DHEA drops STINGING/BURNING TREMENDOUSLY

[Amanda]

Hi!

I have written on another post on here about DHEA drops, but I wanted to start a new one specific to burning/stinging upon application of the DHEA drops.

I started using 1% DHEA drops exactly one month ago. I was told to use them 2x/day. I still can't really tell if they are helping, but I think they are (how do we ever really know unless we go off of it for awhile and notice a big change...that is what I feel about all of the dry eye treatments since it is such a complex issue). I digress.

Anyway, initially I was having slight burning, stinging upon application. When I asked my dr. about this she said that she has had 4 other patients in the past on DHEA and none had ever complained about stinging/burning. She suggested I put the drops in the refrigerator. I did that and the stinging burning lessened....UNTIL a few days ago.

A few evenings ago I was putting in my DHEA drops before dinner and it burned SO badly in the left eye that I had to rinse it out with water. I did a better eye cleanse that evening and had decent success with the drops the next day. this morning it burned INCREDIBLY bad again. I am thinking that since I am quadraplugged something is stuck in that eye that the DHEA drops don't like. I read about Unisol on here as an eye rinse, so just bought some and used it this morning after putting the burning DHEA drops in.

It concerns me that something I am putting in my already f'd up eye (excuse my french) is burning so much.

Has anyone else experienced this? If so, did you resolve it? If so, how????

Thank you

[Nightbird]

Hi Amanda,

First sorry you are going through this. We've all been there. I've never used DHEA drops, but if I were in your situation I would put in a call to the doctor ASAP and let her know your symptoms have gotten drastically worse. Usually they can get a tech on the phone right away who can then speak to a doctor and get back to you quickly, even if you can't speak to the doctor. I would not use the drops until I spoke to someone. If it hurts that much, your body is trying to tell you something.

Alex

[Amanda]

Hi Amanda,

First sorry you are going through this. We've all been there. I've never used DHEA drops, but if I were in your situation I would put in a call to the doctor ASAP and let her know your symptoms have gotten drastically worse. Usually they can get a tech on the phone right away who can then speak to a doctor and get back to you quickly, even if you can't speak to the doctor. I would not use the drops until I spoke to someone. If it hurts that much, your body is trying to tell you something.

Alex

Thank you, Alex! So, I took your advice and called the dr.'s office, as well as Leiter's Pharmacy. I was in need of replacing the eye drop (someone had incorrectly told me I could use the drops for 90 days, while I guess they are only good for 30 days?) I think I should get a second opinion on that one b/c $140 every 30 days is a lot for my budget The dr's office suggested I put in a refresh celluvisc drop about 5 minutes before putting in the DHEA and that could help...turns out, it did! The burning was not bad this weekend!

Thanks again for your advice! Much appreciated.

[Maria3667]

Hi Amanda,

I get the same thing from Dhea supplements (capsules or tablets). Tried it in various dosages, but even as low as 2.5 mg sublingually causes enormous eye pain/burning/stinging.

However, Dhea helps me tremendously with creating more saliva & eye moisture. As a Sjogren's patient I certainly need it, but the painful reaction has forced me to quit using it.

So now instead I'm trying low dose testosterone. Which is beneficial too, but I felt the Dhea did a better job at creating eye moisture.

Do you still use the drops?

Maria

[Amanda]

Hi Amanda,

I get the same thing from Dhea supplements (capsules or tablets). Tried it in various dosages, but even as low as 2.5 mg sublingually causes enormous eye pain/burning/stinging.

However, Dhea helps me tremendously with creating more saliva & eye moisture. As a Sjogren's patient I certainly need it, but the painful reaction has forced me to quit using it.

So now instead I'm trying low dose testosterone. Which is beneficial too, but I felt the Dhea did a better job at creating eye moisture.

Do you still use the drops?

Maria

Hi Maria,

I am taking a break with the drops. I actually didn't find much improvement with the drops and the stinging I felt outweighed the benefits, in my opinion. I have only been off of it for about 2 weeks now, so maybe something will change in the next few weeks and I will think, Man, it really does help.

I am curious how much improvement you noticed from the DHEA?

I'm so sorry you had to stop using it...

[Maria3667]

Hi Amanda,

I would say the improvement was quite substantial - but not enough for me to quit using pilocarpine.

I would love to find out what else I need to use/take for me to continue Dhea. Also wondering what causes the burning reaction from Dhea? We seem to be a minority...