Using Restasis and steroids together

[neilw]

My wife is currently using Restasis twice a day and the steroid drops Prednisolone Minims in the morning only. She has been using Restasis for two and half years with a small but significant increase in tear volume as a result. In the Restasis patient information leaflet Allergan state that ‘Increased tear production was not seen in patients currently taking topical anti-inflammatory drugs or using punctal plugs’. Her ophthalmologist wants her to use both together and has also told her that plugs would help maintain Restasis in the eye.

Is anyone else using anti-inflammatory (steroidal or NSAID) drugs with Restasis?

[dave25]

I am not currently using them together, but I have used Restasis and steroid drops before with no complications. I asked 2 doctors about this several years ago and 1 said he was totally fine with using the combination and the other said to stop Restasis for a week while using the steroid drops. I am currently using an NSAID drop (Acuvail) with Restasis and have had no complications with this combination either. I have been on this current regimen for almost 2 years. I hope this helps.

[Faith1989]

I am currently using both, and I don't have the exact papers but I have read studies that have actually found it to be MORE effective to use both at once... I wouldn't worry to much.

[DCRdryeye]

I've used both. First Minims drops then a few minutes later Cyclosporine drops. However, I had to stop the Minims due to increase ocular pressure in one of my eyes.

The quote on Restasis being less effective with plugs was proven to be incorrect. There was a study that tested groups of people, one group used only Restasis, another only plugs and the third group Restasis and plugs. The most significant improvements were found in the Restasis and plugs.

Please don't believe any drug manufacturers claims, most of the time they don't know the true effects of the drugs they are selling. Long terms sides are not known. Many lawsuits from liver damage and deaths have ensued because of this very point.

[neilw]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I have not been on DEZ for a few days so I have only just now seen these replies.

I think Kathy will keep going with using both for now. With all of these things it is really hard to tell how beneficial they are. Restasis especially seems to have a long lead time for it's benefits to be felt and even then they are probably only marginal. Even Restasis's own trials indicate only mild improvement using them. But most people with dry eye (especially severe) will try anything even if the improvement is only small and that is certainly the case for Kathy.