Dry eye symptoms and conditions

Hi everyone, i am 30 years old and have been a severe asthmatic since i was an infant. I started taking advair about 3 years ago, and let me tell you , I had never felt that good, ever!!! BUT, I have developed quite a number of side effects including:
- Severe dry eye's
- terrible Problems with my teeth(pain)
- problems with my voice
- had pneumonia 3 times in about five months
- swelling in feet and hands after sitting for a while
- my body seems to go into "withdrawal" if i stop using the medication, even for a day, my breathing gets terrible!

after 6 months of using Advair Diskus, it felt like a piece of cheese cloth was at the upper part of my lungs. My breathing was very difficult, My Dr. didn't think it was Advair. After one year I also developed dry eye, muscle spasms in legs, cramps in my feet. I didn't know about side effect of dry eye. I have not used Advair for over a year now, but except for the feeling of cheese cloth over top of lungs, all other systems are worse. Dry eye is causing me not to be able to read but for a few minutes, driving at night is impossible if its raining. My computer letter setting is set at a very high font so I can read easier.

I had my Mirena inserted Jan. 2008, and just had it removed a month ago. Prior to the Mirena insertion, I had been off BC for about 2 years, following a terrible episode of severe dry eye (to the point of corneal ulceration) after using Mircette continuously (no sugar pill week) for about 3 years. I was told the Mirena was safe and that my symptoms would most likely not recur because of the low dose of hormones. I told myself that if my eye symptoms came back I would have the Mirena removed immediately.

What I wasn't counting on was the fact that many Mirena symptoms can come on gradually, and didn't have any idea that the almost continuous cycle of UTIs and Yeast Infections, as well as constant thick mucous discharge that I think now must have been mild BV, that I'd been having since the insertion could be related. I am only 28 and have had a few different partners since the insertion, and frankly was ashamed that I was somehow not being safe or clean.

About 8 months into Mirena I started having bouts of severe IBS, and after testing it turned out I had developed multiple food allergies, as well as many bacterial infections in my intestines, and a yeast overgrowth. I have been terrified ever since that my body is attacking itself, and none of the dietary and pharmaceutical treatments to treat the IBS has really helped. I also started having intense night sweats many times nightly, a dizzy foggy feeling, recurring sinusitus for the first time in my life, and shooting joint pain into my hands (which scares me to death because I'm a musician). I have also had episodes of intense anxiety, insomnia, and heart palipitations that I marked down as stress. I seem to have a doctor's appointment every other week, and for months asked if I should get the Mirena removed -- every doctor, including my excellent GYN and Naturopath, said the Mirena was not the problem.

But the worst of this is, that after all this time with comfortable, healthy eyes, my eye symptoms returned in full in Nov. 08 and no medication has been able to adequately keep the dryness and inflammation under control. It seems like a no-brainer that Mirena and more hormones brought the eye problems back, but because it had been so many months since the insertion, I couldn't make myself believe it was the problem.

Well, after searching Mirena, IBS, and yeast infections and finding so many women with similar stories, I became certain that Mirena, if not the whole problem, created a hostile environment in my body and had it removed. I immediately felt a release from depression (which I hadn't realized I had been feeling), and my sex drive went through the roof. I know it can take a long time for the body to regularize itself after so many fake hormones have been circulating for so long, and am desperately hoping that in time some of the worst side effects of the Mirena will disappear.

I was placed on Topamax, off label, for suspected bipolar illness (now disproven). My cognition, word finding abilities, memory has been so adversely affected that I am now on disability. I had 5 kidney stones due to the development of Renal Tubular Acidosis, nearing renal failure (a side effect doctors don't warn patients about). This in turn led to osteomalacia, softening of the bones, only discovered after I broke all three major bones in my leg and snapped off my foot stepping off the lowest seat of a bleecher. I've suffered tingling in arms, hands, legs & feet (nerve damage), lesions in the brain, muscle spasms, heat & cold intolerance, insomnia etc... Although I lost weight, I gained it back (then some) as soon as I reduced the dosage of 800 mgs. Upon stopping the drug to save my kidneys, thus my life, my kidney function returned to almost normal within a few months, although there is residual damage. All other side affects remain two years later. Losing weight is not worth dying! Beware of this drug being used off label! I would never trust this drug!

Has anyone had problems with their eyes on this medication, my have been going blurry and then I get a terrible headache.

For any of you writing in and asking should I take this drug because I already pain the money, DON'T. My side effects have NOT gone away after a year (muscle pain, dry eye, rashes, anemia, tendinitis, etc.). There is always an alternative to this poison.

I have been on the NUVARing for 2 years and I'm 25. About 5 months ago I started having really really bad DRY EYE PROBLEMS. I have been to the ophthalmologist and I've been on restasis, refresh plus, Lotomax, and other ointment I put on my eyelids at night. The eye problem isn't getting much better. Has anyone else experienced this?

Also, I use to have super thick curly hair. I lose about a handful of hair a week and I don't think this is normal anymore.

I'm wondering if it is time to take out the ring. Any advice?

I have been on .50mcg of Levoxyl for Hashimotos for three months now. I definitely have the dry eye issue and am going to my optometrist today to see if the steroid eye drops helped.

In the early weeks I had dizziness and even broke out in a light rash twice. The only thing that hasn't completely gone away yet is the morning sickness-like nausea that I wake up with. But that generally passes within that half hour period before I eat.

To you who have posted or will post, my suggestion is TALK to your endocrinologist. Your dosage may be a little bit off, which may cause some of these symptoms.

Restasis was prescribed for my severe dry eyes, but when i started using it 6 months ago, the dryness worsened. Aside from the burning sensation all the tim, redness persisted. It was even more bearable with just over the counter eye drops like artificial tears and genteal. I just recently started using restasis again 2 weeks ago, hoping for a better outcome. Unfortunately, it has not been of any help whatsoever and seems to exacerbate my dry eye condition. Restasis is definitely not a wonder drug. (It should be though for the amount it costs!)

I have a severe eye infection going on 2 years+ Combo dry eye,blepratis etc.my eye glands are all stopped up!
Vanderbilt Eye Dr. Put me on this for 90 days, plus antibotic drops,
warm compresses, systane drops, I'm afraid of the side effects,
been on it 1 day, 100mg twice daily. I'm on Zyban for depression,Zyrtec for allergies, BP meds so
hopefully it won't effect me. I feel hyper,but seem un-able to focus.
Any help, other people with eye problems, please e-mail me.
Thanks, Sue

I was using Restasis, as well as Methotrexate, to help relieve the discomfort of dry eye and scleritis; however, I believe after six months of using Restasis, there has been progressive redness and extremely painful episodes. I believe I have discovered that the Restasis was actually exacerbating the scleritis!! I discontinued the use of the Restasis, and magically, my eyes, which have been continually red and terribly painful for at least six months, have cleared! Not sure yet if it was actually the Restasis that was causing my scleritis to worsen, but if my eyes continue to stay clear, I will not use the Restasis again.

This is a total nightmare and i need advice! I was on Lamictal for a year and about six months into my health began to slowly deteriorate. It started with shortness of breath and heart palpitations and eventually attacked every system of my body. My symptoms are muscle pain, spasms and knots to the point that i can't turn my neck sometimes, joint pain (mostly knees), stabbing floating pain everywhere, headaches, frightening tingling in my extremities and a few times my entire body, sore throat, flu-like feelings, stomach cramps, bloating and heartburn. The list goes on. I have been off of it now for two weeks. My psychiatrist has never seen this type of reaction before and is not convinced it is the Lamictal. I have been to every single type of doctor and the ER twice, had extensive lab work, CT scan and two MRIs. I have been off Lamictal now for two weeks and am not feeling much relief. I am so scared and frustrated and please need advice. Has anyone else experienced this? Does it ever go away? I feel like I am literally living a nightmare with no-one to turn to for advice because no-one seems to know ANYTHING!!!!

I agree with goodyearchic I too have had my Mirena out for 3 weeks now and I would like to say to anyone doubting whether they should get theirs removed- go for it. I feel much much better, my spots have gone, my mood swings and craziness have disappeared and I feel fantastic. Whether it is psychological or not I don't know all I do know is that having the Mirena was one of the worst decisions of my life.

I have had Mirena for 6 months and things seem to be getting worse. I am now bloated (yesterday was bad), and my period lasts for almost 10 days now and counting even though it is light. I am also moody and tired. I have not been able to lose one single pound from pregnancy since it was inserted. Now I am wondering if my eye problems could be related -I have had dry eye and blurry eyes and my eye doc thought Mirena could have something to do with it since the timing is similar? Anyone had eye/contact problems?
I thought this birth control was so great until recently!! and I hate the pill, and I've tried almost everything else (patch, ring, different pills) what else is there??

27 yr old healthy male. Have red-irritated eyes, occasional sneeze and runny nose, live in Denver (highly polluted). Come to think about it, never started having symptoms until after about 1 yr of living here. Symptoms have persisted for 2 yrs now. Maybe I should move?

doctor thought was allergies, so tried: Patanol, Singulair, Claritin, Duramist = no help. Eyes are still itchy, eyelids are embarrassingly red (I look like I'm high all the time). After 4 months on Singulair, noticed significant weight gain, dehydration, and sensitivity to light. Couldn't work out, play paint ball. Urine was always dark yellow. Singulair seemed to help at first, but as time went on, symptoms were worse and had additional problems, weight gain, etc. Things seemed to be spiraling out of control, and I am really depressed b/c there seems to be no solution.

I complained of some loss of vision (i.e. blurriness, hard to focus), so doctor sent me to ophthalmologist. They prescribed glasses and said I have dry eye like that person posted on Nov 18th. They told me to wash my eyes with baby soap. No help! These people have no idea what to do, I got fed up and quite taking Singulair after reading this website. I hope to lose weight and start working out again. I can't believe that doctors prescribe Singulair and have no idea (NO IDEA!) of all of us who must suffer from this terrible drug.

I don't do drugs, drink occasionally and have really cut down trying to get this problem solved. I have become sensitive to caffeine, if I drink coffee, my eyes hurt so bad, I can hardly keep them open. I'm going to do as much research as I can to find a solution. I trusted my doctors - bad idea!

I've been on the pill since September and I've noticed some problems with my eyes. At first I thought it was pink eye since it was only one eye, but the doctor thought it was a dry eye. It comes and goes.. usually stays in one eye for 3-4 days goes away from 3-4 days and then shows up in the other eye. Not sure if this is due to the pill, but thought it might be since I can't think of anything else that would cause my eye to dry up, become irritated and red. Please respond if you know of the pill causing anything like this.

My college age daughter was diagnosed with allergies and asthma last winter. She had a series of allergy test and results were grasses, dust mites, mold, cats, dogs feathers. Her main complaint was shorness of breath during exercise, boxing and lately tennis. She is a very healthy young lady that played tennis, ate healthy and stayed away from pop and junk food. This sudden breathing issue is baftling. She was put on Singular and the lowest dose of Advair. For 9 months she has been taking these meds and they don't seem to help. What's more baffling is that 6 months ago she developed an eye irritation, itching, swelling and redness of the eye lid. She has see 3 opthalmologists and 1 cornea specialist. They've all said it's "dry eye". Fine, but what is the cause.
I am one to read all the package inserts to all medications. As a professional, having sat on two Institutional Review Board for Animal and Medical Research at Henry Ford Hospital, I am well aware of all the possible side effects that can arrise with medications.
Recently I read up on Singular, I am confinced that there is a definite correlation of the eye problem with the Singular. I have told all the doctors and non seemed to want to speak with the allergist or work with him, or even consider that this is a possibility.
I intend to have her stop this medication and hope and pray that this will problem will cease. If any one has had a similar occurance with Singular, please respond.

THIS SIDE UP! Okay. I left my first message last week. I have cut my dosage in half. I think lot of people are trying to see what happens when you go off of it. I think I read the half life of Liprino is 30 days. I dropped from 20 mg to 10 mg. I still have a lot of fatique and aching in my thights. I lost maybe 15% of my total exhustion. I have very bad dry eye, that might just be a little better. I know some of this may be coinceidental...time will tell. I do have faster blinking and eye movement. Less dizziness, maybe about 50% less dizzines. Seems to have less brain fog also. I have taken this stuff since about 1999 if I recall. I will be taking half a dose for a few weeks. My blood pressure has not even gone up. I am taking lots of garlic pills and relaxed breathing exercises. I will try to log in weekly. Just look for THIS SIDE UP!

I have been on Celexa for a number of years and am taking 60 mg. My side effects keep get worse. I have trouble sleeping, I have horrible mood swings...lots of angry outburts, I have migraines, light and noise senistive, shaky, weight for sure. I have had a change in my sense of taste, I grind my teeth at night, I have no sex drive at all, blurry vision. I have dry eye and mout, skeletal pain, eye pain, hot flushes, edema, loss of balance craving for sweets and salty foods, more depressed than before b/c of all of the side effects and I am tired all of the time. I am only 35 years and I should be enjoying live instead I hide in my house away from the outside world.
L.B.

Have been Diovan for a month now and am experiencing dry eye and breast tenderness. Does anyone else have these problems?

Keila:
YES! I have also been dehydrated. I carry dry-eye drops with me everywhere I go. My eyes were painfully dry. I used to be a constant contact lens wearer, but not anymore. I have been off Yasmin for 5 months and am just starting to wear my contacts a few hours about every other day. My eye prescription actually changed quite drastically during this time as well. Stay away from caffeine and you should eventually be fine. I drink lots of water, green tea (no caffeine), and cranberry juice. It will get better.
Virginia

I've been on wellbutrin for a month and half and the side effects that I have encountered using the medicine are dryness of the eyes and loss of appetite. I would take the medicine in the morning but not be hungry for the rest of the day. And realistically, you have to eat. I had to switch to taking the medicine later in the so I can eat first. In terms of getting dry-eye, sometimes my eyes get so dry that I cant see when I'm driving. So when I plan to drive I never take the medicine before.

I have been taking doyycycline for dry eye it was given to me by my eye doctor. ever since I have using it I see that my face has developed acne, which I never had. Has anyone experience this side effect.

Using restasis for dry eye I am experiencing a build up of mucus discharge from the sinuses down the back of the throat.

VAGINAL BLEEDING HAVEN'T HAD PERIODS IN 5 YEARS
JUST IN THE PAST FEW DAYS HAVE INCREASED NEURONTIN
TO 1800 TWICE WHAT I HAVE BEEN TAKING FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS. BLEEDING STARTED TONITE. I HAVE FIBRO, LUPUS, ARTHRITIS,FACTOR 8 DEFICIENCY, MIGRAINE EQULIVANT WITH PARYLSIS, GOUT, RLS,SUGAR, HI BLOOD PRESSURE,BURSIDIS,DRY EYE, I THINK THAT IS EVERYTHING
OH YES SEVERE MEMORY LOSS.
PJ