Xiidra and Stinging: What Users Say (Page 2)

• K C...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 12, 2024

For Dry Eye Disease "This is my follow-up. I have been on Xiidra since the FDA approved it in 2016. It was originally made by Shire but has since been sold, and I think the formula has changed slightly. It used to sting, and my vision would be blurry for 20 or more minutes after using the drop. For the past two years or so, I do not get the sting or the blurry vision. I still cannot praise this medication enough. I know most people do not take the time to fill out a review when things are good. I want to tell everyone, this medication saved my vision. I was also finally diagnosed with autoimmune diseases. I have MCTD and psoriasis. I noticed reading over some other reviews that others with autoimmune diseases also have positive experiences. Xiidra claims to reduce the LFA-1 on T cells and reduce cytokine release. Maybe it works better for those of us with autoimmune diseases. All I know is I have very severe DED, and Xiidra has made the most positive impact! Get the Insider Card to make it less costly."

• Ony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 30, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I have been using Xiidra for about 3 months. It is the best thing I have ever used. My eyes do sting as soon as I put the drops, but this goes away after a few minutes. Also, my vision is blurry for a short while. I wear daily contacts and have to wait for the blurriness to go away (about 15-20 minutes) before I insert the contacts. But for the first time in decades, I don't feel like I have broken glass in my eyes. I can wear my contacts all day without them hurting and itching and without constantly adding moisture drops. To me, this is an amazing drug. But it did take 2 months of daily use before I saw this great result."

• BBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "With only 2 first drops yesterday, I experienced all the above symptoms the other users mentioned in the above comments: stinging, bad taste in the throat, headache. My husband is a family physician, his advice was: stop it immediately. I understand now why they give me a 1-month supply of Xiidra for free. Will try Restasis."

• Jan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 14, 2023

For Dry Eye Disease "I have been using Xiidra for several years, and it has been a godsend for my dry eyes. Occasional stinging on application and sinus symptoms are the main side effects I have experienced. It was life-changing as I was miserable before I started the medication."

• 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."

• 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."

• Blo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2017

"I have Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and was on Restasis for the last few years. I’m 30 and have never really found something that works well to totally treat it. I take fish oil, sauna, hot compresses, and gel drops. Started Xiidra a week and a half ago, so far, my eyes feel better, but there is a stinging for a while and blurriness. Started getting a headache and pain in my left tear duct, excessive tearing, and kind of sticky lid with blurry sight. Will have to continue to assess it and follow up with my eye doctor if it doesn’t get better."

• Bad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "For years after LASIK, I experienced dry eyes to the point where it looked like I had been smoking dope! My eyes were continuously red and inflamed, and regular eye drops only brought minor, short-lived relief. At any rate, after many years of trying every eye drop on the market, I told my ophthalmologist to prescribe me Xiidra. It's done wonders for me! My inflammation and my bloodshot eyes are a thing of the past. In fact, my vision has improved, since any amount of inflammation can distort vision acuity. Yes, it stings, and yes, it produces a little bit of mucus right after use, but I would use no tears eye drops to flush all that out and go about my day. For years, I was embarrassed about my eyes always being bloodshot... no longer the case. Highly recommend it!"

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

"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."

• Cec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2018

"I am in the 3rd month of the third attempt to use Xiidra. Each time I have tried the drops, the stinging has been moderate to severe, with blurred vision for up to an hour. My doctor is saying this is the only solution to dry eyes. Even with the coupon, I am paying $250.00 for a month's supply. My eyes actually felt better when I used OTC moisture drops during the day and gel at night. Not quite sure why this is the best medication for me (according to the doctor). I lose at least 2 hours of waking time during which I cannot drive, do needed computer tasks, or make home visits."

• CBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "I'm being fitted for scleral lenses. My vision is great in the morning but slowly gets worse during the day. My doctor prescribed Xiidra to help keep the lenses moisturized. I tried it for 4 days. The stinging and blurry vision kept getting worse. I had to stop. I may just get new glasses. Seems to be too much hassle with scleral lenses. I don't want to be on any more medicine than necessary. Xiidra did not work for me. My eyes felt terrible."

• ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 27, 2017

"Changed to Xiidra because I thought it was less expensive (it is not). After placing drops in eyes, there was considerable stinging, an itching causing me to rub my eyes to stop it. This burning and itching continued for at least 15 minutes. It also caused considerable blurring of vision that really limited my vision. Could not watch TV, etc. So then I would just put it in at night due to the fact that I could not see! The vials are very hard (Restasis vials are much softer), and it is very difficult to get equal amounts of product in each eye. Also, there is just enough for only ONE EYE. By the time you are to drop the product in your other eye, there is nothing left! Then what do you do, open another vial? Not a great product."

• mon...
• November 30, 2017

"Have tried Xiidra twice. The first time for about 4 months. It did not seem to make a difference, so I stopped. Started again a month ago as soon as the dry air came back. Still no improvement. It stings a bit when I first put in the drops, but the worst part is the blurry vision for 15 - 30 minutes."

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

For Dry Eye Disease "I've been on Xiidra for a week now (2x daily). The actual fight to get the prescription approved was almost not worth it. It is also still very expensive-go on their website and get the coupon! In terms of effectiveness, my eyes actually do feel good. They don't feel as dry or have a burning sensation anymore. As some other commenters noted, the taste sensation is terrible. It drains down your throat nearly all day. At some points, it's bad enough to make me gag. The very first day I used it, I did have the burning/stinging upon usage, and my vision did get blurry for about 5 minutes, but I haven't had that sensation since. I can fill this under the coupon at a retail location 3 times before I have to start filling at Express Scripts, which will drastically increase the price. I will really need to see a huge benefit in my eyes and a decrease in the taste sensation because it makes it nearly unbearable to continue to fill the medication after the retail pharmacy fills."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 13, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "These drops were recommended to me by three ophthalmologists, making me wonder if they are getting some kind of kickback from the manufacturers of Xiidra. I have experienced stinging, blurry vision, itchiness, and actual pain, so I quit using them until advised to start again by one of my eye doctors. In the past two weeks, I have developed headaches that were at first only occasional but are now constant. I wish I had read some of these reviews first. I will definitely not be continuing their use."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2017

"I have autoimmune arthritis, ocular hypertension, and seasonal eye allergies, and all cause dry eyes. I have used every OTC tear drop, gel, and ointment, and lid scrubs, and I run a cool mist humidifier while sleeping. Constant burning and stinging, feeling like my eyelids were stuck to my eyeballs, and cloudy, blurred vision. For years I looked like I had been crying all the time or drunk! I started Xiidra about 3 weeks ago, and it is helping a lot! Yes, it stings for a moment. I have also gotten a slight headache after use, but that is getting better as I get used to the drops. No problems using Xiidra with my pressure drops, just wait 10 mins between. So far I am happy. Glad insurance covers it, I have a $50 copay for a $600 prescription."

• Ana...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2018

"Just this Saturday, January 20, 2018, my eye doctor prescribed Xiidra for a change, he said it might help. I started using it Sunday, just one drop in the morning and one drop before going to bed. Monday-little tears coming out more from my right eye, I felt so relieved. I just loved it, although it stings a little, still tolerable. Tuesday and Wednesday-more tears coming out from both eyes continuously. People from my workplace were asking why I am crying. I feel so tired, sleepy, and lightheaded up to this time due to tired eyes. Today, I woke up this morning with swollen eyes, painful, and I can barely open them. What's going on??? Please help. Yellowish discharge coming out from my left eye nonstop and is very painful."

• Min...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2018

"I started using Xiidra 3 weeks ago, and I'm very pleased. I noticed an improvement with my dry eyes immediately. Previously, I had used Restasis, but it stopped working for me, and my eyes started to sting more frequently. I finally told my eye doctor that I needed to try something else. My husband had started using Xiidra, and he had good results, so I decided to try it too. With Xiidra, I can open my eyes in the morning without reaching for the eye drops. My eyes sting for just a few seconds when I put Xiidra in. It does slightly blur my vision for a few minutes, but then I'm fine. I don't notice the blurring unless I'm on my computer or cell phone. I would recommend it."

• but...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "Dr. put me on Xiidra for extreme dry eye disease. The first few days seemed okay. After about a week, every time I used them, they burned and stung terribly near tear ducts. It hurt bad enough that I had to stop using. I am now trying something else."

• Mas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2018

"Constant stinging, eyes tearing all day, insurance doesn't pay a thing."