1 month on steroid drops before ikervis.

[Matt0029]

I have just seen an ophthalmologist who has prescribed me a month of steroids starting 4 times a day and tapering off over the weeks. And after that month starting on ikervis. Any one else started on steroids before ikervis? Am glad to finally be starting some treatment.

[fernellen]

How are you doing. My doc prescribed 2 weeks of steroids and then introduce Xiidra. The reason is to control the inflammation

[Matt0029]

I ended up being on steroids for about 2-3months, For the last 6 weeks I was on steroid drop once a day and ikervis at night. My eyes were pretty much normal with being on both the steroid and ikervis since stopping the steroid drop symptoms have returned again though. Though not a bad as before. Shame I cant stay on both long term.

[Guest]

I ended up being on steroids for about 2-3months, For the last 6 weeks I was on steroid drop once a day and ikervis at night. My eyes were pretty much normal with being on both the steroid and ikervis since stopping the steroid drop symptoms have returned again though. Though not a bad as before. Shame I cant stay on both long term.

I'm having the exact same time experience...2-3 months on alrex, 2 months on restasis. Stoped steroids a week ago and feel it coming back but not nearly as bad. I agree, I wish we could take steroids forever. They're so powerfully awesome. I would suggest serum tears for more comfort if you can get them.

[Matt0029]

do serum tears help control inflammation?

[Matt0029]

Wish I could combine steroids and ikervis that seem to have cured me.

[hannsho]

Hi Matt0029
For what's it worth, I used a steroid pomade (Terra Cortril) for three and simultaneously Restasis twice a day, when I first started using Restasis. This treatment was prescribed to me by an ophthalmologist. So it should be possible to use Ikervis, which is really the same a Restasis, simultaneously with steroid eye drops. The problem is, of course, that steroid eye drops or pomades can only be used for a limited period of time.

[hannsho]

One more thought Matt0029. I think this information might be useful to you. After 6 weeks of using Ikervis you would only just notice a slight improvement. After 3 month you should notice a definite improvement including a reduction in the redness of your eye. However, on many occasions it may take 6 months before the full benefit appears. After that period of 6 months there will be no further improvement and Ikervis/Restasis can only fulfill a maintenance role. It helped me to understand the reasons why this is so. This is what I have learnt. Cyclosporine stops the activation of specific (cytolytic)T-lymphocites, a type of white blood cell, which can attack your own inflamed tissue and make matters worse. Cyclosporine does NOT kill T-lymphocytes cells that are already activated, but only inhibits the activation of new ones. As T-cells live for 180 days it will 6 months for all the activated cells to die off. So after 2 months 1/3 will have died off and after 6 months 1/2. This knowledge helped me to gauge what improvements to expect. It should tell you that you can still expect considerable improvement and encourage you to be patient. Hope your eyes will soon get better.

[Matt0029]

Thanks you. Very use full information.

[Matt0029]

I will ask if there is any chance of doing the steroid drop every few days maybe.

[quattroboy]

HI Matt0029 I started Dropodex last week, two month course. I'm also using ikervis before bed, started at the same time.

At present I'm not sure whether it's made a difference for me. What were/are your symptoms and how long did it take before you noticed a difference?

Glad your getting some relief.

[Matt0029]

Sorry for the late reply. It took about 2 months for me to see maximum benefits. Have you improved.
i

[MGD1701]

What are the purposes to have steroids before Ikervis? Is that a normal practice? or depends on the situation? So Ikervis kits in faster?? What did your doctors say?

Thanks!

[quattroboy]

Sorry for the late reply. It took about 2 months for me to see maximum benefits. Have you improved.
i

NP. Thanks for replying. I'm four weeks into both the steroids and ikervis. Four more weeks of steroids.

Hard to tell I think they're helping. Not using my drops as much. Still wake with sore dry eyes.

[quattroboy]

What are the purposes to have steroids before Ikervis? Is that a normal practice? or depends on the situation?
so Ikervis kits in faster?? What did your doctors said?

Thanks!

Steroids hit the inflammation quickly because ikervis takes at least 2 months to become even partially effective.

It's should be common to start both together then remove the steriost before the do too much harm.