Restasis Multidose

[Pete0211]

Hey everyone,

I just got my Restasis prescription renewed and just realized it's for the multidose, and not the individual 60-vial pack as before.

Is anyone using / know of someone using the multidose package that can tell me how long it lasts before needing a new one?

I typically used one vial per day (4 drops) and have gone 24 hours (6 drops) per vial, and there was plenty left for probably another 2 drops (8 total). given that a single vial is .4ml, 8 drops would indicate a single drop ~.05ml.

The multidose bottle is 5.5ml, and extrapolated out as .05ml/drop, should be enough for ~110 drops, IF the drops are the same volume between the bottle and the vial (they say it's the same formulation, so a drop should be a drop, regardless of container).

Can anyone confirm how long a multidose bottle can last, or will I be the first?

Pete

[Polly]

Hi Pete,

It's supposed to be a 30 day supply:
https://www.restasis.com/about-restasis/restasis-multidose

[Pete0211]

Hi Pete,

It's supposed to be a 30 day supply:
https://www.restasis.com/about-restasis/restasis-multidose

Thanks Polly.

With the individual vials, the 60 vial pack is supposed to be a 30 day supply, also (use a single vial to instill a drop in each eye, then toss the vial).

It is a well known practice to re-cap the vial and use it a second and even third time, extending the supply to 60+ days. Given that my out-of-pocket costs for my co-pay is $80/refill, stretching the supply certainly helps.

Note: There is risk by re-using the individual vials, since contamination of the solution is possible. I'm not recommending anyone re-use the vials or to use the product outside of the manufacturer's instructions.

[Deb 27]

I feel sure they have calculated it out to be 30 days with the multi dose.  They filled my prescription with that stuff and I  HATED it. They even have a nice co pay coupon to go with it.

I think they re packaged it b/c those individual dose vials can last more than a day. At least they do for me. One prescription  lasts way longer than a month for me. I assumed this was happening for others as well and that's why they did that stupid little bottle. I was always missing my eye! I went back to the old fashioned vials....... I hope you like it better than I did.

[Polly]

I hope they're not going to eliminate the vials! I can't squeeze a lot of dropper bottles. I got a new prosthetic eye recently and the ocularist gave me a really nice dropper bottle, she recommended filling it with safflower oil and using that as a lubricant. I tried, I can't squeeze the bottle. (RA hands) She uses Restasis too, and she uses each vial until it's empty, as most of us probably do. She got the plugs put in her tear ducts and now only uses a drop of Restasis every third day!

[irish]

They have been using this multidose vial in Europe for a long time. My DIL who is optometrist gave me one of these and I haven't used it yet. My eyes are bad tonight and I cant read the insert to see how many doses are in the vial.

You couod do a search on line and I bet the drug company will have info telling how many drops there are in the container and how long it should last. We may have to get used to this dosage container cause it makes the product easier to produce and much cheaper. Those little individual containers are expensive.

Good luck.

[Pete0211]

I tried some general internet searches but didn't turn up anything of value. I still have about a month's worth of individual vials, but as soon as I get to and finish the multidose bottle, I'll report back with my experience.

I do like the concept of the bottle, as its design reduces the risk of back-contamination of the solution.

For the cost conscious (like me), it looks like there may be generic options in the near future, so that should help, too.

[irish]

My eyes are better tonight so I tried to read the insert again. I found no real info on the days the vial should last. However, the bottle I have is 1.5 ml which I assume is just enough for a certain number of days.

Further down in the literature I found e statement 5.5 ml in a 10.5 bottle. I assume that this could be a months supply. You need "head space" in order to have the ability to squeeze the drops wil make both us and the insurance companies happy. irish

[Skylar]

My ophthalmologist wrote me a script for the bottle too, but I requested the vials. I often touch my eye when dispensing so I love that I can toss the single dose vial - if I contaminated a 30 day supply bottle on the first day - that would be very expensive.

Does the bottle contain preservatives? I thought that was another advantage of the vials because they are preservative-free removing unnecessary chemicals from potentially irritating the eyes.

[Pete0211]

My ophthalmologist wrote me a script for the bottle too, but I requested the vials. I often touch my eye when dispensing so I love that I can toss the single dose vial - if I contaminated a 30 day supply bottle on the first day - that would be very expensive.

Does the bottle contain preservatives? I thought that was another advantage of the vials because they are preservative-free removing unnecessary chemicals from potentially irritating the eyes.

Both concerns are (supposedly) alleviated by the bottle design. The tip is supposed to prevent any liquid going back into the bottle, so if you touch the tip to your eye, you can clean the tip afterward.

The formulation is the same - no preservatives, again (supposedly) due to the tip design.

[Skylar]

My ophthalmologist wrote me a script for the bottle too, but I requested the vials. I often touch my eye when dispensing so I love that I can toss the single dose vial - if I contaminated a 30 day supply bottle on the first day - that would be very expensive.

Does the bottle contain preservatives? I thought that was another advantage of the vials because they are preservative-free removing unnecessary chemicals from potentially irritating the eyes.

Both concerns are (supposedly) alleviated by the bottle design. The tip is supposed to prevent any liquid going back into the bottle, so if you touch the tip to your eye, you can clean the tip afterward.

The formulation is the same - no preservatives, again (supposedly) due to the tip design.

Thanks Pete - maybe I'll reconsider next time if it's significantly cheaper. Like some others here, following my Drs recommendation, I use that vial up before tossing so I don't have to refill my prescription as often.

[Pete0211]

Just an update, for anyone interested.

The dropper that the multidose is distributed in is great in concept, but awful in execution.

It takes what seems like an eternity to get a drop to drip, and frequently that's ended up on my eyelid as I blink from holidng my eye open for too long (or on a cheek, forehead).

It requires too much "squeeze" and if you try going quickly, it seems like it's easy to squeeze out multiple drops. Even what I think is a "regular" drop feels like more medication than I would get out of the individual vials.

I didn't last two weeks before calling my doctor and changing back to the individual vials.

Pete

[Sharon]

Thanks for the update Pete, this is good to know!

[Skylar]

I too am glad to read your update - I'm going to stick with the single vial format.