[Kristi]

I have pretty bad dry eyes especially when I first wake up in the morning. My question.Is it from the baclofen I'm taking or from copaxone or maybe both thanks. I do use eye drops in the morning.

[Erin524]

I've been waking up with dry eyes too. Mine is caused by allergies (stupid weeds in the backyard, and the grass in the yard, and the darn ragweed and cottonwoods)

Also, I sleep with a ceiling fan on. That can make dry eyes worse too.

I dont know if the Copaxone or the Baclofen can cause it. It's possible, might explain my dry eyes being worse than usual.

I just did a Google search. I found a page that has information about a medical trial that was being conducted to see if Copaxone would help people with macular degeneration. They were also doing a trial with the C for people with MS...and another trial with the C for people with Alzheimer's.

The page was updated last month. That was interesting. I thought they were only using the C for people with MS.

http://www.amd.org/site/PageServer?p..._Update_061908

I also found another page that lists dry eye as an infrequent side effect of the C.

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/copaxone-side-effects.html

[NurseNancy]

hi kristi,

i'm not sure about the meds. you can call shared solutions about the C and your pharmacist about the other med.

you might also see your opthamologist. he might be able to suggest the best drop for you.

i also have dry eyes (i live in CO) and i use Refresh tears. they also make a more viscous (thick) drop. it makes your vision blurry for about 10-15" but the thickness can give you more relief. that's what my dr suggested for me.

[Dejibo]

I was just told about Sjogren disease. it can cause VERY dry eyes!

many meds can make you miserable, and zanaflex made me crazy! my poor eyes were sooo dry. bacolfen makes them pretty dry, but not as bad as zanaflex.

http://www.sjogrensworld.org/

if you want to wander over.

[Kristi]

I googled dry eyes today and I was surprised to read that over the counter sleeping pills can cause dry eyes and guess what I've been taking sleeping pills for many months now, because I just could't get to sleep.Well, sunday night I forgot to take them and I slept just fine so I didn't take any last night either so hopefully I won't need to take any more and I'll see if my eyes get better.

[Erin524]

Originally Posted by Kristi

I googled dry eyes today and I was surprised to read that over the counter sleeping pills can cause dry eyes and guess what I've been taking sleeping pills for many months now, because I just could't get to sleep.Well, sunday night I forgot to take them and I slept just fine so I didn't take any last night either so hopefully I won't need to take any more and I'll see if my eyes get better.

Are the OTC sleeping pills you've been taking brands like Tylenol PM, or Sominex?

The ingredient in the OTC sleeping pills that makes you sleepy, is Diphenhydramine...which is better known as Benadryl. An antihistamine.

[weegot5kiz]

kristi i was on same meds as you and had same eye issue, the opt told me to use the new eye gels they have out, its better for my situation with the meds and ms and my eyes, still the same you should consult your docs, i put the gel in at night and in the morning my eyes feel much better, jsut an idea

good luck with your eyes

[Kristi]

Originally Posted by Erin524

Are the OTC sleeping pills you've been taking brands like Tylenol PM, or Sominex?

The ingredient in the OTC sleeping pills that makes you sleepy, is Diphenhydramine...which is better known as Benadryl. An antihistamine.

Hi,Erin I was taking Simply Sleep made by the makers of Tylenol PM.

[Kristi]

Originally Posted by weegot5kiz

kristi i was on same meds as you and had same eye issue, the opt told me to use the new eye gels they have out, its better for my situation with the meds and ms and my eyes, still the same you should consult your docs, i put the gel in at night and in the morning my eyes feel much better, jsut an idea

good luck with your eyes

Hi, Frank
When you said gel do you mean the gel ointment you buy in the store that you put on your lower eye lid before you got to bed? I just bought today some Refresh Liquigel eye drops for moderate to severe dry eye.

[Lyon]

Even though she isn't on any medication, my wife has dry eyes and MS, although I think she attributes her dry eyes to the lasik surgery she had before becoming aware that she has MS.

In her case she had upper tear duct plugs installed, which didn't seem to completely resolve the problem, but plugs in both the top and bottom resulted in tears running down her face, so the bottom plugs were removed.

Bob