Restasis: Worse Before Better?

[Aaron77]

For those that have gotten better with Restasis after lasik: how long did it take? and did it get worse before it got better?

I feel as though my eyes are worse when I'm on the computer after starting Restasis last Friday. It actually seems like my eyes are much much worse since starting Restasis.

[Aaron77]

Basically I'm just wondering if I should be worried about the constant stinging I'm getting in my eyes since starting Restasis a week ago? does this usually subside after a few weeks?

My Opthamologist also told me to stop taking the doxy now that I'm on Restasis, so now I'm worried about the fact that what ever mild improvement I had from the doxy will be lost and that the Restasis may not work or even make things worse.

[irish eyes]

I've never used Restasis but I understand that a common adverse effect is ocular burning - and this can last for a few weeks.

I wonder if your ophthalmologist wants you to stop the doxy so s/he can monitor which medication is actually helping you.

By using too many, it may not be clear which one (if any) is the most efficacious.

[Rebecca Petris]

It's one of those hurry up and wait things. I'd like to say "stop worrying" only I know it's not that simple.

There really is no free lunch, is there? Sometimes the things that help the most have some pesky downside... but are still more than worth it. Hopefully you will be among those who are helped by Restasis. Just hang in there and know that it can take quite awhile.

[RobLIC]

I recently went back on Restasis. It burns for an hour after I take it. I assume that's the way it is interacting with the "toothpaste" oozing out of my MGs. The hope is it has a benefit for the lacrimal glands.

[magicmadcap]

I've bee on Restasis for over 5 months and it still burns for a few minutes every time I put it in. I was told the burning goes away or gets better after the first month or so but that didn't happen with me. I understand that the burning is different for different people.

In the mornings, if I put Restasis in and then fall back asleep for a couple more hours, my eyes will be so bloodshot and painful when I wake up. I can't tell if it's helping me or not.

[Rebecca Petris]

There was an interesting study awhile back comparing the castor oil vehicle in Restasis to other similar vehicles. There's problems with toxicity of the vehicle and I think based even on the original clinical trials that's not something that always goes away in time.

It's interesting with Restasis... While the mechanism is supposed to benefit the lacrimal glands, my impression just from collective hearsay from doctors is that it might actually be doing more for the meibomians.

[Brooke]

Sometimes I find that there is less burning when I use it immediately following a compress/massage. Maybe the oil that I express during this process helps coat the eye and lessen the burning.

[Aaron77]

To bad you can't get this stuff in a different delivery vehicle, I've heard of people having success when using the veterinarian med Optimmune which uses an ointment as the cyclosporin delivery vehicle to treat dry eye in dogs. Maybe the ointment is better, maybe its the higher cyclosporin dose .2% over .05%.

Saw some TV ads for Restasis the other day, hopefully as it goes more main stream and more people use it we will see some product improvements come the future.

[nycdryeyegirl]

To bad you can't get this stuff in a different delivery vehicle, I've heard of people having success when using the veterinarian med Optimmune which uses an ointment as the cyclosporin delivery vehicle to treat dry eye in dogs. Maybe the ointment is better, maybe its the higher cyclosporin dose .2% over .05%.

Saw some TV ads for Restasis the other day, hopefully as it goes more main stream and more people use it we will see some product improvements come the future.

Hi,

You might want to consider using a compounding pharmacy where they can remove the caster oil thus lessening the burning, if this is what is causing your burning discomfit.

I don't know if you have access to this type of pharmacy but it is certainly something to consider to help alleviate the burning symptoms.

Pam

[Aaron77]

Hi,

You might want to consider using a compounding pharmacy where they can remove the caster oil thus lessening the burning, if this is what is causing your burning discomfit.

I don't know if you have access to this type of pharmacy but it is certainly something to consider to help alleviate the burning symptoms.

Pam

I wonder if its legal for a pharmacy to compound this stuff?

Pharmacies don't carry Restasis here in Canada anyways, can only pick it up at your opthamologists office who needs to special order it through the states.

Cyclosporin might be available here in Canada through a veterinarian but I dought it would be easy to get my hands on it.

[nycdryeyegirl]

I wonder if its legal for a pharmacy to compound this stuff?

Pharmacies don't carry Restasis here in Canada anyways, can only pick it up at your opthamologists office who needs to special order it through the states.

Cyclosporin might be available here in Canada through a veterinarian but I dought it would be easy to get my hands on it.

Hi,

A few years ago, I had to go to a compounding pharmacy to customize a prescription for a steroid cream that was necessary to help alleviate a severe tendinitis condition that I had. The steroid cream was administered by a physical therapist through an instrument that she used and fortunately, this treatment proved to be very effective.

Since your opthamalogist needs to place a special order for Restasis through the states, perhaps he can fill the prescription through a compounding pharmacy called Leiter's Pharmacy, for example, (there are others) which is a fairly well-known pharmacy that makes customize prescription orders.

Another suggestion might be to try to use a natural lubricant preservative- free eyedrop fifteen minutes before applying the Restasis in you eye.

I hope you find this information helpful.

Pam

[sandra lee]

I have been on Restasis(just 1 drop a day as I have had reactions to most drops) and my doctor said to put 1 drop of refresh plus in each eye then 1 drop of Restasis so I would at least get some benefit.I keep my eyes closed for 2 minutes and keep my Restasis in the refrigerator and have not as yet experienced any stinging.My sister and her husband gave me the refigerator tip.Just thought I would share my experience with it so far.Good Luck to ALL

[irish eyes]

To bad you can't get this stuff in a different delivery vehicle, I've heard of people having success when using the veterinarian med Optimmune which uses an ointment as the cyclosporin delivery vehicle to treat dry eye in dogs. Maybe the ointment is better, maybe its the higher cyclosporin dose .2% over .05%.

Restasis isn't available in the UK but we can get Optimmune - the veterinary medicine for dogs.

My consultant advised me to try it but the discomfort was so horrendous that I couldn't function at all. I couldn't close nor open my eyes properly and I felt nauseous. I think it was the petrolatum base that irritated the eyes - and they are pretty irritated anyway so I had no choice but to give up on it.

[kitty]

My DES symptoms were worse on Restasis. I actually have a hypersensitivity to the drug. For me, the stinging and other side effects never did subside. You can try using drops 15 minutes before and again 15 minutes after instilling Restasis and see if that helps. That is what my eye doc recommended to me.