Lifitegrast ophthalmic User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

• Pat...
• March 3, 2017

"I have been on this for 6 days, and I think this may be the miracle drug I was waiting for. I have had numerous eye surgeries, including corneal transplant after blindness. I have had severe dry eyes since my botched LASIK procedure in 2001. I have had plugs, MiboFlow, LipoFlow, Restasis, night ointment, hot compress treatments every day for 15 years. Everything has helped slightly at least manage my severe dry eye pain. However, just taking this drug for a few days seems to be life-changing so far. I even stopped taking Vicodin for the last two days. I have taken at least two Vicodin pills every day for the past 15 years for eye pain. My eyes feel so good, and my eyelids feel not inflamed for the first time I can remember. I pray this will last."

• Moa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I started using Xiidra 2 months ago. My doctor instructed me to apply the drops in the morning and at night, which I did. My initial experience was not good - the immediate burning, redness, and watering when the drops hit my eyes, crusty eyes in the morning, and the horrible taste in my throat. After a week of these unpleasant side effects, I contacted my doctor’s office and was informed that the side effects would only last up to 3 weeks and then they would go away. I pushed through the pain, and after 3 weeks, the burning, redness, and watering ceased, the eye mucus was much improved, and the bad taste was milder and occurred only occasionally. This I can handle! Please note that the eye irritation will return if you do not continue taking the drops twice a day."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2017

"I only used this medication twice. I understand that you usually need to use medication for an extended amount of time to get the full results of it, but I am not able to function with the effects of just two days. I can handle the bad taste. Yes, it is bad, but that can be dealt with. However, after using it, I immediately began to feel dizzy and lightheaded. There was a pressure in my head, and I felt nauseous. Every time I turned my head, I would feel very disoriented and lightheaded again. I am physically tough and can handle pain and discomfort, but there is no way I can function and work with these conditions. The more reviews I read, the more I realize there seems to be way too many dangers than advantages to this medication."

• LJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "I've been using Xiidra for about a month, actually for Meibomian gland dysfunction. It's helped a lot. I'm also using eye scrubs and warm compresses. I also take fish oil supplements twice a day. Occasionally, in the late afternoon, my eyes feel dry, and I use an OTC eye drop as needed. My main problem is the price. My insurance covers some. The company gives a discount, but I'm still paying nearly $300 for a month's worth of medication. I wish they'd come out with a generic soon."

• Chi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "Have been using Xiidra for about 3 weeks, and so far, so good! Definitely experiencing the burning and bad taste in my mouth, which resolves in time. This is definitely relieving my dry eye symptoms and worth the smaller side effects. Will continue using this for as long as I get relief!"

• Tal...
• October 27, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I was using Xiidra for about 1 month. My eyelashes were falling out extremely. This stopped once I stopped using Xiidra. In terms of dryness of my eyes, Xiidra helped a little, but Restasis works much better."

• ELa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I wouldn’t even give Xiidra a 1, it should not be on the market. I tried it, and my eyes have not been the same. It’s as though I was poked in the eye and then sand was thrown in my eyes. I’ve been putting natural tears in every 20 minutes, still no relief. Up all night, very uncomfortable. I’m just hoping they heal soon. Restasis did the same thing. Horrible, don’t put this in your eyes... PS... This was the first time I used this and the last..."

• Ash...
• July 10, 2017

"I've been using this for about 7-8 months now. Can actually wear my contacts again for the entire day and rarely use any OTC drops like Systane. Has really changed my life. I did notice the stinging over time gradually increased, but my friend, who's an eye surgeon, suggested putting them in the fridge. I leave the box in the fridge now and apply cold, and it takes all the sting away. Actually feels very soothing."

• No...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2017

"Initial 12 days were awesome. My eyes felt completely back to normal. I did have the forewarned burning sensation and metallic taste in mouth when administering the drops. However, so worth it for the improvement in my vision. I have now been using Xiidra for 4 weeks, and the effectiveness seems to be going down. I have had multiple bad vision days and had to use refresh drops all day long. I have also, in the last few days, started having an itching sensation in the inner corners of my eyes. I go back to the Dr tomorrow, hoping Xiidra continues to work, but skeptical. Also, I will not be able to continue if the cost is $400+ per month."

• Mag...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 23, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I have been using Xiidra for severe dry eye (MGD), and it has been a blessing as I am able to see again! My vision was restored. After 4 months of using drops 2 times a day, my eyes will not stop tearing. I can barely function with the amount of watering my eyes do throughout the day. Has anyone else experienced this? Happy to have my vision stabilized, but going crazy with the tearing."

• Red...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "Xiidra burns my eyes so badly for about half an hour after I use it. My eyes are super blurry and red for a couple of hours after use. When I get up in the morning, I always look like I have pink eye, with the redness, watering, and crusty eyes. I also have the horrible taste in my mouth, but it goes away pretty quickly after drinking something. In the morning, it burns the worst, and my eyes stay puffy all the time. I really don't think I'm going to keep using this medication. It's not worth the side effects."

• Abb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "Xiidra burns so much but seems to work starting 7 days later. 2 months using it, I began having tear duct pain, sudden sharp eye pain. When I began my 3rd month, I was tearing profusely, nonstop, as well as irritation and eye pain. I stopped using it. It took 1.5 months to stop overt tearing. Now I have worse dryness, scratchiness, pain, blurred vision. I can't stand what has happened to my eyes due to the use of Xiidra. I don't recommend it."

• Msp...
• May 20, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I've had 6 surgeries for a detached retina, 3x cataracts, and 2 IOL exchanges. Diagnosis is 'central retinal vein occlusion.' I get quarterly injections of a med to inhibit VAGF. In 1% of patients receiving this injection, a dry eye/iritis condition occurs. The doc put me on steroid drops for the inflammation and Xiidra for dry eye. The literature says to put pressure on the inside corner of the lower eyelid after instilling a drop. This action blocks drops from draining out of the tear ducts and into the sinuses and down the throat, and may prevent sinus, weird taste, and throat symptoms. I set a timer for a full 5 minutes. Xiidra works miracles in my case! My Medicare covers it with a copay of $490 for a 60-day supply; way too expensive. Novartis has a patient assistance program, and I am now receiving my medication from them. You have to meet their financial thresholds, so I recommend you go to their website and download their application."

• Woo...
• December 20, 2016

"I was on Restasis (was on it for 8 months) and that did not do too much, so I heard about Xiidra and my Dr. agreed to have me try it. I have a very severe case of dry eye to a degree that it has affected my life, so I am willing to try anything. I also tried Lipiflow and that did absolutely nothing due to my Meibomian glands being so thick and blocked-waste of money! So far, I have only been on Xiidra for 6 days and both of my eyes are starting to feel lubricated! If this continues to work and improve my eyes, OMG, I will be so thrilled. I gave it an 8 only because it's just been 6 days, so I want to see if my eyes improve even more. But I think that is a pretty good start! Very happy so far that I have tried it!"

• wor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2017

"Finally, a relief to dry eye. I was able to wear contacts again! I downloaded the Xiidra card and had the first month free. I was so happy that it worked! I went to refill it and it's $506! I have a high deductible insurance plan ($4,000). Sadly, I had to leave it behind. No way on earth I could afford that monthly. Back to glasses... shame on the pharmaceutical company to charge too much for an eye drop!"

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 28, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I want these to work. Dry eye disease is not anything I would wish on anyone. My right eye is my worst. It is always itchy and watery and stinging...with or without the Xiidra. I haven't noticed a huge difference, and they burn like hell when you put them in. And then my eyes get super goopy, so I am wiping out eye boogies most of the day. Is there really nothing better? Insurance doesn't want to pay, so I am relying on the coupons available."

• Jan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 7, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "This drug completely saved my life. I had tried EVERYTHING for extremely painful dry eye - Restasis, supplements, warm compress, etc. I honestly didn't have high hopes for Xiidra, but after a week, my eyes didn't bother me anymore. Whereas my eye pain used to run my life, I don't even think about my eyes anymore. Please give it a try - yes, it did sting horribly for the first few days, now I don't feel it when I put them in."

• Pat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 4, 2023

For Dry Eye Disease "I have tried using this drug twice now. Each time, I lasted no longer than 6-8 months. The first time I began using it, my doctor gave me a steroid drop to use to help with the severe burning Xiidra caused upon the first few applications. I didn't notice any major improvements, but things were not getting worse, so I kept using it. About 6 months in, I began getting dacryoliths and severe tear duct pain. My eyes became gritty, painful, and irritated (all things this drug was supposed to treat and prevent). My tear duct became blocked and started watering nonstop. I went to three different doctors, and no one could figure it out. I was actually told to keep using the Xiidra! After some steroid drops, an antibiotic, and an antibiotic shot at UC, the irritation finally resolved. Fast forward to a year later, after trying to restart Xiidra and 6 months in, I've experienced the exact same thing all over. I quit for good last night and will be going to the eye doctor next week to try something else."

• cha...
• June 22, 2017

"Have to admit I was afraid to try Xiidra after reading so many negative reviews on the web, but decided to give it a go as I have suffered with dry eye disease for many years. My eyes were continuously irritated and inflamed, despite using moisture drops all day long and having punctal plugs. To my surprise, since trying Xiidra, I have very little in the way of side effects, and if I do have them, they are tolerable and go away pretty quickly. Even more unexpected was some noticeable relief in the first 2 days. It's been about one month, and the relief is substantial. There are moments I feel like I could almost wear contacts again!"

• Eri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "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."

• Dee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 30, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "After years of intense eye pain, I had tried everything, including two surgeries. Am I crazy about the burning? No. I do get the bad taste in my mouth after a bit, but it is better than the eye pain. I really had no choice. I can now go to the movies, and I seldom use any other eye drops - I probably should, but I actually forget that I need to. Not perfect, but it is the best that I have been in years."

• lio...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2017

"I administered these drops twice a day for 2 days. I experienced the stinging, blurriness, and metallic taste in my mouth, but that went away after about 20 minutes. On the third day, it left my right eye so, so blurred. Again, blurriness is a side effect, but it did not go away. I am on day 4, and I can't see out of my right eye. It's extremely blurry and scary, seeing as I've had both my eyes for all my life. The doctor said it's an allergic reaction and gave me artificial tears to 'flush out' the Xiidra. Basically, it's a waiting game on my vision to come back. I will be in and out of my doctor's office until I get some improvement. I guess just beware and see if there's anything milder to try first."

• For...
• January 24, 2017

"I used the medicine for 3 months. With Sjögren's and lupus, the drops were, most nights, excruciating. The morning dose was uncomfortable. It took an hour for my sight to clear every time. I experienced a constant runny nose, tightness in my throat, and urethra. Because it is an immune suppressant, I now have a bladder infection. Despite gaining eye relief, unparalleled the first month, but declining in effectiveness the second and third months, I have to stop. I cannot have repeat infections. I was paying $20 a month with the coupon."

• Len...
• January 15, 2017

"I have only given this a 5 to date, as I was hoping to get better information on this website as to how other people felt about the drops. Most, it seems, didn't give it enough time, it appears, to find out if it actually works, if asthma and extreme side effects, it's understandable. I am the same as them. I used this the first time, and my eyes not only burned, but they were cloudy, and I had to lay down and close my eyes for 20-30 minutes before it dissipated. I, like others, was so annoyed by it that I didn't give it a chance. This eye condition has ruined my quality of life at 46. Does anyone else wonder how this came about? You never heard about dry eye disease 30-40 years ago unless you were 90. Now, people in their 20s have this debilitating condition."

• Nor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I started using Xiidra several months ago after suffering with eye problems for a few years. My eye doctor finally suggested Restasis, but it was not covered by my insurance, yet the newer drug was. I noticed improvement within a week after starting the drops. And for a few months, it was like my eyes were brand new. They'd not been so good in a long time. I was very pleased. However, about a month ago, I noticed that my eyes were occasionally bothering me again. Nothing as bad as before, but enough to make me think the drops were not as effective either. It's been a gradual thing, but I have to say that now I'm not sure if they will be helpful in the long run. I was wondering if others have noticed good results at first but then found the medicine gradually not working as well."