Lifitegrast ophthalmic and Bad Taste: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Buc...
• July 17, 2017

"I have dry eye because of pterygium on my eyes from the sun. For about 2 years, I have been using over-the-counter drops at least 6 times a day and very little help. Eyes hurt and irritated all the time, and hard to open my eyes in the morning. I started using Xiidra 2 months ago, and my eyes are back to feeling great again. The burning is just about gone and a little bad taste, but worth it. Thank you so much."

• Lmk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I have been taking this for a week. I am not going to take it anymore! My vision seems worse. I can’t get rid of the burning in my eyes and throat. The aftertaste burns and makes me sick to my stomach. My eyes feel worse. I am so aggravated and upset that a surgeon recommended this. I had LASIK done, and I feel like I will never get my good vision back like I had with glasses. Most horrible experience ever. :’("

• My...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2017

"For around a year now, I have been battling severe dry eye. I had worn contacts for years and even slept in them sometimes (most likely the cause of my dry eye now), but never had any pain or symptoms. All of a sudden, this past summer, my vision blurred, my eyes burned, and my fight with dry eye began. I started using Xiidra at the end of February, and I have definitely noticed some improvements. My vision isn't blurry all the time as it used to be, and I can actually tolerate wearing contacts again. My eyes still burn quite a bit, but I'm hoping with continued use, this medicine will help. The only bad side effect I've experienced is a terrible taste in my mouth that can sometimes last for hours, but it's worth it in my opinion."

• sen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 6, 2017

"I used Xiidra for about 5 weeks. Half the time, I only used it once a day. I experienced the blurry vision, which for me lasts about 20 minutes. I also had the bad taste - bitter is more like it. That lasts about 10 minutes. I hoped it would help, but I have not experienced any change in my dry eyes. So, if you are the lucky one that it is helping in a dramatic way, then you are one of the lucky ones. It seems to be hit or miss depending on who knows what."

• La ...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 27, 2017

"I have had dry eyes for about 4 years and had been on Restasis for about 3 years. I also have Myasthenia gravis (MG). Restasis did not work well for me, and my eyes were always red and dry. It was to the point where I could not wear my contacts or tolerate any direct air, like a fan. I live in Arizona where it's really dry too. When I heard about Xiidra, I asked my optometrist for an Rx to see if it would work for me. The difference was immediate. There is a taste with it, but it has gone away, and there is some burning. My doctor also suggested I continue with the Restasis since the two drugs work differently. My eyes are doing much better, the redness is gone, and I can see better."

• adm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2017

"As I have gotten older, my eyes have become quite irritated due to dry eyes. Usually, they get very itchy, and they burn a lot, and I have to scratch them a lot, which is not good for the eyes. I went to the optometrist, and he prescribed me Systane, which is OTC eye drops. I used them for about a year. They provide good temporary relief and were good for the short term, but they were never a permanent solution, and they made my eyes burn a lot. I saw mediocre results with them. I then went to the eye doctor, and he prescribed me Xiidra. He gave me a coupon, so the first month would be free. I noticed immediate results. The side effects were a bad taste in my mouth and blurry vision, but rarely do my eyes burn with them. My eyes look better also."

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "I have dry eye due to Lasik, and I was hoping that it would improve some minor vision problems that I was starting to experience. I was having trouble seeing some things far away and found that short-acting rewetting drops helped somewhat, but all the Xiidra did was make my vision worse (blurry). Driving at night was awful, as it seemed to make lights appear super intense combined with the blurriness. My eyes even felt as though they would burn and ache, so I would have to take ibuprofen before my entire head would ache. The taste was awful, but the eye doctor did warn me about that side effect. I'll just continue with OTC drops rather than use Xiidra. My eye doctor was sure I would be happy with it, but it did not work for me."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "Approx. 8 weeks after doing a Lasik Plus surgery on both eyes, I was still not satisfied with the outcome. The doctor told me to wait another 6 weeks before coming back to see him. He prescribed Xiidra and offered me a free coupon. I tipped off my shoes when I realized that it would have cost me $500 for 1 month's worth of drops!!! Anyway, I started off using Xiidra as prescribed; although I did have a slight sting sensation, a little aftertaste, and a bit of blurry vision which only lasts 3 minutes at the most, the drops were absolutely tolerable. Results: my vision has considerably improved in the week I started putting on these drops. I now see less glare at night and can definitely read better from a distance and from close up as well. The product is pricey but well worth it."

• Meg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 29, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "Xiidra causes some stinging, discharge in the morning, and had a gross taste, but my eyes have never felt better! I was constantly putting drops in my eyes, and sometimes my eyes were so blurry and dry that my glasses didn’t even help me see. This drop has been a real life changer for me!"

• Sky...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 11, 2017

"Bad taste but improves over time. Severe headache but again... improved with continual use. Then right eye started excessive tearing and running down my face. Stopped med for two days and got better, then restarted. Two more weeks, then right eye started excessive tearing again... and face broke out in rash... looks like new onset rosacea, so made appointment with dermatologist and eye doc. Never had any issues before starting this med. Really worried now... should have waited before starting a brand new med before it had been out long enough. I am a pharmacist and know better."

• Sou...
• August 8, 2017

"I've been on Xiidra for 3 months on the recommendation of my ophthalmologist. I am using it along with Restasis, as it is supposed to boost the effectiveness of the Restasis. I can't wait to stop taking it in a few weeks (time recommended by my doctor) because of the side effects. There is burning and a bad taste that can occur all day long. For me, the bad taste doesn't go away. The vials are easy to use, just that you can't make the product last beyond a day. These drops are not for everyone."

• Kak...
• May 3, 2017

"Xiidra has worked very well. I started doing it only at night. I have started to do it in the morning also. The bad taste lasts for hours and is now making me nauseous. It works better than my last medication, but I feel sick all the time. I am going to go back to once a day and see if it goes away. If it does not, then on to something else."

• Ast...
• May 27, 2017

"I am 53 and have dry eye disease due to upper and lower lid surgery 3 months ago. Went through a few rounds of steroids along with artificial tears non-stop all day. Nothing seemed to be working to relieve the constant tightness, redness, irritation. Started Xiidra 3 weeks ago and another round of steroids. It does sting initially, plus a bad taste others mention, which both disappeared within 5 minutes. Eyes are more clear and not as irritated. Not 100% yet, but it works for me. Other items I can suggest are a humidifier at night, Muro 128 drops/ointment by Bausch and Lomb for night, Retaine dry eye relief."

• Soh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 9, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "I was prescribed Xiidra after being diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome, which causes dry eyes. After a year of twice-daily use, my optometrist says she's seeing significant improvement in my eyes. I'll give you a couple of tips for use: * Store the vials in the fridge to prevent a burning sensation with use. * To get the drops to the end of the vials before application, hold between thumb and forefinger pointing downwards, with the cap still on, and rap the heel of your hand gently on a table or countertop. This will knock all the solution to one end of the tube. * To prevent a bad taste at the back of your throat (caused by the drops draining down through your tear ducts), as soon as you've applied one drop to each eye, close your eyes and gently press a finger into the corner of each eye. Wait 60 seconds then remove your fingers. Overall, Xiidra has helped with my dry eyes. I also recommend the use of a Bruder eye mask, which you can get cheaply from any drugstore or Amazon."

• CTd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I was using Restasis and had relief from my dry eyes, but my doctor suggested using Xiidra since it would be more effective. Along with the burning, stinging, and aftertaste, I noticed my eyes started to itch. I thought that maybe it was due to the dry air from the winter months, but now that it's spring, that isn't an issue. My eyelids are dry, flaky, itchy, red, and swollen. It seems like an allergic reaction. I've stopped taking Xiidra and will be going back to Restasis."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2017

"I've been using Xiidra for about two weeks. I switched from Restasis because of the cost, Xiidra is the first month free and refills for $10 for as long as I am on the medication. No real side effects except for a slight bad taste for about 10 minutes a couple of hours after putting them in, and maybe a slight burning, but only in the mornings, nothing to dwell on. When I used Restasis, it didn't matter morning or night, I had burning and light sensitivity. As for the vial, I have no issue getting the drop out, I invert it and snap the top off, getting a drop for each eye out of a vial. I can tell a difference in my contacts, normally they would be pretty dry after wearing them most of the day, but not now. So far, so good with this product."

• Kel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I took Xiidra for a couple of months and then stopped because I was losing my sense of smell and taste. I have been off the medicine for at least 2 months now or more, and my sense of smell and taste have NOT come back. I have been to my ENT, and he said it's probably due to the Xiidra. I will go see a neurologist just to make sure nothing else is wrong, but I am not on any other medicines, and Xiidra tastes bad."

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2024

For Dry Eye Disease "I have dry eye from Lasik years ago. It recently got worse earlier this year after a knee injury, which seemed to increase the inflammation levels in my body. OTC drops didn't help much anymore. I got some relief with Omega-3 pills and frequent warm compresses. I was then prescribed Xiidra, and it almost completely resolved my issues. No real side effects as long as I keep them refrigerated to minimize the stinging and aftertaste. I've been using it for 3 months now. I did stop for 4 days as a test, and the dryness started coming back, so I can tell it absolutely works for me. I went from using OTC drops every 15-30 minutes to only 3-4 drops a day. Huge difference. This drug gave me my life back. Only drawback is the price, but I'm using the manufacturer's coupon, and insurance covers some."

• Wen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 30, 2018

"I’ve been using Xiidra for almost a year, it saved my eyes. The burning and bad taste in my mouth are a lot more tolerable than the pain of dry eye. I also use castor oil drops in my eyes before bed to avoid nighttime dryness. I’m much better than I was a year ago, but now it seems like the Xiidra drops are not working at all."

• fis...
• July 10, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I have had these symptoms using Xiidra: blurry vision, bad taste down my throat, crusty eyes, nausea. It did help the dry eyes as they felt well lubricated. I do not want to develop other harmful issues with my throat, stomach, and taste buds. I used this product for only about 5 days. By the way, did anyone else find that you could not even squeeze out a single drop for each eye from one ampule? Compared to Restasis, the ampules have more than enough for both eyes, and my eye doctor said I could even keep the unused portion of Restasis if kept hygienic for the next application. I will switch back to Restasis, which doesn't work as well, but supplement with omega supplements and Refresh Advanced version eye drops. It is thick and helps. I'm glad I'm not the only one and that it is not 'all in my head.' Thanks all."

• DJa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 6, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I started a year ago on this for severely dry eyes. It stings, causes blurry vision for a few minutes, white discharge. The terrible part is the horrible taste down your throat anywhere from 1-4 hours after applying. It really helped me as I was using artificial tears 3-4 times per hour at work. Now I'm back to the same condition, so I am going to wean off. Guess it only works for so long. Besides, it gives you no clue into the long-term consequences because they are too new. Trying warm compresses and massaging my inner eyes to see if that will help. Trying home remedies at this point."

• mee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "Only on day 5, and I'm already experiencing relief. I've struggled with dry eye for years to no avail. I don't find that it burns or distorts my vision, but there is a bad aftertaste. The bad aftertaste is nothing compared to the relief it brings, though, so I'm going to continue."

• cba...
• July 6, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I took Xiidra for 1 month. I was very optimistic about the drops because I had been in so much pain with my eyes at night and getting no sleep. I had blurriness after applying, but then came the taste and the nasal drip down the back of my throat. It seemed like each time I used it, the drip feeling and the taste got worse and worse. Then, after about a week or so, I noticed my eyes were staying red and irritated more throughout the day and sensitive to light. I even went to an after-hours clinic thinking I had a sinus infection because of how severe the feeling was every night. I couldn't bear it any longer. I stopped after a month and was so devastated. My doctor didn't like that I didn't give it at least 2 months (he said that's how long it takes to 'kick in'), and I practically begged him to let me try Restasis. Xiidra was a terrible experience for me."

• Anonymous
• April 15, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "Only a few days in, so I cannot speak to long-term benefits yet. The eye drops burn when you first administer them, but it is not terrible. I also have a very bad taste in the back of my throat after using them. Usage is twice a day, every twelve hours. I had a coupon that made this box free. I will say this is not something that I would pay a lot out of pocket for."

• Aci...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I've been using Xiidra for about 45 days. I thought I was getting a bit of improvement. My eyes were so dry they're affecting my ability to drive. I'm desperate for improvement, and the docs I've seen, including two ophthalmologists, don't seem to have any suggestions. Restasis did nothing for me. Docs have suggested that bio-identical drops are worthless for most. I really want this product to work. That said, I've had side effects that seem only to be getting worse the longer I am on the Xiidra. Terrible taste that occurs after administering the drops and at random times. I awake feeling nauseated, as if I want to vomit. These symptoms are new and coincide with the addition of the Xiidra. On Xiidra, my eyes feel heavy, puffy, and I look as if I've been crying or am hungover (I don't drink). Though I hate to give up on the Xiidra, I believe it's time to throw in the towel on the Xiidra."