Xiidra for Dry Eye Disease User Reviews (Page 5)

• Erin
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2022

"I can't decide which is worse, Xiidra or the doctor who prescribed it to me. Where do I begin, I was given this for Dry Eye/Ocular Rosacea. The metallic taste I could tolerate considering I'd taken drops before that helped a lot but had a metallic taste (steroids). No big deal. But the significant pain, redness, tearing and ONGOING LOSS OF VISION I couldn't tolerate whatsoever. Yes some drugs feel crappy but make you feel better. But these are eyes we're talking about. I'm not gonna put a topical medication on my eyeball that makes it MORE red and painful and causes vision loss. Don't put this stuff in your eyes. Just don't."

• DLano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2019

"I faithfully used this for 3 weeks I also drank my water, took omega 3 and used my warm compresses every night. No improvement. Burns when applied, crusty eyes in am and became even more light sensitive. I’m at my wits end. Any other suggestions??? Please!!!!"

• Lilsh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2019

"Wow, this is not the medication for me. I was given some samples to try it out. It has only made my eyes more red and irritated, the burning is almost unbearable. And my insurance doesn't cover it, so I can't justify the $600 out of pocket for a medication that has only made my condition worse. My doctor switched me to Restasis after I finished my Xiidra samples. Huge improvement with Restasis. No burning, no redness, and no where near the irritation I had with the Xiidra. I still have to use my gel tears as Restasis takes longer to kick in than Xiidra, but at least I don't have those side effects to deal with anymore."

• Barb
• January 30, 2019

"I was recently prescribed this medication for severe dry eyes. Within 5 days of use my eyes are totally bright red, blurry & burning all day long... no relief. I initially planned to use it for 2 weeks, but I will call my doctor tomorrow & request something different! I can’t tolerate this medication even for one week!!"

• Karen
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2019

"I was having such a hard time with dry eyes that I went to my eye doctor, and she prescribed Xiidra. After some back-and-forth with my insurance company, they finally covered it, although the copay is still so high I'm not sure I can afford it. In the meantime, the doctor gave me quite a few samples, so I started using it. It seemed to help my eyes, but the skin around my eyes became so inflamed and swollen and crusty that I actually missed work one day. I stopped using it for a few days and then tried again and the same thing happened. Putting A&D Ointment on the skin around my eyes seems to help some, as does wiping the skin around my eyes immediately with a tissue after use. I'm not sure how I feel about using this product regularly. Do I have to choose between dry eyes and my appearance? I may just continue to use OTC drops."

• Roni
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2019

"I was prescribed this Xiidra because Restasis is not covered by insurance. I have used it for 4 days now twice a day and I love it. My mucus production has decreased and the same with the watery eyes is not as severe. Yes it stings really bad, I keep my eyes closed and use a cool wash cloth for a few minutes to helps work through this. I have not used the steroid eye drops that were prescribed too because this one has seemed to do the trick."

• amfis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2023

"It works pretty well for me. I have been using Xiidra for 4 months. Yes, I get a bit of an icky taste if I don't hold my tear ducts closed for a minute after application, as is stated in the directions. I still use over-the-counter lubricating eye drops, but now only 5 times a day and not 25 times a day like before. Before Xiidra, I tried hot eye compresses twice daily and over-the-counter eyelid wash with no results. I also tried Restasis for a couple of months, but it did not work at all. Even though Xiidra has reduced the dryness of my eyes by at least 75%, I have weaned off of it over the last 10 days. This is only because I would prefer not to put chemicals in my eyes. So far, the dryness has returned, but nothing like it was before Xiidra. In the last 10 days, I have been using lubricating drops about 10 times a day. I somewhat expect the dry eye to get worse the longer I go without Xiidra, but with any luck, it won't. Next, I'll research how bad is constant use of lubricating drops..."

• Pat
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2019

"Last night for the first time I used a drop or Xiidra in each eye and around midnight I was having a severe headache and a bit of dizziness. I was very ill feeling this morning and took medication to relieve it and really took a long time to start to feel near normal. It had to be the Xiidra since even with occasional migraines, nothing I have taken has ever made me feel this sick."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2019

"I had been using Restasis for dry eye for several years and then my insurance decided not to cover Restasis. The insurance company recommended Xiidra and my doctor prescribed it. I had no problems with Restasis and it worked well for me. Now, after using Xiidra for two months, my vision is extremely blurry for at least an hour after using it and sometimes the sides of my eyes get a bit crusty. I do not recommend Xiidra if another medication is available. It is really an inconvenience to use Xiidra."

• Shirley
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 20, 2018

"These drops are much better than Restasis. Yes, there can be an after taste and burning; however, if you use them religiously twice per day, your dry eyes will have a marked improvement in dryness. My eyes feel much better than they've felt in years!"

• jean
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2022

"That little red demon in the advertisement is not really the dry eye symptoms...it is the drops themselves! After three days of use I awakened with swollen, painful, crusted eyes and tearing that ran like a stream down my face all day. This is now day three after stopping the med and my eyes are still very painful and terribly swollen. I still woke up with eyes glued shut although the excessive tearing has stopped. I saw the optometrist yesterday who prescribed steroid eye drops. I am hoping these side effects go away soon. I'm so sorry I ever put that garbage in my eyes!"

• Pookie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2018

"I had been on restasis for years with no problems. My dr. gave me a pamphlet which I was supposed to get the xiidra free the 1st month, then $10.00 thereafter. Didn't work. It cost me $95.00. I've used for over 3 months and my eyes stay blurred for up to an hour after instilling. Upon I initial application, they burn and the taste is horrible. My vision after stopping this, is now much more blurred and worse than when I started. I'm glad from the reviews since people have good results; however, I would not recommend from my experience. Now I'm stuck with an expensive product I can't use or get a refund!"

• Saman...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2018

"I tried Xiidra on and off for a couple of months. I thought it might have been helping my dry eye, but also experienced the terrible taste in the back of my throat. I tried the suggestions when putting in drops - closing eyes, pressure on the inner corner, etc. Two nights ago, I put in drops right before bed. The next morning, shortly after waking, I started noticing the terrible taste. Tried several things to get rid of, but it was still there 18 HOURS later. In addition, my stomach was upset all day, including cramps and diarrhea. I think I'll go back to trying to treat it naturally "

• Piano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 20, 2019

"I have been using Xiidra for 6 months. It is very effective for my dry eyes. But if the medicine over flows out from my eye it irritates the skin around my eyes. Red, puffy, like a big allergic reaction. So before I use the Xiidra, I put Aquaphor on the skin around my eyes. That solves the problem."

• Unhappy
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2020

"I used Xiidra at first a year ago. I didn't use it regularly because of the initial stinging and nasty taste that goes down your sinuses to the back of your throat. I would use it off and on for my dry eye symptoms. Eventually I used it up and didn't use it again until just recently with a new prescription. I've been using it as prescribed twice a day, 12 hours apart for the last week and a half and now I have eye floaters in my right eye, which is a huge nuisance. Also my eyes are often puffy around the lids and sticky with tears, because they are stinging. I won't use it again, especially after reading similar experiences. I can't wait for it to get out of my system. I'll go back to using over the counter drops and holistic measures at night, and when I am resting. That's all that comforts me. The back of my throat has also been scratchy."

• Joanne
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2018

"I was on Restasis for over 10 years and my new insurance refused to continue to pay for it. Without any eye drop I felt like there is always sand in my eyes and making tears was non existant. They would pay for Xiidra so I tried it. I also take fish oil and flax seed oil as well as using Thera-tears. When any eye drops are stored in the refrigerator the burning is less. I tried Xiidra for 2 weeks and the side effect were too much for me to continue. The burning was too much from Xiidra and I can only say it was like perhaps battery acid. I had 3 hours of blurry vision after using Xiidra and the taste was horrible. I cannot use Xiidra and only wish I could go back to Restasis....My eyesight is everything to me and I will not risk these side effects because I do not know what would happen long term....."

• K C
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 28, 2018

"I have been on Xiidra for about a year now. I tried everything, OTC drops, fish oil, flax oil, zpacs, warm compress, lid scrubs, taping my eyes shut, eye ointments. I have been on lotimax so long that I developed an allergy to it. Then my doctor gave me a prescription for Xiidra. I had triple vision from the scar tissue. The top two lines on the eye chart were barely visible and what I saw looked like Egyptian hieroglyphs. My eyes hurt, constantly. It felt like I had boulders in my eyes. Every morning was unbearable, my eyes felt like bandages being ripped off just from opening my eyes. After about two months, I could open my eyes without pain. Dry eye was disabling and stealing my vision. Xiidra saved my vision and has provided much needed relief. Xiidra tastes like battery acid, feels like it to! I wouldn’t be able to see today if I didn’t have Xiidra. I do highly recommend staying strong and push through the side effects, in the end it worth it."

• RLano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2018

"In preparation for Lasix surgery, I was prescribed Xiidra. My instructions were to take two drops per day... 12 hours apart for two weeks leading up to surgery and then afterward until the doctor was satisfied with healing. After taking two doses (4 drops total), I was nauseated, had slight diarrhea, had a terrible taste in my mouth, and had blurry starry vision in one eye. After taking an additional dose (2 more drops), I went to bed and woke up vomiting with severe diarrhea. I took one more dose in the morning (2 additional drops), and continued to have SEVERE diarrhea. I stopped the drops and called my doctor. I did not take any more drops... and had diarrhea for two more days ... 72 hours total! I am four days out from the onset of all the symptoms and still feel nauseous. Clearly this medication did not work for me."

• Side...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2022

"Within 24 hours of starting these drops, I got headaches, nausea, dizziness, sinus pressure, eye/eye socket pain (especially the corners). I have not used them in 4 days and am still plagued with debilitating headaches (and I have NEVER had headaches before). My eyes still feel dry, but while I was using them my right eye was so excessively tearing that it was almost as if I was crying all day long. Now the last 3 days I have been getting these white chunks draining down the back of my throat that taste like the xiidra drops even though it’s been 4 days without them. I’ve also still had nausea and now diarrhea for 3 days. The only thing that has changed is the eye drops. Sad. Sad. Sad. How can an EYE DROP cause all of this? :("

• storm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 13, 2020

"I haven't taken these Xiidra eye drops long enough (4 days x twice a day) to see any results for my blepharitis but it didn't take me long to realize that these are almost impossible to dispense even 1 drop. I don't know why a medicine that is so expensive is so difficult to use. I give it 1 star on that reason alone."

• Cathe...
• December 15, 2020

"I have been using Xiidra for about two weeks for dry eyes and ocular rosacea. I noticed improvement of how my eyes felt as early as day three. They feel so moist at last!!! I was surprised at first by the stinging upon application, but it’s gotten better. I have no mental taste, no mucous etc and no blurry vision. I split the dosage and use one drop in the morning on each eye, wrap up the dropper and then apply one more drop before bed from same vial. Because of that, I can extend the monthly amount to two months and it seems to be more sensitive on my eyes. So far I am loving it."

• JRow
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2018

"I received a free trial from my eye Dr and mentioned to him the bad taste in the back of my throat that others have mentioned. He suggested pinching the very top of my nose where my eyes meet the nose for about 30 seconds immediately after putting the drops in my eyes. Completely solved the bad taste problem as it allows the drops to get absorbed through the eye before they drain down to the back of the throat. Eyes feel great."

• micaela...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 27, 2021

"Almost 3 years I have been using Xiidra, now I have lost capacity of taste in my mouth, everything tastes bitter and mouth feels numb when I eat something. My dry eyes are not not so much better since taking this medicine. I wonder how much they really tested it before selling it to the public . This should be investigated."

• Natur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2019

"I had been given a 2 week trial of Xiidra and it was working well with no side effects - then on week 5 after spending $500 on the drops I suddenly began having excessive streaming tearing of left eye. After 3 days of this, severe pain started in tear duct and deep into the bones under my eye. Immediately stopped using Xiidra and still no relief from the pain although using Alaway drops did help some with tearing. Going to see doctor tomorrow for possible antibiotics - can't stand this pain."

• Janice...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 27, 2023

"I have used Xiidra for nearly a year now, it helped the floaters I was getting at first. Didn’t help the dry eyes at all which I now have red eyes from usage daily. I decided to quit taking it and use over the counter Refresh tears and my eyes look and feel better then the have ever for almost a year. Refuse to use Xiidra now."