LIFITEGRAST

[bluegardenia]

i received a sample of this new product for dry eyes; a friend of mine who is ophtalmologist in washington gave it to me, he received it one month  ago, its brand new. he also told me  for our happiness, if possible, that there are a lot of researchs going on for sjs lately. anybody heard about it?

[Sooki]

I just googled it.  There's a Medscape article that says the FDA declined to approve it for dry eye.  It was October 2015, so I don't know if there's a more recent decision.  But it's probably not available in the US.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/852898

[Sooki]

My bad.  I guess it's now available as Xiidra.

[warmwaters]

There is a lot of research going on. My rheumy is connected to the research community, and tries to cheer me up by reminding me that there are a lot of new medicines in clinical trials.

[WhatYouSjo]

I wrote a blog entry about it a couple weeks ago. Xiidra is the brand name, lifitegrast ophthalmic solution is the generic. It was approved by the FDA in July and made available in August.

"According to the company, in all four studies, a larger reduction in eye dryness score (EDS) was observed with lifitegrast ophthalmic solution at 6 and 12 weeks. In two of the studies, an improvement in EDS was seen with lifitegrast at 2 weeks. At 12 weeks, a larger reduction in inferior corneal staining score favoring lifitegrast was seen in three of the four studies."

Bluegardenia, I would be very interested to know how well it works for you. Hopefully it helps. We can always use more treatment options.

[cccourt1942]

Blue:  SO happy for you.  If you can get relief in just ONE area..you will be given a new lease on life!  Yea you.  AND...thx for the info.  I happen to have a friend who lives in Memphis.  Though she does NOT have SjS....she does have "dry eye" and has actually used Restasis longr than I have.    She will be thrilled to know about this.

Thx...c3

[bluegardenia]

ciao everybody and happy that this can help.
dry eye is NOT my worst problem... so i still did not try it. my eyes are quite well since the same doctor suggested me the hot pads with tea tree that i dont even use anymore since months. i have problems if i stay hours on my computer and i read a lot but if not, im quite well. my problem is dry mouth and in these days i have terrible reflux with mucous that makes me crazy.
as soon as ill try it ill tell u of course