Lifitegrast ophthalmic for Dry Eye Disease User Reviews (Page 4)

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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!"

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

• Msp...
• May 20, 2021

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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..."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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!"

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

• Ker...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2019

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "I've been using Xiidra for a full 30 days now, and I seem to notice a difference. My eyes were so terrible that I couldn't read at night, which is my favorite thing. They hurt so bad that I could only stand about 15 minutes. I haven't noticed that problem anymore. I use the drops in the morning and at night. The only side effects I've experienced are the blurry, itchy eyes right after insertion (this only lasts for about 10 minutes) and the awful taste in my mouth. It's kind of like when I use nasal spray and it drains down the back of my throat. To me, it's well worth it. The only time I've experienced pain is when I forgot to take them one night and was about 6 hours late on my dosage."

• haw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2018

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "Restasis had no effect other than stinging/burning and using my money. Within a couple of days using Xiidra, I noticed a difference. I did experience the blurry vision, bad taste/drainage down the back of my throat, minimal burning, white (almost fluorescent-like) discharge. However, I was using almost no daily lubricant eye drops, and things were improving so much that I now use Xiidra only before going to bed. Stinging is minimal now, I rarely need eye drops at work, but still have some of the bad taste down my throat, which I alleviate with a soft drink/juice, but totally worth it."

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

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "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."

• cfa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2019

Xiidra (lifitegrast) "I used this for 2 weeks as prescribed. I got the burning and bad taste, however, the worst for me was the headache every time I used it. I did not notice a difference in my dry eye either. I would not recommend this."