Lifitegrast ophthalmic User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 20, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "After cataract surgery, my eye doctor said I had dry eyes, although the only indication was that my vision wasn’t as clear as I’d like. So he prescribed Xiidra. The first month or so, I just put drops in once a day, and then after my next visit, the dose was changed to twice a day, plus over-the-counter drops during the day. It caused a bad taste, but that I could handle, so I continued using the Xiidra. The taste got to be more metallic tasting, and my mouth began to feel raw inside. I happened to have an oral surgeon appointment and mentioned it to him. When checking my tooth, he told me I had sores all over in my mouth. I checked with my pharmacist to see if she had heard of this side effect, she hadn’t. My mouth is so sore, and even after trying a special “magic mouthwash,” which seemed to work at first, I think I need to stop the Xiidra drops!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2017

"I've been using Xiidra for over 3 weeks. I'm experiencing constant tearing and sticky discharge from just my left eye. Every day I'm wiping my eye all day long. And it becomes itchy. I couldn't take it anymore and stopped. I have been back to using Refresh Tears but still experiencing the tearing and discharge. I thought these drops were going to be a miracle, but instead very disappointing! Luckily I had samples before wasting my money!"

• Soc...
• March 10, 2017

"I've been on Restasis for several years and have done well on it. My insurer stopped covering Restasis this year, but covers Xiidra. I'm not sure why since they're priced similarly. Restasis is actually a better value because it has 0.4 ml in every vial (I can stretch out a 90-day supply to 180 days) vs. Xiidra's 0.2 ml. I decided to try Xiidra. Right away, my eyes burned and itched and were extremely red. I've only been on it for 5 days. I don't know how long I can tolerate the Xiidra. I don't know if I should discontinue using the drops because I suspect I might be allergic to them, or will these side effects subside?"

• Max...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 8, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I have had dry eye for several years, my eyes feel bruised and are very painful. I've used Restasis and Xiidra, both burn and can cause excessive watering. I found the workaround for this: 20 minutes after I place the Xiidra in my eyes, I use Refresh Mega in the vial, I flood each eye with about four drops, and then 15 minutes later do it again. I have no excessive watering, redness, or bad taste."

• Sue...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "Xiidra is the worst experience EVER. They make you go through a separate customer service company. Then have you join some 'ask iiris' thing. After 17 phone calls to 'ask iiris' or Xiidra marketing, 4 trips to the pharmacy, and two calls to my optometrist, I’ll finish after the sample. The medicine burns your eyes, and my vision seems worse than before."

• Bir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "Fabulous. Worked within days. Burning is negligible. A little blurriness after putting in drops. I read on the label - if you press the sides of your nose after putting in drops, the stuff will NOT drip back into your throat and you will NOT have a bad taste. The only drag is the price."

• blo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I have been on Xiidra for two months. I have chronic dry eye due to hypothyroidism. I use Xiidra twice daily (morning and night). The initial sensation of the stinging is strong and painful and is accompanied by itching. Then I have a lovely white discharge from each eye. After the morning dose, my vision is severely compromised due to blurriness that extends an hour or longer after administering the morning drop, as well as continued dry eye symptoms throughout the day. After having used Xiidra for a few weeks, I noticed horrible puffy eyes. I have not used the Xiidra in a few days, and already the puffiness has greatly subsided. I will opt for over-the-counter drops as opposed to Xiidra, which didn't do anything but cause my eyes to swell. Hope this helps others experiencing similar symptoms/side effects."

• Jes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I actually noticed a positive difference almost immediately and some relief from dry eye, but after only two weeks of taking it, I also developed pressure and pain in my ears and a level of nasal congestion that I’ve only ever had with a severe cold, and I do not have a cold. My ENT said that he sees this sometimes in patients who take Xiidra. I am discontinuing use. I just wish I could get my $500 back."

• Ckd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "Within a day or two of starting Xiidra, I lost my appetite because of the absolutely horrid taste in the back of my throat 24/7. It makes me nauseated and causes heartburn. It makes my eyes feel so much better, though. However, after two weeks, I just can't live with the side effects anymore. I'm quitting! Have a feeling it will take a while for my stomach to get back to normal."

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

For Dry Eye Disease "Horrible drug. I used it for nine months with all the problems it caused other users. I now may have melanoma in my left eye nevi. I will find out for sure about the cancer in two months. Since this is rare, I am thinking it may be due to using Xiidra. It seems to have a lot of terrible side effects. Doctors should stop suggesting it for their patients."

• Ire...
• December 29, 2016

"I picked up this medication from the drugstore today. I read the information that came with this drug. Seconds after I put a single drop in each eye, I had terrible, awful, and severe burning in my eyes, and my vision was impaired (cloudy). That was two hours ago, and I have extreme feelings of pressure in my eyes and pain. This is worse than the worst case of dry eye that I have had. The only relief that I can get is to close my eyes. I hope that the effects will diminish soon. I will never put another drop of this stuff in my eyes again."

• sjg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I took Xiidra last year for dry eyes. It never really helped. Then I developed horrendous reflux and throat issues. Thought those tiny drops wouldn't do that but stopped anyway. It took 6 months for reflux to get under control. Have not had reflux in months. I restarted Xiidra about 2 weeks ago, and now I am hoarse again and today have horrible reflux. I can say that Xiidra now is definitely the cause."

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "Horrible! Xiidra causes itching around the eye, and the burning of the eye is ridiculous! If it eats my skin raw around my eye, what is it doing to my eye itself? It’s amazing how companies can put out such awful drugs. I should just mix something up myself and sell it!"

• Bli...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 22, 2025

For Dry Eye Disease "I have been using Xiidra for about a year. I have had varying side effects, including burning upon instilling drops, terrible taste, blurred vision, extremely red eyes, itching, and a white exudate in the corners of both eyes resembling cooked egg white. I also get this white congealed material that collects in my sinuses and then will run down into the back of my throat. I can spit out this stuff, which is usually a solid white lump mixed with mucus from my sinuses. I have continued to use it because it will occasionally give me some relief from the dry eye symptoms. I am considering asking my ophthalmologist if I can switch to another drug to try instead of this medication. I have insurance, which makes it affordable, but the drug receipt indicates that a one-month supply is over $700. I don't know who could afford that without help. It is also wasteful because you waste a lot of the drug in the single-use container. I have to also use an additional eye whitener drop for the redness."

• Gig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 22, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I have extreme dry eyes, and my doctor recommended this. I've used them for 4 months. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to stop. I had slight stinging in my eyes and a metallic taste. Now they are giving me migraines, so bad I was vomiting. They worked for the dryness, but I can't live with the migraines. I'm so disappointed."

• Lad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "A few days after using Xiidra, I developed diarrhea, and now I have acid reflux and a very dry sore throat that has not gone away. It has been 6 weeks since I stopped using it, and my food is still coming out just like it went in. I’m seeing a Dr. trying to get some answers. Would not recommend Xiidra to anyone."

• Ric...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 21, 2025

For Dry Eye Disease "I have been using Xiidra long-term... a couple of years. I find that my eyes are red and often irritated. I often have blurry vision and have decided to stop using it. My specialist wants me to continue, but after 2 years, I feel it is not worth it. I also find opening the packets requires scissors, which is ridiculous."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 13, 2017

"At least 3 out of every group in the silver packaging... I CANNOT GET THE LIQUID TO COME OUT! At first, I thought it was a fluke, but that has been consistent through 5-6 months. Very frustrating. ALSO, there is barely enough, when it does come out, for a drop in each eye. How about changing the tube and adding a little bit more!"

• RCC...
• November 29, 2016

"I took advantage of their promotion offering the first prescription free. However, since Medicare doesn't cover this medication, subsequent refills will cost me $450 a month. This is a very expensive medication that I simply can't afford, and will likely have to do without. Consumer tip: medication comes in single-dose containers, and instructions suggest you discard them. But if you're careful, you can actually get two doses from each container."

• Aus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2023

For Dry Eye Disease "99% sure it made my condition permanently worse. I had mild dry eye before using this product that was tolerable, but a bit of a nuisance. A bad optometrist gave me this right off the bat. Used it for 2 months with no difference while using it, however, just a few days after I stopped taking it, my condition worsened 10-fold. I'm not sure if it was a rebound reaction or what, but my eyes are now in terrible pain every single day. Red, scratchy, stinging, every blink hurts. I want my old life back before I took this drug. It's destroyed my life, and now I'm dealing with the mental toll of that and suicidal thoughts."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 14, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "Xiidra has been a lifesaver for me and my dry eyes. Tried everything, including the eye plugs. I was miserable. Immediate relief with these drops. Yes, my vision is blurry for a few minutes after inserting, but it clears up quickly. Also have a bit of an aftertaste in my throat, but it goes away. So worth it. I can even see more clearly."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I’m not going to lie, the side effects of Xiidra can be quite unpleasant, but the overall result so far has been great. I have been suffering from dry eye for a while now, and I would put in 6 vials of lubricant in each eye, and it was still ineffective. Now I don’t really even have to think about other eye drops. The initial burning and bad taste will go away after continued use, you just have to be patient and keep toughing it out, and you will likely see improvement within a month. Remember not to skip doses, the burning will return. Overall, I would recommend Xiidra."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I had been on Restasis and hadn't had any trouble with it, just the occasionally severe dry eyes that come with Sjögren's syndrome when my insurance company, Medicaid, decided to switch me to Xiidra. The burning and stinging was so bad it literally staggered me the first time I used these drops. My eyes hurt like crazy for an hour after and were so blurry I couldn't see. The pain was so bad that I didn't use these drops again for several months. I just made do with OTC drops till I got worse, then tried Xiidra again, determined to push through and give it a couple of months to see if the pain eased up any after a while. It did not, and I tried getting Restasis again, but my insurance won't cover it and it's $1,800/month otherwise, which is completely undoable for me. So I don't know what I'm going to do now."

• Mim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I am very unhappy with Xiidra for these reasons: 1. The silver package is impossible to open, and I must use scissors. 2. For a senior citizen, the vial is very difficult to open, and squeeze to obtain the drop. Often, after removing the plastic top, there is barely any solution to administer, not even enough for 1 eye. I have thrown away many vials in order to administer sufficient solution. 3. After using Xiidra for over 2 months, in addition to the headache, I have an extremely clogged nose, or else a very runny nose. 4. The product burns upon administration and causes very itchy eyes lasting all day. I need to supplement with OTC eye drops. I do not recommend this product. Restasis is a considerably better product and far more effective."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "Have been using Xiidra for two months. I noticed a difference after the first day. It can sting a little at first, and my vision is a little blurry for about 10 minutes after putting in the drops. I get no metallic taste or other side effects. It works extremely well for me. I’m on a plan through Xiidra where they pay all my co-pay except for $5. A three-month supply cost me $15."