Azasite Rocks (Take 2)

[skygoddess]

Hi Everyone,
I never thought I would get to post here, but at last ,
I can post something positive .
I have suffered with a painful case of blepharitis for over two years.
I have been to multiple specialist, tried everything , and anything, but nothing helped till now.

My newest Dr. prescribed a 14 day course of Azasite, and WOW! what a difference. Only 3 days in, and I feel so much better.
I actually wanted to post this a couple of days earlier, but I waited in case I was mistaken.
Three whole days without pain has been wonderful.
I just had to spread the word, in case it can help someone else.

I saw some others post, that it had not helped them, but for myself, WOW!

[Lucy]

AzaSite website

http://www.azasite.com/consumers.html

[skygoddess]

Azasite

Lucy,
Thanks for posting the link. I am never sure about how to do that sort of thing, so I have to get my kids to help. So embarrassing!

I would like to add that blepharitis treatment with this drug is a new usage, so don't let the pink eye bit throw you off the idea, if you have severe blepharitis.

4 days down , with almost no pain!!!
My lids are HUGELY IMPROVED!! I still have 10 days left of treatment to go, so I can imagine the possibility of a pain free future.
I'll say it again,
WOW!

[pj95]

I have ocular rosacea and allergies and I agree, Azasite really works. It is the best drop that I have tried so far.The only concern I have is how safe is it to use the drop longterm as I am sure that I will have to use it at least a couple of times a week for maintainence.

[Eileen]

Hi Skygoddess,
Had you tried doxycyline or restasis for your symptoms? My twin sister and I both have dry eye from ocular rosacea and we were thinking of trying azasite drops. We've had no luck with all other treatment. I hope your improvement continues.
Eileen

[skygoddess]

Hi Eileen,
Yes, I have tried everything The azasite is for the treatment of blepharitis. Mine drove me mad.
I am not sure how helpful it is on dryness.
I know the prevailing wisdom is that blepharitis is caused by a combination of dryness and poor lid hygiene, but I have never believed that was all that was going on .
In my case, I always felt there was something bacterial happening.
I mean one day I am going along just fine, a bit of dry eye discomfort, but nothing drastic, then in the matter of a few hours my eyes are almost swollen shut ?
I am supposed to believe this sudden occurrence is all due to my not taking off my make-up properly??
If lid scrubs could have cleared it up , I would think two years would have done the trick by now.

I was also diagnosed with ocular rosacea, which might very well be accurate, but I KNOW I have been walking around with an active eye infection for over two years now.

When I think of all the Dr's that just patted me on the head and told me to keep up the lid scrubs , I could scream.
I think this Dr. gave me the prescription just to keep me from crying.

No tears next time,
He is getting chocolates at my follow-up

[Scout]

skygoddess,

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am really happy for your success. It is always wonderful to hear another success story.

In my case, I always felt their was something bacterial happening.
I mean one day I am going along just fine, a bit of dry eye discomfort, but nothing drastic, then in the matter of a few hours my eyes are almost swollen shut ?
I am supposed to believe this sudden occurrence is all due to my not taking off my make-up properly??

This part really brought me back to 1999, right after my LASIK surgery. Since childhood, I have had periodic bouts of conjunctivitis (allergic, bacterial, etc.) and by the time I was 47, I knew my body well enough to determine the difference between dry eye, allergic conjunctivitis and bacterial conjunctivitis. My LASIK surgeon just did not believe I had a bacterial infection immediately after stopping the antibiotic drop that was prescribed for after the surgery. (Back then LASIK surgeons often prescribed antibiotics post-surgery, I am not sure if they still do).

When what I knew was an infection worsened after he finally tried one antibiotic dropo, he changed the prescription to Ocuflox, which worked immediately. Unfortunately, the infection always returned, first in my left eye and then in both eyes, after the course of the treatment was over. He would prescribe another round of Ocuflox with the same results: infection gone, infection returned when the course of treatment was over.

Do you see a pattern here? I sure did and the doc would not acknowledge what I suspected: There was bacteria under the flap that was causing a recurring infection.

Interesting, when he proposed a re-treatment, he chose my left eye (the one in which the infection always began) to retreat. I won’t get into my binocular vision problems that resulted from him choosing that eye over the right one, but from that point on I never had a bacterial infection again.

Coincidence? I think not.

I am amazed sometimes when doctors don’t see their patients as knowing their own body and at least contributing to the diagnosis and treatment plans.

Good on you for pushing until you found a solution!


pj95,

This antibiotic does use BAK for a preservative. You may want to be cautious for long-term use. You may want to discuss this with your doctor.

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/azasite.htm

AzaSite (azithromycin ophthalmic solution) is a 1% sterile aqueous topical ophthalmic solution of azithromycin formulated in DuraSite® (polycarbophil, edetate disodium, sodium chloride). AzaSite is an off-white, viscous liquid with an osmolality of approximately 290 mOsm/kg.

Preservative: 0.003% benzalkonium chloride. Inactives: mannitol, citric acid, sodium citrate, poloxamer 407, polycarbophil, edetate disodium (EDTA), sodium chloride, water for injection, and sodium hydroxide to adjust pH to 6.3

.

Scout

[skygoddess]

Yes the Bak is a bit worrisome to me, but when I weigh the fact that I am pain free for the first time in 2 years, well, I am just crossing my fingers.
I plan on asking my Dr. about it, but for now, I just can't stop smiling .

I wonder when the medical opinion changes, if any of these guys go back through their old patients files and contact them ?

Hm-mm, just wondering.

[Brighteyes]

I also had success with Azasite but discontinued use after 14 days (actually mine only lasted 10 days) because of fears over long term use. What did your doctor said about long term use?

[skygoddess]

Hi Bright Eyes,

I am only on day 5, But it has been a huge improvement. I am going for follow up after the 14 days. I plan to ask about long term use then.

I read that there is a azasite plus under development now, from what I gather, it will include an anti inflammatory , and be specifically for treatment of blepharitis.
I believe using azasite for blepharitis , is an off label usage, that is to say , not officially targeted to the condition. It is technically a pink eye medication .

But heck , it could be for hemorrhoids for all I care, as long as it keeps working.

[NYer]

Thank you so much for this post. It seems totally logical that an anti-bacterial drop should help and I'm glad to hear that it does. I'm going to ask Dr. L about trying it when I see him. Glad to hear that it helped you guys so much.
I checked out the link that Lucy posted for the Azasite web site and it says that a possible side effect is "DRY EYE"...did any of you feel that it exacerbated your dry eye symptoms at all, since you already do have dry eye?

[Rory]

Blepharitis means absolutely nothing to me.

It has the same clarity to me as a Dr saying that i am sick, when i am feeling unwell.

Surely everyone with dry eyes has inflamed eyelids?

Also surely there must be an effective anti inflammatory eyedrop? For me that is all I would need to be symptom free...as it is only ever my eyelids that burn. My eyes NEVER appear to have any problem whatsoever..its only the inner eyelids (particularly lower) that burn.

I had remarkable results with steroid based eyedrops 15 years ago...but overused them and have never used again.... maybe I should give Azasite a go?

[Rebecca Petris]

Surely everyone with dry eyes has inflamed eyelids?

Most certainly not!

[Rory]

I dont see how it would be possible not to have inflamed inner eyelids if you are lacking lubrication.

[NYer]

Rory, not everyone with dry eyes has blepharitis / inflamed eyelids.

Also, although the Azasite is an anti-bacterial medication, it's use is as an anti-inflamitory. That's the same reason doctors prescribe doxycycline (which I cannot take). Although it's an antibiotic, it's used as an anti-inflamitory for ocular rosacea.