Dry Eyes from Elmiron?

[massagedoula]

I don't even know if it is from Elmiron, so I wanted to ask:

I am on day 2 of Elmiron and noticing dry eye problems, with redness.

I know that there is a tendency to blame everything on medication, so I just want to know if dry eye is a symptom that anyone else had on Elmiron? I cannot find anything about it in the Elmiron literature. I am not taking any other meds so it either is the Elmiron or some sort of enivronmental factor that is starting concidentally at the same time....I wear contact lenses so dry eyes do not feel very nice!

Otherwise, doing fine on Elmiron as of day 2. No stomach problems, headaches, or other strange things....Except excitement! I really really REALLY hope that Elmiron is going to be my miracle....I "plan" to take it for a year, go into remission, go off of it for 3 months, then get pregnant! Wish me luck on my dream and while you are at it....Let me know.....

Did you ever get dry eyes from it?

[poetgirl]

I have not experienced dry eyes as a result of taking Elmiron.

It is ragweed season right now -- possibly that is causing your eyes to be dry and irritated? I haven't been able to wear my contacts much because of the changes in the season.

[massagedoula]

I think you must be right because it just makes no sense otherwise. My eyes are feeling a little irritated now but not as bad as they did this morning.

[~*~Christine~*~]

I have dry eyes and mouth but it's not due to the Elmiron, it's because I have Sjogren's syndrome. Have you ever tried Flax Seed Oil? It works really good for dryness
Another tip is that eye drops don't last long, use an eye gel instead

[Katrina]

It very well may be IC. Way back when I first diagnosed and first joined this board that was one of things that I read about on this board was difficulty wearing contacts because of Elmiron causing dryer eyes. I think if you do a search on this board you will see something about that. (this board being the Elmiron board here) I like you didn't have any other problems with elmiron...but wasn't as smart as you to figure out it could be from the elmiron. I did a search on the elmiron board and got 15 results....that isn't huge but I think it is safe it say it could be the elmiron.

:grouphug:

[massagedoula]

It seems to be gone today, however. Today being day 3 of Elmiron. Maybe I got used to it? I still am feeling fine, no side effects and my bladder is feeling GREAT! (Compared to my normal IC feeling---not compared to life before IC)...

So I wonder this:
1.) Could it be possible that Elmiron is working already? I mean, I have not thought about my bladder for sometimes 30 min at a time. This has never happened before. I have only peed about 10 times today, usually it is more like 30 by now. Plus there is no pain (I call pressure pain), just a little frequency, and urgency.

2.) If I was having side effects from Elmiron, would I have had them by now (day 3) or do they come later, as I use if for an extended period of time???

[vm]

I would think you would have side effects now if you were going to have them. BUt, I suppose there could be a chance you wouldn't until it built up in your system. I doubt it, though - I bet you are in the clear. :)

You may really be noticing a difference b/c of the med already. People don't usually notice it this soon - but who knows? :)

[massagedoula]

The dry eyes are back with a vengeance! So MAYBE it is the Elmiron? I still have not found anything in the medical literature about it causing dry eyes. It is kind of mysterious!

[ellienor]

how are you today?
Doula.?

[massagedoula]

Hi Ellie,
Thanks for checking up on me! I am wearing my glasses today to give my eyes a break. Tomorrow I will put the contacts back in. I only really notice it when I have my contacts in. I am having a mild flare (I tried Monterey Jack cheese..I guess some people can eat it but not me!) But otherwise all else is pretty good. I still have no side effects from the Elmiron (knock on wood...I hope this stays like this!) And am thinking about adding a SMALL dose of Atarax sometime over the weekend (I want my husband to be home in case I have a bad reaction.) I may split my teeny 10mg pill in half and try 5mg first.

[rinnie]

My eyes and eyelids are very, very dry and my uro said that was one of the side effects of Elmiron. When I don't have make-up on, I look like dracula.
Rinnie

[massagedoula]

I finally went to the eye doctor and he found an eyelash that was growing the wrong way (into my eye!) And he removed it. He said that the irritation should now stop and it was not from the Elmiron. I wanted to share that with everyone because I know that there are so many people that are afraid to take drugs b/c of side effects that I wanted to clear this up that the Elmiron probably did not cause the dry eyes. But it still remains to be seen if this "eyelashectomy" does its job!

[icjen]

I have dry eyes too. When I think about it, it's been going on for about a year, which is how long I've been taking Elmiron. Now my eyes are very, very dry (started Detrol LA two weeks ago). I even have trouble driving these days. I don't think it was too bad with the Elmiron though.
Jen

[mjph]

I have dry eyes, dry skin, dry nose, and everything that could be dry is dry. Since I live in Arizona there is no escape. I am really thinking of stopping the Elmiron. The dryness is taking its toll on me. I am also not feeling any relief from the Elmiron, so I won't miss it.

Mel

[massagedoula]

When I lived in Bisbee, AZ, I was so dry too. My nose bled every morning....But my hair always looked great! (No humidity+curly hair)

[mjph]

I have lived here for seven years. When I first moved to Arizona I had to adjust. For the last six years I have been fine with the dryness. My hair looks great too. This Elmiron is so drying that my eye was glued shut this morning. Nasty.

Mel

[Kimchi]

I take the Elmiron and have the dry eyes, dry mouth, you name it. But, it's worth the trade off.

[mjph]

My doctor reduced my dosage to two times a day instead of three. Maybe it will help. It seems better, but I have not tried to wear my contacts yet.

Mel

[Sunrise907]

I have dry eyes and mouth. But drinking more water seems to help, if you can possibly drink more. I found if I drink a big glass of water with the Elmiron it helps. I have headaches an hour after I take the meds and it goes away after a while. I have been taking Elimron for about a month and have not noticed much of a change. I am going to stick it out for a while :headbang: