starting restasis and confused....

[Need2Know]

Had a scrip for restasis filled yesterday and have started using it. however, I'm confused for a couple of reasons;
1) the scrip was for 3 months and the pharmacy gave three trays of 32 vials. at 2 vials a day, isn't that only 1.5 months supply?
2) in each use, I open one vial, use 1 drop per eye, and then have like 4-5 drops left in the vial. is that right?

at any rate, fingers crossed that this helps. thanks all.

[liz56]

My corneal specialist took some time to coach me in using the vials. He recommended using one vial per day and keeping it in the refrigerator until the second dose. I put it in a shot glass and loosely prop a baggie over it. There are way more than four drops in every vial.

Good luck!

--Liz

[eva]

Hi

When I was on Restasis, I was given the boxes by the SS Clinic in Toronto - it's not an approved drug in Canada so it was given to me because of a study I agreed to participate in.

They told me that each vial should be good 3 times - 2 drops in the morning, 2 at night and 2 the next morning - thus 6 drops per vial.

I was told just to keep it in the fridge once opened - did not bother with wrapping it, just stood it up in a shot glass.

This is contrary to the Manufacturer's instructions but I decided to take the doctor's advice.

Sometimes I only got 4 drops per vial - still better than throwing it away after two drops.

According to the SS Clinic, the important part is to refrigirate after opening

eva

[Need2Know]

Thanks,

Can it just be kept refrigerated all the time then?

[odydnas]

Just refrigerate your opened vial, but keep the unused vials in the box it came in at room temp (15-25C).

[eva]

Hi

Just like Tags posted - if you read the box it tells you to keep it at room temperature plus when the box used to be handed to me at the hospital, I saw the boxes being stored on a shelf.

Lots of food is like that - no need to be refrigerated until opening.

Being the suspicious person that I am (concerning drug companies in general)
the manufacturer knows that the dosage is way too much for one use, yet the instructions tells you to discard it while doctors at the SS Clinic who understand chemical compositions, tell you to refrigerate unused portion.

Gee - could it be all about Profit?

eva