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Restasis User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

Restasis has an average rating of 4.6 out of 10 from a total of 224 reviews on Drugs.com. 26% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 47% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Restasis

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Mar...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • September 9, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "This company needs to heed our warning. If I cannot get Restasis in vials again, I will find another medication with a better bottle or vials. The waste during application is incredible, and considering its obscene price, it is highway robbery. Based on so many reviews, I am not the only one having problems with their new bottle. Please do something soon or your share value is going to start dropping drastically. Thank you."

7 / 10
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12 Report
  • Chr...
  • 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
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10 Report
  • Cyc...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • February 22, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "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 the LASIK clinic at that time. The 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 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 compresses twice every day, eyelid massage, and blinking exercises."

1 / 10
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6 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Hot...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • August 27, 2016

For Dry Eye Disease "Ten years ago, I went through 7 mo. of chemo for breast cancer. In doing so, my tear ducts were affected as well as my eyes. Both eyes felt as though I had stared at someone welding, only my eyes just got worse. I used eye drops and gels for a couple of months. And then my doctor prescribed Restasis. During the day, I used the drops, and then both eyes would burn for a bit and itch. At night, I used the OTC gel. This gel causes blurred vision, has a cooling effect, and puts the fire out. The Restasis was always kept in a cooler when away from home and in the fridge at home. This seemed to take the burn and itch out about half."

9 / 10
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15 Report
  • Com...
  • 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 pharma companies charge such expensive prices for drugs that we need to preserve our vision. My optometrist and ophthalmologist 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.S.A. that has been tested."

1 / 10
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  • Jac...
  • 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 ocular dystrophy. I have been using Restasis 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 nighttime. 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 an 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
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11 Report
  • Unh...
  • 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 Allergan. 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 applications. 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
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12 Report

More FAQ

  • 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 I'm 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 two 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."

8 / 10
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11 Report
  • eea...
  • 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, and 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 product. I would give Restasis an 8-star rating for the drug itself, which Allergan again markets to the hilt at the customer's expense. It is hard to like a drug company like this."

1 / 10
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  • Dry...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • November 6, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I first used multidose bottles then switched to vials. Vials are MUCH better. I get 2+ days from 1 vial (after opening, stored upright in fridge 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
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10 Report
  • Pan...
  • 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
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7 Report
  • Eri...
  • 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 comes out. I have never experienced an eye drop bottle this terrible. It is unmanageable."

4 / 10
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10 Report
  • LSa...
  • 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
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7 Report
  • Sor...
  • 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 it 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
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9 Report
  • Ter...
  • 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 eye drops. Will be using only Systane when the Restasis runs out."

3 / 10
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9 Report
  • Ann...
  • 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 one 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
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9 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • May 27, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "If you can get these drops in your eyes without 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
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8 Report
  • Bel...
  • 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 weight, 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
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13 Report
  • Lul...
  • 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 need 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."

7 / 10
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8 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 19, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "I was prescribed Restasis for my dry eye condition, and I'm oddly relieved that people have shared their negative experience of its usage. I thought these side effects I was having were 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
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4 Report
  • Bli...
  • 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
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6 Report
  • Lin...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • July 23, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "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."

9 / 10
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7 Report
  • Pau...
  • 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 it costs 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 multi-dose bottle."

1 / 10
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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 and 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 medication 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
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5 Report
  • Bil...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 7, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "The multi-dose administration device is a disaster. It should be investigated. Possibly they think they can sell more due to the wastage. Of course, my arthritis may be a factor, but comment true nonetheless."

7 / 10
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6 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.