Restasis

Restasis is a prescription medication used to increase tear production in the eyes for the treatment of dry eyes caused by several different medical conditions. Restasis belongs to a group of drugs called topical immunomodulators. The mechanism by which Restasis works to increase tear production in the eyes is not yet fully understood.

Restasis comes in an eyedrop form and is typically administered into the affected eye(s) twice a day.

Common side effects of Restasis include eye burning, itching, and redness.

Restasis can also cause blurred vision. Do not take drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Restasis affects you.

Restasis is a prescription medication used to increase tear production in the eyes for the treatment of dry eyes caused by several different medical conditions including keratoconjunctivitis sicca and general eye inflammation.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Allergan, Inc.

Serious side effects have been reported with Restasis. See the “Restasis Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Restasis include the following:

• eye redness
• eye itching
• eye pain
• overflow of tears
• red eyes
• watery eyes or eye discharge
• blurred vision or other vision changes
• feeling that something is in the eye

This is not a complete list of Restasis side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if any side effect is bothersome or does not go away. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• Any other eyedrop or eye ointment products

This is not a complete list of Restasis drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Restasis including the following:

Eye Injury and infection. To avoid the potential for eye injury and infection, be careful not to touch the vial tip to your eye or other surfaces. 

Do not use Restasis eye drops if you:

• have a current eye infection
• are allergic to Restasis or any of its ingredients
• are wearing contact lenses. Remove contact lenses before instilling Restasis eye drops and wait at least 15 minutes before putting your contacts back in.

Talk to your doctor about wearing contact lenses if you have chronic dry eyes as they may be contributing to the dryness.

Restasis can also cause blurred vision. Do not take drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Restasis affects you.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Restasis, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before using Restasis, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions including:

• if you are allergic to Restasis or any of the inactive ingredients in Restasis
• if you have an eye infection
• if you have a punctal plug (stopper inserted by a doctor in a tear duct to keep tears in the eye)
• if you have or have ever had a herpes infection of the eye
• if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• if you wear contact lenses
• if you use or are planning on using any other eyedrop or eye ointment products while using Restasis

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Do not receive vaccinations without talking to your doctor first.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Restasis falls into category C. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Restasis is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

It is not known if Restasis crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Restasis.

• Use Restasis exactly as prescribed. 
• Restasis comes in an eyedrop form and is typically administered into the affected eye(s) twice a day.
• Restasis eye drops are for use only in the eye(s). Do not swallow or apply Restasis eye drops to the skin
• Restasis eye drops come in single-use (one dose) vials. The liquid from one vial should be used immediately after opening. Do not save it for later use.
• If you are wearing contact lenses, remove them before instilling Restasis and wait at least 15 minutes before putting them back in. If you are using artificial tears, instill them at least 15 minutes before or after you instill Restasis.

To instill the eye drops, follow these steps:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water
2. Mix by turning the vial over a few times until the liquid inside looks white and not see-through
3. Open the vial
4. Do not allow the dropper to touch your eye or any other surface
5. Tilt your head back, pull down the lower lid of your eye with your index finger to form a pocket
6. While looking up, gently squeeze the dropper so that a single drop falls into the pocket made by the lower eyelid. Remove your index finger from the lower eyelid
7. Close your eye for 2 to 3 minutes and tilt your head down, without blinking or squeezing eyelids
8. Apply gentle pressure on the tear duct with your finger
9. If you are to use more than one drop in the same eye, wait at least 5 minutes before instilling the next drop
10. Replace and tighten the cap on the dropper bottle. Do not wipe or rinse the dropper tip
11. Throw away the vial out of the reach of children even if it is not empty
12. Wash your hands to remove any medication

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Restasis at the same time.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your age

The recommended dose of Restasis for the treatment of dry eyes is one drop administered into the affected eye(s) approximately 12 hours apart.

If you insert too much Restasis, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed and out of reach of children.
• Store this medication at 15°-25°C (59°-77°F).
• Opened vials of Restasis eye drops must be discarded after use.