Skip to main content

Restasis User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

Restasis has an average rating of 4.5 out of 10 from a total of 215 reviews on Drugs.com. 27% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 49% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Restasis

  • BillB
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 25, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "RESTASIS MultiDose RESTASIS MultiDose bottle design is the worst I’ve ever seen. The engineers have made it so complex that it takes 5 minutes to get ONE drop in both eyes. I see now why the cost is so high (must be 80% of the cost just in the manufacturing of their bottle). I just started using their product and it may be great (still waiting for the results) but I highly recommend you only use the single-use vials. Unfortunately Humana issued me a 90 day supply of the MultiDose bottles so this is going to be very painful. My guess is this is why so many people stop taking RESTASIS. "

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
12 Report
  • Pano
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • July 16, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I was given the squeeze bottle for the first time on my Rx earlier this year. Bad engineering, as others have commented here about waiting forever for a huge drop to come out only to have it land on your cheek. Not happy here. Will be insisting on the vials only for future refills. They work perfectly."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
7 Report
  • doirked
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • May 12, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I have been using Restasis for 3 years, it has helped a lot. I HATE the new bottle. I have to pay a lot for this and it doesn't last the month because the bottle is so hard to squeeze then 2 drops come out just when you give up waiting for it. It's awful! The bottle is the reason I give it a 3 otherwise it would have been higher."

3 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
12 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • May 12, 2015

"I have been on restasis for about a year and do not see much improvement. In fact, everytime I use it my eyes burn for about an hour and it blurs my vision. I am still using other moisture drops in my eyes several times a day and the PM eye ointment at night. I will stop using it as I don't see a difference. IF there are people oiut there that cannot afford this medication, ask yoiu doctor for a card that will give you a discount or maybe you can get it for free as I did."

3 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
16 Report
  • Jackie
  • October 13, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I was awaking during the night with severe eye pain to the point of crying at times due to the pain. I have dry eyes and occular dystrophy. I have been using the Restatis for only about 3 weeks and I see a little improvement. I don’t have to sit in a dark room with my eyes covered with a cool damp washcloth anymore all day; although I do put one on at night time. I had been experiencing nearly daily corneal abrasions. It has been several days since I had one. The medication is a necessity as I have found nothing else that helps as much. I am hoping to see continued improvement as I have been told it could take 6 months to see optimal results. As everyone said the drawback is the bottle is difficult to use since the drops take a long time to come out and there does not seem to be adequate amount. With insurance and the Allergan coupon the drops are affordable. I am very grateful for the medication. I make some tears now. And my eyes are more comfortable."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
11 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • LSano
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 24, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I’ve been using Restasis for about a week and it has made a tremendous difference. Eyes are not nearly as dry and itchy as before. It stings a bit just after you put in the drops but goes away quickly. Very happy!"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
7 Report
  • Bella...
  • January 15, 2017

For Dry Eye Disease "I have only been using this drug for 4 days. I am not having any problems with using it, However, I am a bit concerned with loss of appetite and brain fog. I can stand to lose some wieght but since I am a nursing student, I cannot deal with feeling out of it. I wonder if these side effects are temporary."

5 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
13 Report

More FAQ

  • Unhappy...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • August 27, 2017

For Dry Eye Disease "I have little to no effect using restasis for 9 months. At about $900 for a prescription of multidose Restasis I got about 40 days of applications, not the 55 claimed by Allergen. The dropper design is simply awful. The dropper is very difficult to squeeze to release a drop. The liquid is too viscous for a drop. It comes out in an amount that is probably equivalent to 3 applictions. The cost of this is prohibitive; my insurance is paying about $500 per prescription so I am picking up the $400 balance. I will never order the multiuse prescription again and I am doing my best to persuade my ophthalmologist to prescribe a different drug."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
12 Report
  • Chris...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 27, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "After two months of use, my doctor said there was clinical improvement. However, I noticed very little improvement. After four months, my eyes looked and felt worse. My doctor confirmed they looked worse. She contributed to me giving up on Restasis and told me to restart. (I gave it up for all of four days after experiencing more pain). I learned about Xiidra and received a prescription from another office. The pain improved in a week."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
10 Report
  • eeagle
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • June 5, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "This one star rating is for RESTASIS MultiDose my insurer is now providing via mail order. Whoever invented this it is a marketing ploy by Allergan sand they should be hung out to dry! Horrible applicator as noted by many. I'll be back to the vials which will cost more locally, but such a better produce. I would give Restasis an 8 star rating for the drug itself which Allergan again markets to the hilt at the customers expense. It is hard to like a drug company like this."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
11 Report
  • Dryeyes
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • November 6, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I first used mult-dose bottles then switched to vials. Vials are MUCH better. I get 2+ days from 1 vial (after opening, stored upright in frigde in a narrow capped pill bottle). Previously, for several months, I had a ghost image about 1 o'clock above the normal image in both eyes. The combination of Restasis PLUS Refresh PM ointment in each eye before bed quickly cleared up the ghost image problem. My ophthalmologist said the dry eyes had caused a scar due to eyes not being fully closed during sleep--hence the need for a lubricating ointment."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
10 Report
  • Erika
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • May 10, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I have used Restasis for almost five years, with great results, no side effects. The ampules worked beautifully, I never lost one drop. I was happy to switch to the multi dose option, thinking there would be less waste. What a horrible design! Drops sometimes run down the side of the bottle instead of the nozzle (which is too short). You need to squeeze extra hard to get a drop out and so sometimes a huge drop that feels like two drops come out. I have never experienced an eye drop bottle this terrible. It is unmanageable."

Was this helpful?YesNo
10 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • September 11, 2017

For Dry Eye Disease "I just received the multi dose after years of using the vials no doubt you can get about 2-3 days use out of just one vial. I got the dropper for convenience. But the dropper is a joke and lucky to get 20 days out of one bottle. They really screwed up the bottle design. I have to squeeze hard to get a drop out and then sometimes 2 come out. I will never get the multi dose again unless they make it better and put more in them. This being said the restasis has definitely taken care of my dry eyes. I am fortunate that my insurance covers it."

Was this helpful?YesNo
11 Report
  • Sore...
  • December 4, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I am very unhappy with the multi-dispensing bottle. I did not know you can choose the vials. I am getting arthritis in my hands and I would swear my thumb would sprain before a drop comes out! I also use Fresh Kote and it now comes in the same type bottle, but is very easy to use. I was completely shocked when I picked up my 4th refill and it was the single vials. Yeah! However, this isn't doing much to make more tears. Xiidra was much more effective, but my insurance wouldn't cover it."

2 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
9 Report
  • Blicky
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • March 13, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I am having significant problems with the multidose bottle. The bottle needs to be squeezed so hard just to squeeze out one drop. After squeezing the bottle so hard, I usually end up missing the target and the drop goes on my cheek. I am going to see about contacting the company. I have strong hands, I can't imagine my mom or grandma having to squeeze a tiny bottle so hard -- they would never be able to do it."

4 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
6 Report
  • Terbo
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 26, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I'm not sure if Restasis works well. Can't get enough from the bottle to the eye to find out. The eyes sting badly so I have to use some Systane after 30 minutes. Perhaps the Allergan (Restasis) folks could call the Alcon (Systane) folks to find out how to make a bottle for eyedrops. Will be using only Systane when when the Restasis runs out."

3 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
9 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 19, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "I was prescribed restasis for my dry eyes condition and I'm oddly relieved that people have shared their negative experience of its usage. I thought these side effects I was having was from something else, the nausea and headaches and it so happens to be the day after I apply the eye drops. Very uncomfortable side effects and I did not see that much of an improvement in my condition."

2 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
4 Report
  • Anna
  • July 14, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "The multi dose bottle is impossible for me to use by myself. I have to have someone put the drops in for me and by the time we get a drop out of the bottle my eyes are burning and dry from holding them open so long. I don’t really see that I’m any better after 1 month and this drug is outrageously expensive. My next refill I will ask for the single use vials which I hate because of all the plastic but I have to have."

4 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
9 Report
  • Comme...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 23, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "I tried using Restasis for dry eyes caused by a stem cell transplant. The drug burned my eyes for months and I suffered through it with the hopes and prospects that it would work. It did not work. It only caused me more misery. I just obtained a grant from a foundation for Cequa or Cyclosporine and will decline those too since Restasis also has cyclosporine. I actually read that these drops can damage your eyes. I have seen many doctors. The only drops that cannot really cause vision problems are autologous serum tears made from your own blood and serum and Regineer Drops made out of a placenta. They charge around 600.00 for these drops and do not accept insurance. It is appalling that these big parma compainies charge such expensive prices for drugs that we need to preserve our vision. My optometrist and opthamologist told me that I can use castor oil. I only read good reviews about it on Etsy. I purchased pharmaceutical organic grade castor oil made in the U SA that has been tested."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
3 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • May 27, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "If you can get these drops in your eyes with out blinking (it takes so long!) it works quite well. However, no medicine should be this difficult to use to do its job! Whoever invented this new eye drop bottle should be fired!"

4 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
8 Report
  • Lulu
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • July 6, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "Restasis medication has helped my dry eyes so very much but the new bottle is awful the design is outrageous the nose bit is too short.... I understand the mechanics inside needs to dispense one drop and it has to be aseptic I appreciate that but the nose is too short. Especially halfway through the bottle it's outrageous it comes out and goes to the side of the bottle very very difficult to use... I feel sorry for elderly patients who might need to use this medication with arthritis. Please address this issue... much appreciated."

Was this helpful?YesNo
8 Report
  • Lor
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • January 21, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "Multidose Restasis bottle sucks!!! I am dependent on Restasis for severe dry eye & uveitis prevention. My insurance dropped coverage of the vials which I used successfully for many years. Now I am likely to suffer rebound iritis when I run out of med before insurance will cover a refill. Have emailed the company but based on others' comments I doubt they have a solution to improve their poor bottle design."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
5 Report
  • BMW
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 6, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "One of the most horrible experiences I have ever had with a medication. Started taking it for dry eye. Dark urine, burning urination, body aches, chills, painful cough, very sore throat, sore soft palette, sore stuffy runny nose, ear pain, headache, sneezing, hard to breath, tired and weak, burning gritty eyes, tongue swollen and painful, tip of tongue numb and a painful sore inside my lip. Went to the doctor. Doc said pan-sinusitis and bronchitis. Started amoxicillin and just happened to stop Restasis because I was so sick I just wanted to sleep without burning eyes. Thought I could tolerate it after getting better. Got better in two days. Thought it was the amoxicillin. Started the Restasis again and everything came back. NOT PAN-SINUSITIS AND BRONCHITIS. RESTASIS. NEVER AGAIN. Don’t do it. Look up the side effects before taking. You do not want to feel like this. Never again. There is a law suit coming I am sure."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
4 Report
  • Paula
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • April 8, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "When I heard they had come out with a multi-dose bottle, I was thrilled, more compact, less plastic waste, etc. Then I used it. The design of this bottle is terrible. You have to squeeze so hard and wait for the drop, usually two come out at once. There is hardly enough in the bottle to last one month! Yet is cost the same as 60 single-use vials! I am paying over $ 300 per month with the $ 200 coupon from Restasis! I am going back to the single use vials. They are easier to use and I will definitely get at least one month maybe two out of it. Hopefully Allergan will consider our opinions and redesign the multidose bottle."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
8 Report
  • CMB
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 13, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "Very dry eyes for past 3 years. Tried OTC products, plugs, laser. Ophthalmologist prescribed Restasis 3 months ago. My symptoms have not improved and I am considering stopping this med. The burning, sensitivity to light and overall discomfort is awful. Some days it's difficult to read or drive. I understand it can take time to help, but 3 months is simply not acceptable."

2 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
3 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.