Lifitegrast ophthalmic and Bad Taste: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Dry...
• February 15, 2018

Lifitegrast ophthalmic "After years of living with itching, red, swollen, tearing eyes, I have found relief with Xiidra. I had such severe dry eye syndrome that I was never comfortable. If my eyes were open, they were burning, red, and painful. My problem was diagnosed for years as an allergic reaction in my eyes, but no allergy eye drop would even touch my symptoms. I had really resigned myself to wearing sunglasses 24/7, even indoors, to hide my eyes for the rest of my life. After one or two doses of Xiidra, I felt comfortable enough to go without glasses. After a week of Xiidra, I was able to use eye makeup for the first time in years. My eyes are comfortable all day long. I have no side effects with Xiidra-no burning, pain, irritation, bad taste, or anything else I have seen listed by other users. I don't think the vials are difficult to use. I hope others who have suffered like I have will have similar results with this medication. It has been a Godsend for me!"

• MAG...
• June 18, 2018

Lifitegrast ophthalmic for Dry Eye Disease "After using Xiidra for a couple of weeks, my dry eyes felt great... better than anything before. Of course, I was warned about the bad taste of Xiidra, but what I didn't expect was the horrible cough and hoarseness to my voice. After determining it was the drops contributing to this cough and voice change and NOT allergies or a cold, I was torn because my eyes felt much better. At the advice of my Dr., I started putting pressure in the corners of my eyes so they didn't drain down as much. This did not help, and my cough and voice change got much worse. I've since stopped the Xiidra and seen an ENT. He couldn't say for sure that the drops caused my issues BUT did say if they can change your taste, then they are definitely affecting other things in your throat. I, 100% believe they are the cause of my throat issues. I gave it a 3 out of 10 rating because they did help my eyes BUT not worth dealing with my bothersome cough and voice change."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 4, 2018

Lifitegrast ophthalmic "Been using for 3 weeks. Started using Lotemax plus Xiidra, and my eyes were getting better. Once Lotemax stopped, inflammation returned. Xiidra stings, causes a funny taste, and I have a white discharge from my eyes and incredibly red skin on my upper and lower eyelids. I too worry this drug is too new on the market and we are guinea pigs, hence the $10 coupon bait and switch going on. Plan to stop using."

• Tia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 6, 2018

Lifitegrast ophthalmic for Dry Eye Disease "I'm so glad I read these comments. I've been on these drops for about one week. I have noticed a big improvement. The pain of dry eyes is gone. I have noticed a bad taste in the back of my throat. Almost like a bitter pill taste. I had no idea it was related to the use of these drops. I have Sjögren's. Even with the bad taste, I'll continue on with them."

• Sas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2018

Lifitegrast ophthalmic for Dry Eye Disease "I used Restasis in the past, but was not consistent with using it, so I really don’t know if it helped my dry eyes. My ophthalmologist suggested Xiidra yesterday for my severe dry eyes. I have only used it once in each eye. My first reaction was it really burns. I also noticed the aftertaste a bit later. By the end of the night, my vision was so bad, I considered calling an Uber driver. I washed my contacts with water before leaving work, and that appeared to remove the film that was compromising my vision. As I already have some autoimmune issues and the scare I felt from literally not being able to see, I will not be using this drug again. Calling the ophthalmologist's office tomorrow to start back on Restasis."

• SH2...
• November 6, 2017

Lifitegrast ophthalmic "The liquid generally sticks at the end of the vial, so you have to 'flick' at it to push it towards the tip before twisting off the cap. Xiidra leaves a bitter taste in my mouth for a good 30 mins. It causes watery eyes for about the same time too. 2 times every 12 hours can be a pain. Some days I forget and end up doing it once every 24 hours. It's been 4 months now and it's helped a little bit. Won't know for sure if my dry eyes are 'cured' after 12 months of use. We'll see when I get off it."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2018

Lifitegrast ophthalmic for Dry Eye Disease "I started Xiidra this week, and after reading a bunch of reviews and asking my doctor, I put the package in the fridge to keep them cold and have not experienced too much burning, although I do get blurriness for about 15-20 minutes after putting the drops in. I too have noticed that it drips down my throat and has an awful taste. I haven't noticed much of a difference but was told to use this until I get approved to try Restasis. I also understand that to see a difference, I would need to use this stuff for a couple of months. I have noticed that my eyes aren't as red as they were, but I'm not so sure I like this stuff since finding all these bad reviews."

• Nan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2017

Lifitegrast ophthalmic "I had dry eye, and my optometrist modified my monovision Rx to use only a single contact lens since my reading vision was only minimally impaired. This has worked great for several (2 - 3) years now. I changed doctors, and he wanted me to use Xiidra. I have only been using it for a week so far. I have seen no 'improvement' in symptoms I was not experiencing. I have blurred vision in my contact lens eye for a while after applying the drops and have a bad aftertaste that lasts for quite a while. This, on top of not experiencing any symptoms for a while now; I don't see this as an improvement and may not continue."

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

Lifitegrast ophthalmic "I have red and itchy eyes most of the day, so the optometrist gave me a sample of Xiidra. I used two vials as prescribed, and after the second vial, I have noticed a strange taste and mild irritation in my throat that has not gone away since putting the drops in my eyes last night. I will not use this product again and will call the optometrist to let him know how I have reacted to Xiidra. I also do not see any change in the redness of my eyes. Obviously, this product is not for me."

• Kad...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 10, 2022

Lifitegrast ophthalmic for Dry Eye Disease "I tolerate this eye drop, which my doctor says is better than Restasis, which I took previously. My only complaint is the aftertaste. It is rank, to the point of making me nauseous. I am supposed to use the drop twice daily, but only use it once daily because of the horrible taste. I got good symptom relief with Restasis and had no unpleasant effects from it. Unfortunately, my insurance will only pay for Xiidra, so I guess I am stuck with the daily dread and gross-out."

• Ern...
• March 16, 2021

Lifitegrast ophthalmic for Dry Eye Disease "Beware of this medication! I developed severe migraines, cough, sinusitis, eye pain, and prolonged blurry vision. There is definitely a bitter taste in the back of the throat. If this was the only side effect, it would not be as bad! The drops helped with the dryness in the beginning. But after a few days, I thought I had contracted COVID despite being fully vaccinated. I stopped the medication and my headaches disappeared. I'm still coughing and having to clear my throat, though. Unfortunately, this medication has made my sight worse. So be very careful. Instead of a full drop in each eye, try using half a drop (to the point where it just touches your cornea) - I plan on doing that in a couple of weeks after I get better to see if this works. If your eyelashes are getting wet, you are probably using too much. But I can't tell if it's the way the medication works in your system that is causing these symptoms or if the dosage is too strong. So I will be back with more in about two months."

• Bal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2017

Lifitegrast ophthalmic "Been taking it for 2-3 weeks, and Xiidra is working wonderfully. Unlike what some people say, there is plenty of fluid inside one vial for 2 drops in each eye. The bitter taste is not really bad, and the blurriness just lasts for a couple of minutes or so. I have not had red, itchy eyes for most of the day when I just take OTC eye drops once or twice. I am very happy about the $10 per month payment because I would not be able to afford it otherwise."

• Lau...
• December 22, 2017

"I've been trying Xiidra for about a week now, but I already am planning on stopping. I guess each person reacts differently to medication because I see on here that most people only experience the horrible taste for a short time after instillation. Since I've started using these drops twice a day, I know I constantly have this horrible, bitter taste in my throat that is similar to that taste/feeling you get when you're getting sick. Even as I write that, I can taste that bitterness, and I applied the drops over 16 hours ago. I can't really say what it's doing for my eyes yet, but I don't think I can go on using it to find out, especially with the holidays coming up (where I actually want to be able to enjoy tasting things!)"

• Lau...
• December 22, 2017

"I've been trying Xiidra for about a week now, but I already am planning on stopping. I guess each person reacts differently to medication because I see on here that most people only experience the horrible taste for a short time after instillation. Since I've started using these drops twice a day, I know I constantly have this horrible, bitter taste in my throat that is similar to that taste/feeling you get when you're getting sick. Even as I write that, I can taste that bitterness, and I applied the drops over 16 hours ago. I can't really say what it's doing for my eyes yet, but I don't think I can go on using it to find out, especially with the holidays coming up (where I actually want to be able to enjoy tasting things!)"

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2021

Lifitegrast ophthalmic for Dry Eye Disease "Yes, this really helps my eyes! But it does leave a bad taste in my throat. And it has given me terrible gas and stomach trouble. It’s been a little over a month, and I think I will stop using it to see if symptoms stop."

• Ran...
• October 23, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "I began Xiidra 2 months ago. The supply lasted about 20 days. My eyes burned at the beginning and continued so for another hour, all the while I had a horrible taste in my mouth. At the end of 7 days, my tongue became very red and sore. I stopped the drops for 2 days to see if my tongue would heal. I began again, and I noticed my intestinal tract was then affected. I was homebound for 3 days. The doctor gave me a second try, and I didn’t get past 2 days, and my stomach and intestinal problems began again. I stopped again for 2 days. I started again and had only 1 treatment, and the diarrhea came back with a vengeance. I have not taken any more treatments, but now I’m still fighting gastrointestinal problems - severe. I’ll never take this awful medication ever again, and I don’t recommend it. I wonder now if my poor eye (1 only usable) has residual problems. It was worth a try, but I should have never repeated trying to get used to the drops. I wouldn’t even give it a 1 score."

• Deb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2017

Lifitegrast ophthalmic "Headache. Not gone away. Stomach problems. Bad taste in mouth never went away."

• Bur...
• March 15, 2022

Lifitegrast ophthalmic for Dry Eye Disease "Not only does this burn like a hot poker, it tastes terrible for 4 hours or more. I do not recommend this for anyone. Expensive and eye medicine should relieve symptoms, not make them worse."

• Sta...
• September 23, 2018

Lifitegrast ophthalmic for Dry Eye Disease "This drug has worked wonders for me. My eyes feel so much less dry and painful. My only side effect has been a mild bad taste in my mouth occasionally. I highly recommend it."