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Restasis use

Posted , 6 users are following.

jennifer09136
jennifer09136

i Have SS with dry eyes my worst symptom. Just started on Restasis this week. What can i expect in terms of relief and speed of it working? Any side effects?

 

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • mandy95
    mandy95 jennifer09136

    Posted

    If these are the Ikervis drops they work really well. I have been using the drops for 4 months and what a difference they have made. No issues with them either.

    Regards

    Mandy

    • jennifer09136
      jennifer09136 mandy95

      Posted

      Not sure about that name but the drops are cyclosporine, manufactured under several names including Restasis
    • mandy95
      mandy95 jennifer09136

      Posted

      That's the same one then. Dr wanted me to use them twice a day but this was too much for me. I use it only at night time and it has made such a difference for me. Good luck with them, and don't be afraid to use them. Just a question do you have the punctual plugs inserted in your tear ducts yet? If not you may want to look into them, I have had them for 27 years and I certainly knew when they had come out.

      Mandy

    • jennifer09136
      jennifer09136 mandy95

      Posted

      No. My new opthal says i have no tears at all so there is actually nothing to plug in. Doing a 6 month trial of restasism and serum eye drops.

       

  • estelle44124
    estelle44124 jennifer09136

    Posted

    In the UK I am prescribed by my doctor celluvisc eyedrops in ampoules. They're preservative free which is essential if using drops long term. Also use Hyloforte lubricant drops which give a longer lasting relief. My eyes have definitely got worse lately. I now have to lubricate about every four hours and if I don't, I either suffer discomfort or feel incredibly tired. I now have a reminder timed on my mobile phone to tell me to do so!

    I realise that I am not directly answering your question, but as this is an international forum I felt it might help others to know what is available on our NHS on prescription. What you use, isn't available here, as I understand it.

  • gretchen37301
    gretchen37301 jennifer09136

    Posted

    It takes about six months to work (from my experience). It seems to keep the dryness at bay to some extent but I still get dry eyes especially at night. Serum tears are a great supplement to the restasis.(your dr makes these in the office using your own blood serum).

  • carmen12016
    carmen12016 jennifer09136

    Posted

    Restasis is very good but you still have problems, you can use restasis 2 or 3 times a year.
  • frustrated61
    frustrated61 jennifer09136

    Posted

    Hi Jennifer,

    I have sjorgens and have been dealing with the dry eyes to the extreme and dry mouth, throat,  My doctor told me that depending on what level you are with sjogren's would determine if that would halep.  I couldn't use restasis that I needed something with a gel in it bc my eye lids were sticking to my eyeball.  

    All I can say to you is what could it hurt to try it. If it helps. YAY!  On the down side, there is other drops that they could direct you to.  What kind of a doctor are you seeing?  I ended up seeing a cornea specialist at the Kellogg's Eye Care Center at the U of M campus.  The States have 4 of them, however,, more will continue to open.  Europe has many of the Kelloggs center.  

    Anyway, if you have a great specialist like the Cornea Doctor, reason the cornea is bc that is an area that is effected a lot with sjogren's/  I have really bad corneas the scarring is awful, hopefully  this new treatment I'll be starting in January willl help me more than anything else.

    I  wish you well, Jennifer.  Just know taht those who are afflicted with this syndrom have different levels and a poor immune system is usually the reason this disease jumps on those who are suffering from possibly something else.  I have Sardosis which I had first and I've had it now for 12 yrs and then some and the Sjorgen's, it was 2013 I was told what had been bothering me for well over 8-9 yrs.  I was going to my regular eye doctor bc with sarcoidosis I had to have 2 visits a year but with all the troubles I was having, he sent me to this one cornea specialist and he was just a mess of a man.  So the next time my eye doctor told me to go back to this Cornea specialist, I said, NO, I want to go to the Kellogg's at U of M...he was kinda hesitant and I'm not sure if he was thinking that once I go there, he won't have me as his paitent so less money for him...I don't know, it just past my mind.  I'm in a dark place currently so forgive any negativity I've passed on.  I'm usually happy go lucky...not this week, thougj/

    Many prayers sent your way and I hope you get the help you deserve...this disease sucks bigtime smile

    Warm regards\

    Fristrated

  • jodi1974
    jodi1974 jennifer09136

    Posted

    I have been using Restasia for about two years now. It is amazing, and I could not live without it. It does take about 6mths to take efffect. I remember taking myself off them cause I didn't think they were working. Yes the were! I use the Restasis one in the am and pm. For nighttime I need a thicker ointment,I use over the counter refesh ointment (aka lacker lube). I also take a really good fish oil, a TB in the am and pm. The fish oil help lubricate your eyes. I did run out one time for about a month, and i really noticed it. I never go without now.

    These 3 items work well for me.

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