, she started her blog, MommyQueendom. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, trying new foods, and playing her kids’ new favorite board game, “10 days in Africa.”

Lindsay Cook, PharmD is a board-certified consultant pharmacist.

Tyrvaya (varenicline) is a prescription nasal spray used to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease in adults. It belongs to the drug class called cholinergic agonists. Varenicline works by strongly binding to specific receptors that activate a pathway within the nose, resulting in increased tear production.

Dosage Form(s): Nasal spray

Tyrvaya (varenicline) is used to treat dry eye disease, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Varenicline helps tear production once sprayed in the nostril. This nasal spray is approved for use in adults only.

Spray Tyrvaya into your nostrils only twice daily, as directed by your healthcare provider. Separate your doses by about 12 hours apart. Do not spray Tyrvaya into your mouth or eyes.

If you don't use your pump for more than five days, reprime your pump by spraying one spray into the air (away from your face).

Note: A month's supply is two bottles. Do not open both bottles at the same time. Finish using your first bottle before opening the second.

Store nasal spray at room temperature (68 to 77 degrees F). Do not freeze. Use within 30 days of opening. Discard any part not used after 30 days. Ask your pharmacist about the best ways to discard any unused medicine.

Keep your medications away from children and pets, preferably locked.

Tyrvaya takes less than two hours to peak in your system. However, this time may vary from person to person. Check with your healthcare provider.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. A healthcare provider can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or a healthcare provider. You may report side effects to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at fda.gov/medwatch or 800-FDA-1088.

Common side effects of Tyrvaya include but are not limited to:

Tyrvaya can cause severe side effects in some people. The reactions may be life-threatening. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or think you have a medical emergency.

Severe side effects include signs of allergic reaction like:

Tyrvaya may cause other side effects. Call your healthcare provider if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your healthcare provider may send a report to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program or by phone (800-332-1088).

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

The following should be kept in mind when using Tyrvaya:

Pregnancy: In animal studies, varenicline caused low fetal weight and reduced the mother's weight gain during pregnancy. We don't know enough about the safety and effectiveness of Tyrvaya in pregnant people and on their unborn fetus. Discuss with your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant, and to weigh the benefits and risks of taking Tyrvaya during your pregnancy.

Breastfeeding: In animal studies, rats given varenicline had varenicline in their milk. However, it's not known if Tyrvaya is present in breastmilk in humans. If you plan to breastfeed, talk with your healthcare provider to weigh the benefits and risks of taking Tyrvaya while nursing and the different ways available to feed your baby.

Adults over the age of 65 years: There were no general differences in safety or effectiveness between older and younger adults.

Children: There is no data on the safety and effectiveness of this drug in children.

If you accidentally forgot your Tyrvaya dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular time. Do not double your dose or use extra sprays.

Try to find ways to help yourself remember to routinely take your medication. If you miss too many doses, Tyvaya might be less effective in treating dry eyes.

There is limited information available about Tyrvaya overdose.

However, if you think that you're experiencing an overdose or life-threatening symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

If you think you or someone else may have overdosed on Tyrvaya, call a healthcare provider or the Poison Control Center (800-222-1222).

If someone collapses or isn't breathing after taking Tyrvaya, call 911 immediately.

It is very important that your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) check your progress at regular visits to make sure the medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

If you're allergic to Tyrvaya or any of ingredients, avoid using it.

There are no known, significant interactions for Tyrvaya. However, speak to your healthcare provider before starting any new drugs (including over-the-counter medicines).

For more detailed information about medication interactions with Tyrvaya, talk with your pharmacist or healthcare provider.

Other drugs similar to Tyrvaya used to treat dry eyes include:

This is a list of medications that are also used to treat dry eyes. It is NOT a list of medicines that should be taken with Tyrvaya. You should not take these medications together unless your healthcare provider instructs you to do so. If you have any questions, talk with your pharmacist or a healthcare provider.

Tyrvaya is used to treat symptoms of dry eyes in adults.

Some common side effects include:

Store Tyrvaya at room temperature away from children and pets.

Skip the missed dose. Return to your usual dosing schedule. Do not take extra doses or use additional sprays.

Dry eye can be a chronic, lifelong condition. Avoid the following aggravating factors to help you stay healthy while living with dry eye disease:

Discuss using a humidifier in your bedroom and using protective eyewear with your healthcare provider. And do let your healthcare provider know if your medicine isn't working well for you, or if your dry eye gets worse.

Verywell Health's drug information is meant for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a healthcare provider. Consult your healthcare provider before taking any new medication(s). IBM Watson Micromedex provides some of the drug content, as indicated on the page.

Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.

There was an error. Please try again.

Food and Drug Administration. Tyrvaya label.

Seen S, Tong L. Dry eye disease and oxidative stress. Acta Ophthalmol. 2018;96(4):e412-e420. doi:10.1111/aos.13526

Quiroz-Mercado H, Hernandez-Quintela E, Chiu KH, Henry E, Nau JA. A phase II randomized trial to evaluate the long-term (12-week) efficacy and safety of OC-01 (varenicline solution) nasal spray for dry eye disease: The MYSTIC study. Ocul Surf. 2021;24:15-21. doi:10.1016/j.jtos.2021.12.007

Wirta D, Vollmer P, Paauw J, et al. Efficacy and safety of OC-01 (varenicline solution) nasal spray on signs and symptoms of dry eye disease: the ONSET-2 phase 3 randomized trial. Ophthalmology. 2022;129(4):379-387. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2021.11.004

Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.

There was an error. Please try again.