I began taking Pred Forte 3 days before each of my cataract surgeries, one was on July 5, the other on July 12. It seems like since that time I have not felt well... and just prone to 'feeling sick'... weak, more probs with bowels. I told the opthamoligist surgeon this but he just sort of blew it off. Have you ever heard any similar stories to this one? THANK YOU
Pred Forte - has anyone heard of these eye drops making you feel sick?
Question posted by Hathortemple on 27 July 2011
Last updated on 18 November 2021 by Lululew
27 Answers
I am just seeing this thread now, after 4 weeks of taking the Pred Forte, oflaxacin and ketorolac post-cataract and retina surgeries. All in all been taking them for over a month. I asked my doctors twice about the reactions I felt I was having. Severe nausea, breathless, sleepless, terrible stomach issues and bloat. He literally shrugged it off. Like he'd never heard of it before. I finally googled it and saw so many online complaints of all the same issues. I am calling to ask if I can stop taking them. The surgeries and then the drug reactions have completely upended my life for over a month now and I am so glad ( well, not glad)I looked online to see others with the same issues, for years! Shame on the surgeons for not understanding the side effects.
Yes absolutely-queasy and loose bowels. Helps (the queasy) to have toast or something beforehand. The taste going down throat from the sinuses is real also.
Yes, this is happening to me! Had first cat procedure 5 days ago and am on the first week of 4 drops per day. Tapers down over the next 3 weeks but other eye is to be done this week and will be on 4 a day the first week for that eye. Between the two, I will be up to 7 total drops a day starting later this week. Stomach cramps, nausea, dizziness, gas, etc. everything mentioned here. I taste it in my throat after putting in the drops. My Rx is called Predmoxibromfen. It is compounded into one bottle and is a steroid, an NSAID, and an antibiotic. I will mention these side effects when I go in for the second eye. Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I am Female, age 66.
Go to the NCBI website and read "Systemic side effects of eye drops: a pharmacokinetic perspective". I had cataract surgery earlier this week and though I'm not using prednisone eye drops, I am using a combination antibiotic/steroid eye drop (Tobramycin-Dexamethasone). I had told my doctor prior to surgery that my body reacted badly to steroids and was insistent on not having systemic steroids. Little did I know that eye drops can enter the blood stream easily! Read the above article. There are other research papers documenting the systemic effect of eye drops. I mentioned it to my doctor and he told me to cut my dosage from 4 to 3 drops a day, but I'm still feeling really lousy today. In a few days I can drop down to 2 a day for a week then one a day for a week. I'm supposed to have a second cataract surgery (2 weeks after the first), but I think I'm going to have to put it off until I feel better.
I have punctual plugs (small plugs in my tear ducts) that keep much of the eye drop from draining into my sinus cavity, but I can still feel some in my throat, even using the additional pressure technique on the tear duct. I have had mild headaches, nausea, insomnia, and nightmares (that's unusual for me). My doctor didn't try to tell me that there wasn't a systemic effect (thank goodness). I think I'm going to have to put off the second surgery until I get off of the drops and feel better. I've read that stopping the drops suddenly isn't a good idea, hence the weekly taper, so I'm going to try to tough it out as best I can. I know the steroid/antibiotic combination makes a big difference in the successful outcome of cataract surgery. This is an old thread, but there are new people (like me) looking for the same answers.
Hello. I have experienced the same symptoms from all types of eye drops including lubricating drops. Some doctors told me it was impossible. Thought it was me. Glad I found this post. Every time I add any type of eye drop it goes down the back of my through and upsets my stomach. Using Cequa now and it’s really taking a toll on my stomach. Hope this helps.
Yes. It made me horribly sick, and my Dr didn’t believe me either. I had severe diarrhea, brain fog. I insisted my Dr give me something else, and they did but I switched to otc contact/ natural tears solution.
Drs say you can't get sick from eye drops they are full of crap. I got sick from the eye drops I was taking before cataract surgery. I stopped using the eye drops within 2 days I was feeling better. I injured my eye not long ago the Dr prescribed ocuflox eye drops 4x a day. I got so sick I couldn't even hold water down. My son called the Dr the Dr said the eye drops can't make anyone sick. I stopped the eye drops with 2 days I felt better. Eye drops CAN make you sick. When I use the eye drops I can feel and taste the drops going down my throat. Don't let anyone tell you eye drops can't make you sick
I am so relieved to read these posts! I’ve been using Prednisolone suspension drops 3 weeks post cat surgery on right eye. I have been feeling progressively more nauseous and dizzy. All the same symptoms as taking oral prednisone. I feel depressed and I have a headache. Also constipation and feel sick and tired - I’m normally full of energy! During the last week, also experiencing insomnia that makes me wake up at 3 or 4 am and not be able to get back to sleep. Strangest of all, I keep smelling a fruity odor on my skin. Left eye cat surgery is this Friday and I’ll have to start the drops again. Do I really have to use these for another month??
Yes, it happened to me for both eyes. I needed stitches for each new lens and this requires drops several Times daily for many days. I suffered uncomfortable stomach reaction until I finished the dosage. Tell your doctor you have evidence of others having similar problems. It was this site that gave me the evidence since many people had similar reactions. My doctor said it's possible cause the eye duc empties into the throat.
Yes, I've experienced the same thing and have confirmed the drops are causing it. All aspects of my life have deteriorated since beginning the therapy with Prednisolone drops. Emotional outlook, physical capacity, general well being, attitude etc. all have deteriorated. Plus the drops have not yielded the desired theraputeic response. I stopped using them yesterday, I suspect my life will be back to normal in a couple days. Don't worry - it's the drops causing the "sick" feeling, not something else!
Thank you all for your comments. I had cataract surgery two weeks ago on my right eye and I’m getting my left eye done tomorrow. Everyday and every time I use the prednisone eye drops I taste it and I get nauseous enough to use my 8mg Zofran. I suffer chronic nausea for more than 15 years. I built up a high tolerance to deal with it so I don’t have to take it as often; but every single time I use the drops I have to use the Zofran. Thanks again. We’re not crazy.
I am soo glad that I found this site because now I know what I am experiencing is
not the flu.
I don’t know how old these posts are, but I googled this very question today, just now. I am having the same reaction, but my med is called Prednisolone Acetate Ophthalmic Suspension USP
Days after I started using these eye drops after eye LASIK surgery, I have been feeling sick to the stomach, Nauseous, and feeling sick and fatigue, like the other people on the post have said and it is also affecting my bowel movement. I have been constipated and I normally have no problems with this issue. No one, absolutely no one can tell me that this medication is not causing these symptoms since so many people are complaining literally about similar symptoms. I go back to the doctor on December 3, 2018 for LASIK surgery on my right eye and I am not looking forward to it. In the meantime, I will be letting the doctor know that I will need to use some other eye drops.
It seems like most or some of the people who wrote a post, they were using this med for post cataract medication, or something to do with Cataract procedures, but I am using it for the bad complications I experienced after my LASIK surgery on my L eye for the beginning stage of Glaucoma. Wishing everyone to feel much better and God bless everyone.
I am taking 3 types drops for cataract surgery; ketorolac,olfoxacin,and prednisone acetate. I started experiencing gerd symptoms about a week into the 4 week regiment. I asked eye Dr and he said yes the drops can cause described symptoms. He advises to use the technique already mentioned to limit the amount that leaks down your throat through eye ducts. I pray it works.
I am SO glad I found this post too! I have been taking 'Less' brand steroid eye drops in preparation for my LASIK eye surgery, and took for about 10 days total (5 after the surgery). I've had horrible nausea, burping and lower belly discomfort this whole time, and just connected it today as well when I googled acid reflux and eye drops. I stopped the drops yesterday per DR instructions, but still have symptoms tonight-- hoping the lasting effect isn't more than a few days! I go to eye Dr tomorrow for 1 week follow up and will ask about this to see what they say out of curiosity!! Hope everyone feels better and can find an alternative drop or method of placement in the eye!
October 6, 2018
PRED FORTE is a STEROID. It can absolutely make you feel sick. In my experience it has the same COMMON side effects that are listed for Prednisone tablets.
I had left eye cataract surgery Sept. 2018. I started the anti inflammatory and antibiotic drops several days before surgery. Those irritated my sinuses and gave me a mild headache with nausea. The Pred Forte was added after surgery to be used for one month. All prior symptoms intensified with a left sided headache, agitation and shortness of breath. I felt like I was on speed.
I called my eye doctor's office and was told these symptoms were NOT from the eye drops, to CONTINUE using them and go to the emergency room or see my doctor! I was checked by a nurse in my doctor's office and told I was fine. She also said my symptoms were NOT from the eye drops and to continue using them as instructed.
I immediately reported the symptoms to SANDOZ the Pred Forte drug manufacturer. They said to stop using the drops immediately but in my case to follow the doctor's instructions. I also reported the drug to the FDA.
Of course I don't want to jeopardize my cataract surgery so I will continue to use them. My eye doctor INSISTS she has never seen this reaction to the Pred Forte drops and there IS no other option. She modified my dosage to 2 times per day and added back the anti inflammatory drops.
*** NOTE ***
I take extraordinary measures to IMMEDIATELY blot the excess drops with a tissue and block my tear ducts. Next, I rinse the outside of my eye and inside my nose with water and blot dry. I blow my nose and rinse my eye with Refresh Tears. This has helped keep the side effects to a minimum.
Related topics
Further information
- Pred Forte uses and safety info
- Pred Forte prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Pred Forte (detailed)
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