Progesterone & Testosterone eye drops

[Travis]

To be honest I don't know for sure what component my tears were lacking. I believe it was a combination of aqueous and evaporative. Before the drops I couldn't cry for the life of me get a tear to come out. It was as if the glands were blocked. My doctor turned my eyelids upside down and could tell that they were inflamed. Now I can close my eyes and think about something sad and have a good tear flow. I have never taken restasis or plugs before trying these. I tried all of the lubricating drops that were over the counter. They would give my eye relief for approximation 30 minutes before they felt awful again. The testosterone/progesterone drops give me relief for around four hours then I need another drop in each eye.

Prior to visiting the doctors office I tried to wear my contacts for a full day out of angry desperation of months of trying different lenses at another doctor. I would put the OTC lubricating eye drops in every 30 minutes and by the end of the day I just took the lenses out and said enough was enough. My eyes were in pain for the next several days. When I went to my doctor I explained by goal of wanting to be able to wear contacts again he tried me in a pair of daily lenses and gave me a drop of pro/test in each eye. Unlike the lubricating drops these lasted for four hours with no discomfort. In fact I could have gone longer but wanted to follow the docs instructions. I wore wore a pair of dailies for the next week foe five day sample back and was about to order a box when I decided to try the monthlies to save on expenses. These worked for two days but became intolerable. Now I am back in the dailies and feeling a lot better.

[Hemu]

Travis, I am glad the drops are working for you. However, it does seem a little worrisome that you were asked to try non FDA approved drugs immediately before even trying other standard options that have been thoroughly tested for years. Non FDA approved drugs and procedures are usually considered to be the last resort. I'm just surprised(and possibly a little alarmed) that the first treatment you were prescribed are drops that very few people have tried/tested!

That's just my opinion though, I could be wrong.

[bunnyrabbit123]

I've been able to get someone in my area to consider prescribing hormone drops (he says he's checking into it and I'm pushing it as much as poss. without alienating this dr.) but this is only after plugs, cautery, steroids, restasis and ipl. You're lucky Travis, to have gotten a solution pretty quickly- I'm very jealous!!

[Travis]

Chemia, I am going to test this theory in a few days and post back. I must say that my eyes feel worse and are generally more red when I wear my glasses. I think the tears that I am able to produce hydrate the contact and therefore keep my eyes better hydrated. It would be nice if I can get by with OTC drops and daily lenses.

[heyjude0701]

Checking in again re: testosterone. I took the Azasite drops for a month, and other than the burning and stinging when I put in the drops, there was no change in my DES. I went for my follow up with Dr Mark Rosenblatt at Weill Cornell in NY, and this time he prescribed testosterone drops (DHEA) in a 1% solution. He ordered them from Leiters compounding lab in San Jose, and I received them in the mail yesterday. The starting dose for the first week is one drop in each eye four times a day. After one week, the dose drops to three times a day. In three weeks I go back to see him. He said that there is very little experience with testosterone drops and dosing but he is hopeful based on two other people he has prescribed it for in the past. So far, it stings very much when I put the drops in my eyes, but I am willing to endure the stinging (it goes away in a minute or two) if it will improve my DES symptoms. Fingers crossed!
Judy

[sunshinelover]

That, s great Judy! Hope it works out for you too! Post back and let us know how it goes.

[bunnyrabbit123]

Same here, Judy. Wishing you success with this-please keep us updated.

[jads]

I am guessing that in 1-2 years there will be a reasonable market for hormone-based drops and\or topical T creams for the eyelids. Just how available or expensive these treatments become remains to be seen.

I believe the reason this treatment option is slow to gain momentum is that specialists and doctors are typically loathe to mess with people's hormones unless the problem is critical. Just the term, testosterone scares most people due to the common misconceptions about it eg...steriods, bodybuilding, aggressive behaviour and so on.

[DCRdryeye]

Jads - I absolutely agree with you. I have located a doctor in Australia who specializes in hormones and wasn't scared to write me a script for testosterone cream and DHEA drops. I nearly fell off my chair when he agreed. But I am yet to hear from the compounding pharmacy he deals with to pay them, I don't know the price, so I might fall off my chair again!!!

[jads]

Hi DCR, you've touched on the key thing there.... finding a GP\ specialist who understands hormones and often they seem to be more in functional or integrative medical practices.

Hopefully your treatment won't cost too much! Maybe medicare will reimburse you for a %.

[heyjude0701]

I don't know what the cost in Australia will be, but the compounding pharmacy in the US that made my DHEA drops charged $90 for a one month supply. It is not covered by my health insurance. But I don't think that is too bad, since my co-pay is $75 a month for Restasis, which is covered by my insurance. The Restasis doesn't really cost me $75 a month, though, because I use each wand for 3 applications, so it lasts much more than a month. Judy

[heyjude0701]

Thanks, sunshinelover and bunnyrabbit! The DHEA drops burn very badly when I put them in, but the burning goes away in a minute or two. But my eyelids have been itching something fierce and they are red and puffy. I wonder if there is some soothing cream I can put on them. I don't want to stop the drops, I really want to give them a chance to work. I've been trying to use the tiniest drop that doesn't run out of my eyes, and I'm not rubbing them afterwards, I don't want to irritate the lids even more. If this is a common side effect, this may be why Allergan hasn't marketed them yet. The burning is worse than it was for Restasis when I started using it, and worse than the Muro123 drops. Judy

[DCRdryeye]

That's disappointing news to hear jude. I use Restasis and couldn't imagine applying anything that burns more. Can't they mix the DHEA formula with gentler ingredients, or is it the DHEA itself that causes the burning? Only the researchers and compounders would know.

Have you tried Testosterone drops or cream jude?

[heyjude0701]

The testosterone drops I'm using are DHEA 1% solution. This morning I was very careful to use the tiniest drop, and so far my eyelids aren't worse. It might be that four times a day is too much. the opth said that after the first week, I should drop down to three drops a day. I think I just have to be very careful not to use too much and not to rub my eyes with a tissue after. Maybe gently blotting will keep it from getting on my eyelids

[bunnyrabbit123]

Jude,
Would you consider cutting the dosage down to maybe 2x a day now- or buffering with otc preservative-free drop before putting in DHEA drops? When do you see Dr. R. again?