Restasis (Cyclosporine Ophthalmic) - Summary

RESTASIS SUMMARY

RESTASIS (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05% contains a topical immunomodulator with anti-inflammatory effects.

RESTASIS ophthalmic emulsion is indicated to increase tear production in patients whose tear production is presumed to be suppressed due to ocular inflammation associated with keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Increased tear production was not seen in patients currently taking topical anti-inflammatory drugs or using punctal plugs.

See all indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Published Studies Related to Restasis (Cyclosporine Ophthalmic)

Impact of daclizumab, low-dose cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and steroids on renal function after kidney transplantation. [2009.09.22]
BACKGROUND: Early and long-term use of cyclosporine A (CsA) leads to increased risks of renal toxicity. We hypothesized that administration of daclizumab in combination with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) allows a relevant reduction in the dose of CsA... CONCLUSION: We demonstrate here that high-dose daclizumab in combination with lower CsA levels in adult renal transplant recipients is as or more effective than standard regimen (CsA, MMF, steroids) and may result in better outcomes at 12 months post-transplant with no increase in adverse reactions.

Contrast enhanced sonography shows superior microvascular renal allograft perfusion in patients switched from cyclosporine A to everolimus. [2009.07.27]
BACKGROUND: Real-time contrast enhanced sonography (CES) provides quantitative information on microvascular tissue perfusion in renal allografts. In contrast to calcineurin inhibitors, mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors may have beneficial effects on renal microvascular tissue perfusion. There is no information on the microperfusion of renal allografts in patients receiving either mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor or calcineurin inhibitor... CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that renal microperfusion visualized by CES based on microbubble contrast agent and concomitantly kidney function, improved significantly after the switch from CsA to EVR.

Everolimus with reduced cyclosporine versus MMF with standard cyclosporine in de novo heart transplant recipients. [2009.07.15]
BACKGROUND: Pharmacokinetic modeling supports trough monitoring of everolimus, but prospective data comparing this approach versus mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in de novo cardiac transplant recipients are currently unavailable... CONCLUSION: Concentration-controlled everolimus with reduced CsA results in similar renal function and equivalent efficacy compared with MMF with standard CsA at 12 months after cardiac transplantation.

Inhaled Cyclosporine and Pulmonary Function in Lung Transplant Recipients. [2009.07.06]
Abstract Background: Chronic rejection, manifesting as bronchiolitis obliterans, is the leading cause of death in lung transplant recipients.

Similar lipid profile but improved long-term outcomes with sirolimus after cyclosporine withdrawal compared to sirolimus with continuous cyclosporine. [2009.07]
Renal transplant recipients show an increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared with a nontransplant population. Herein we have shown an analysis of a randomized controlled trial wherein 525 patients receiving a first or second (9.7%) renal allograft from a deceased (89.1%), a living-related (7.8%), or a living-unrelated donor (3.1%) received sirolimus (SRL), cyclosporine (CsA), and steroids (ST) at the time of transplantation with randomization at 3 months after transplantation of 430 eligible patients to continue on SRL-CsA-ST or to have CsA withdrawn with increased SRL trough targets (SRL-ST group)...

more studies >>

Clinical Trials Related to Restasis (Cyclosporine Ophthalmic)

Will Restasis Eye Drops Increase Your Chance of Having a Successful Surgery? [Completed]
The purpose of this study is to determine whether reducing inflammation of the surface of the eye with topical Restasis after glaucoma surgery will improve surgical outcomes and increase patient comfort.

Metabolic Pattern of Cyclosporine A and Acute Renal Failure [Completed]
Following heart transplantation many patients develop acute renal failure in the early posttransplant phase and some are in need of renal replacement therapy for shorter or longer time. The cause of this acute renal failure is most probably multi factorial but many reports indicate that cyclosporine has a central role in the pathophysiology and it is generally recommended to lower the cyclosporine load to patients developing acute renal failure in this population.

Several in vitro studies on renal cells in culture indicate that the primary metabolites of cyclosporine (AM1, AM9, AM4N) are less toxic to the kidney than cyclosporine itself. However, the secondary metabolite AM19 as well as the cyclic metabolites AM1c and AM1c9 has been associated with decreased renal function and nephrotoxicity renal transplant recipients.

The primary objective of this pilot study is to investigate if the concentrations of secondary- and cyclic metabolites of cyclosporine (AM19, AM1c, AM1c9) is related to development of acute renal failure in the early posttransplant phase following heart transplantation.

Secondary objectives are to investigate associations between genotypes of P-glycoprotein and CYP3A5 and the metabolic pattern of cyclosporine.

Maintenance Neoral Monotherapy Compared to Bitherapy in Renal Transplantation [Completed]
We have previously defined factors that predict the long term success of maintenance CsA monotherapy (CsAm) after kidney transplantation : donor age < 40 years, serum creatinine level at the initiation of CsAm £ 125 µmol/L, no rejection episode before CsAm initiation. We have also shown that the 8-year graft survival in 329 selected patients enrolled in maintenance CsA-m was 84 % (Hurault de Ligny et al, Transplantation, 2000 ; 69 : 1327-1332). These results were obtained with an old formulation of cyclosporin, azathioprine, steroid withdrawal over the first year and induction antibody. This prospective randomized multicentre study was designed to clarify whether maintenance Neoral + MMF or Neoral + AZA is better than a CsAm and wether Neoral + MMF is better than Neoral + AZA in low immunological risk cadaveric kidney transplant recipients.

Nordic Study in Cardiac and Lung Transplantation: Outcome in Relation to Cyclosporine Microemulsion C2 Levels [Active, not recruiting]
The main purpose of this study is to identify cyclosporine C2 levels during 12 months treatment , while cyclosporine microemulsion dosages are adjusted based on C0 cyclosporine blood samples, and retrospectively correlate C2 levels to outcome (renal function and incidence of acute rejections)

The Pharmacokinetics of Sirolimus When Combined With Cyclosporine or Tacrolimus in Renal Transplant Patients [Active, not recruiting]
The purpose of this study is to understand the pharmacokinetic of sirolimus in different regimens, as well as the dose-level relationship of cyclosporine and tacrolimus, and design the most appropriate cyclosporine/sirolimus/steroid or tacrolimus/sirolimus/steroid dose regimen for Taiwanese.

more trials >>

PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Restasis review by medical professional caring for 45 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Highly Effective
Side effects:		Mild Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		dry eyes
Dosage & duration:		0.05 % twice a day (dosage frequency: 6 months) for the period of 6 months
Other conditions:		blepharitis
Other drugs taken:		none
		Reported Results
Benefits:		Restasis helps with tear related problems: dryness, reflex overtearing, mucous discharge, irritated eyes, redness and lid swelling. It can irritate at the initial time of therapy but with extra artificial tears this effect is lessoned.
Side effects:		some people get prolonged stinging for 5 to 10 minutes and occasionally increased redness and lid swelling
Comments:		maintainence for chronic dry eye and sometimes helpful for blepharitis as well.

Restasis review by 68 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Considerably Effective
Side effects:		Moderate Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		severe dry eyes
Dosage & duration:		drop each eye (dosage frequency: 2x day 12 hours apart) for the period of 60 days
Other conditions:		itchy upper lids
Other drugs taken:		Blink eyedrops
		Reported Results
Benefits:		After 6 weeks began to reduce the itchy swollen eyes. Long distance vision gradually cleared and returned to near normal. After an additional three weeks the itchiness is continuing to reduce and the distance vision is continuing to improve. Eyes are still itchy but I have gone from putting over-the-counter eye drops in my eyes more than 10x during an eight hour period to about 2x during an eight hour period. I have improved from barely being able to read the top line of the eye chart to almost normal vision.
Side effects:		Severe burning sensation in eyes about one minute after applying drops. This burning sensation did not always occur. When the burning sensation occurred my eyes were photosensitive so I had to remain in a dark room for about 15 minutes. I wore dark glasses for about one hour after leaving the dark room. I put the eye drops in my eyes in the morning and before going to bed at night. This meant some mornings I would be leaving for work at 6am (quite dark out) with dark glasses on as any amount of light was painful.
Comments:		Had very dry itching eyes. Difficult to determine if part was allergies. Was referred to retinal specialist by my eye physician because of severely decreased vision. Specialist prescribed the restasis and some different eye drops. Returned in about 6 weeks with distinctly better vision but continued burning and itchy eyes. Am to continue treatment and return in another six weeks. Have noticed a reduction in itchiness since last visit and a small improvement in distance vision.

Restasis review by 68 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Considerably Effective
Side effects:		Moderate Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		severe dry eyes
Dosage & duration:		drop each eye (dosage frequency: 2x day 12 hours apart) for the period of 60 days
Other conditions:		itchy upper lids
Other drugs taken:		Blink eyedrops
		Reported Results
Benefits:		After 6 weeks began to reduce the itchy swollen eyes. Long distance vision gradually cleared and returned to near normal. After an additional three weeks the itchiness is continuing to reduce and the distance vision is continuing to improve. Eyes are still itchy but I have gone from putting over-the-counter eye drops in my eyes more than 10x during an eight hour period to about 2x during an eight hour period. I have improved from barely being able to read the top line of the eye chart to almost normal vision.
Side effects:		Severe burning sensation in eyes about one minute after applying drops. This burning sensation did not always occur. When the burning sensation occurred my eyes were photosensitive so I had to remain in a dark room for about 15 minutes. I wore dark glasses for about one hour after leaving the dark room. I put the eye drops in my eyes in the morning and before going to bed at night. This meant some mornings I would be leaving for work at 6am (quite dark out) with dark glasses on as any amount of light was painful.
Comments:		Had very dry itching eyes. Difficult to determine if part was allergies. Was referred to retinal specialist by my eye physician because of severely decreased vision. Specialist prescribed the restasis and some different eye drops. Returned in about 6 weeks with distinctly better vision but continued burning and itchy eyes. Am to continue treatment and return in another six weeks. Have noticed a reduction in itchiness since last visit and a small improvement in distance vision.