Restasis for Dry Eye Disease User Reviews (Page 5)

• doirked
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 12, 2018

"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."

• Jackie
• October 13, 2018

"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."

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

"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!"

• Bella...
• January 15, 2017

"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."

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

"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."

• Chris...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2019

"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."

• eeagle
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 5, 2018

"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."

• Dryeyes
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 6, 2018

"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."

• Erika
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 10, 2018

"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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 11, 2017

"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."

• Sore...
• December 4, 2018

"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."

• Blicky
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 13, 2021

"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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2022

"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."

• Terbo
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2018

"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."

• Anna
• July 14, 2018

"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."

• Comme...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2022

"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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 27, 2018

"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!"

• Lulu
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 6, 2018

"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."

• Lor
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 21, 2021

"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."

• BMW
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2021

"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."

• Paula
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 8, 2018

"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."

• CMB
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 13, 2022

"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."

• Lin
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 23, 2018

"A combination of Restasis and Pataday has cured my constant watery eyes - so distracting and embarrassing - I'm a teacher and tears running down my cheeks doesn't exactly inspire confidence. BUT switched pharmacy to CVS and they sent the multidose. Like others, I have trouble getting an exact drop out of the bottle and it does NOT last one month. Not sure what I can do to get the single dose vials since my insurance has a say."

• Cyclo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 22, 2022

"I was prescribed Restasis by my Lasik surgeon in April 2021. I was having severely dry eyes due to my Lasik surgery back in 2018 and had consulted Lasik clinic that time. Doctor prescribed me a steroid drop as well with Restasis. I used Restasis for 10 months and ended up with severe pain in my eyes, temporal region, forehead and almost in my entire head. I could not understand the cause for so many weeks. I was miserable and could not do anything. My eye dryness was not that bad to cause that much of pain. So I thought it must have been the prescription drug that I had been taking. I immediately stopped its use. Within the next day or two, the pain subsided and now I am left with the discomfort due to dry eyes only. I am so glad I am back to my original state. Restasis does not do any good except making your symptoms worse. Just try using different tears (PF) until you find the one that suits you the best. Do wet warm compress twice everyday, eye lid massage & blinking exercises."

• Patri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 11, 2022

"I started using a Cyclosporine 1% drop from a Compounding Pharmacy in California ( InprimmisRX) They did take a couple of Months to give me relief, but I thought that it was too expensive! ( about $65 a month without insurance) A few months ago, I was ‘downgraded’ to RESTASIS which was completely covered by my insurance ( Obama Care) because I had met my Out-of-pocket Maximum for the year. I AM COMPLETELY SHOCKED AT THE PRICES that other posters on this site have written! ! But, besides that, I am having some troubling issues with my Sinuses which I suspect are due to the Resasis. I’m going to try to discontinue the Restasis to check my hunch."