MGD came back after only 3days of stopping Restasis

[Faith1989]

So my doctor and I have been toying around with the idea of me stopping Restasis. he gave me a mild steriod to get through the rebound effect of stooping the drug. Today is day 4 and my eye redness has gone down, however my lids flared up and haven't since I started it four months ago! I am asking my specialist to let me try compounded Restasis in olive oil (as castor oil stings my eyes)

Has anyone else tried it compounded? Does it sting less??

[DCRdryeye]

Interesting perspective.
I have Restasis compounded and according to the pharmacist, there's no castor oil in it. Restasis has done very little for me and had to quit for 6 weeks due to surgery (making lift my arm difficult).
The dlimemma is that I was also using "Testosterone Cream". But I'll bet the Testosterone cream was responsible for my extremely bad eyes. I could barely make it into the city today with my eye pain and headaches from them.
It's winter here atm, so that's another consideration.

[Faith1989]

If you have it compounded, then they probably don't use the castor oil. BUT original Restasis does.. I think all it has done is make my eyes more red than they were to begin with... But obviously has helped my lids. I am asking to have it compounded into olive oil..
How did ur eyes feel when you had to quit for six weeks?

[spmcc]

I've tried cyclosporine (0.05% and other %s) in olive oil, corn oil, and methylcellulose. I fould olive oil too gritty. Corn oil was smooooooth. My favorite was methylcellulose but I think that was because it must be kept refrigerated (fyi in addition, methylcellulose keeps for only 30 days. The others don't expire that quickly).

The pharmacist at the main compounding pharmacy in Vancouver told me that he makes 30+ vials/bottles per week of cyclosporine in olive oil. So there are plenty of people who use it.

Oh - and compounded is MUCH less expensive than Restasis (~$30 compounded versus $145 for Restasis).

I didn't see any harm in my trying a bunch of other bases. (NOTE: In the end, I got all my puncta sealed and then I stopped cyclosporine).

Good luck.

[Faith1989]

In ottawa, they said they only do it in olive oil..so I have no choice. Anything right now seems better than castor oil. I am really hoping it doesn't sting as much, the cost doesn't concern me. (Although it should lol) I would pay anything right now to be more comfortable.. I don't really want to stop using Restasis yet..my MGD came back super fast once I stopped.

Thanks for the information!!

[DCRdryeye]

I'm not sure what the base is in the cyclosporine drops I had compounded but I know it only lasted 30 days from date of opening and needed to remain refrigerated.
I won't be stopping it again since my worst eye is so bad I have a patch over it. Perhaps I should do what spmcc did and just get cauterized, but I've reserved my decision on that for the past few years.

[Faith1989]

Why wouldn't you try plugs first? If your eyes are really bad, I would try some antiinflammatory meds first, then plugs. I have a bad eye too. My left one doesn't bother me that much.

[DCRdryeye]

Why wouldn't you try plugs first? If your eyes are really bad, I would try some antiinflammatory meds first, then plugs. I have a bad eye too. My left one doesn't bother me that much.

Tried the external plugs on my worst I but they fall out due to an enlarged puncta. I often have DuraPlugs inserted and they last about one month. Tried Doxy, it didn't really work well and caused reflux.