is this a reaction to Vabysmo?

[Catseyes235]

hello. …I’ve been on Eylea for several years but was told I ticked all the boxes for moving onto Vabysmo.

I had this about 9 weeks ago, 2 weeks before having a knee replacement, and in which time I was busy prepping for my op. Since slow recovery I realised I’ve been sneezing, nose running, dry eyes especially morning and evening and sometimes almost constant and more noticeable since getting better and reducing painkillers.

What I also realise is that I was having this sneezing etc before my op and wondered if it could be a reaction to Vabysmo and if anyone else has had anything like it. I’m due to go for an interim check at the eye unit on Tuesday so will ask about it but would like to know first if anyone has had the same experience.? Vabysmo online mentions dry eyes as a possible side effect but nothing else.

Thanks in advance.

[tallyho]

hi there no and u don’t think it would be a known reaction. I was in the NICE TA committee for this drug and in all the reading I had to do it did not mention sneezing at all. I have also trialed it myself but as it’s thicker than other drugs it did not suit my eyes

[springcross]

Hi there. I've been having Vabysmo for about a year now but I've never had anything like that, my main side effect is dry eye. Hope you find out what it is.

[Catseyes235 in reply to springcross]

Thanks …yes my eyes do seem drier than usual ..rarely have to use drops but now using daily. Actually what I thought was an interim check on Tuesday turned out to be one where I had injections …new injector who scored 10/10 …in fact if it hadn’t been for the appearance of ‘the bubble’ I wouldn’t have known she’d done it! So extended to 10 or 11 weeks. Doctor didn’t think my runny nose and sneezing due to Vabysmo.

[springcross in reply to Catseyes235]

Oh well done! I haven't been able to get past eight weeks yet and last time (a couple of weeks ago) there was more fluid so I now have to attend six weeks instead of eight!! Disappointed but I still think Vabysmo is better than Eylea. Keep up the good work.

[Shimano]

hi catseyes. Thanks for flagging up what you think could be side effects. Can’t help you I’m afraid. However, am having my usual dose of eylea quadrupled at my next injection. There will be no loading doses as I have tolerated the small dose well over the last five years. Change is because I can have extreme pain from injection. Be pleased to hear of any side effects from anyone who has also been moved from low to high dose. Hope your symptoms clear up soon. Sounds like you have had a lot on your plate recently.

[ANO_Health in reply to Shimano]

Shimano, I have had 16 injections of Eylea for Diabetic Retinopathy and was changed to Vabysmo because my condition was persisting. Then the higher dose of Eylea (quadruple the earlier one) showed promise and my ophthalmologist has changed me over to that.

I too suffer from extreme pain when given the injection in the eye, right from the start. No pain afterwards other than some discomfort for a day or two. I have numbing drops, then local anaesthetic injected (painless) before the medication is injected, and this helps tremendously. I do have a few seconds as the Eylea needle enters the eye, but nothing like before. I believe I am the 1 in 100 who feels pain when injected. Also, we had hoped my condition would settle down after 6-8 injections, but after 20 injections now my condition still persists. We are hoping the bigger dose of Eylea will means less frequent injections (extend from 5 weekly to 8 weekly or longer).

I wish you well.

(Australian Night Owl)

[Shimano in reply to ANO_Health]

Thanks so much for your response ANO. Your experience exactly parallels mine except latterly I was managing up to ten weeks between injections on the normal dose eylea. Excrutiating pain Was mainly in right eye, especially the inner corner. All the very best to you from Scotland.

[ANO_Health in reply to Shimano]

Thank you, Shimano. It is always good to know someone else with similar problems and their experience, especially when improvement is made. Best wishes for Christmas and the coming year.

[middlejoel]

changed to Vabysmo from Eyelea 2 years ago, no sneezing nor any other change, I use daily Refreh Tears for dry eyes.

[Catseyes235 in reply to middlejoel]

Good to know! Thanks

[Eyecloud]

I always get a runny nose on the side of the injection with Vabysmo, last about 24 hours. Could also be reaction to iodine?

[Catseyes235 in reply to Eyecloud]

Don’t have iodine now as after several years ended up reacting to it with swollen face, streaming eyes and nose! This new thing is ongoing. Maybe I shouldn’t disturb the dust or try and remove every last speck ! May get checked out at docs?

so you only get Vabysmo in one eye? I suppose that makes sense but I’m used to both eyes being treated at same time. I was told the criteria for having this done was both together as although a more expensive drug was cost effective in the long run!

[TDW1]

been having Vabysmo for over a year, no problems as you describe. I can only ne positive as I am now having injection every 14 weeks. Good luck

[Catseyes235 in reply to TDW1]

Thanks… sounds good although when I was on Eylea I got up to 17 weeks in right eye then no injections for 7 months until it returned!

[Weepie]

maybe it’s just a reaction to the irritants in the atmosphere this time of year. I’m blowing and sneezing too

[Catseyes235 in reply to Weepie]

More dusting needed??🤨😁

[Weepie in reply to Catseyes235]

You could well be right 😄

[Bluegreensea]

Hi Catseyes I use castor oil eye drops for dry eyes. Thoroughly recommend unless you wear contact lenses, perhaps. I put them in at night, and now don't even need to use for days, sometimes a couple of weeks. I use hexane-free.

[Catseyes235 in reply to Bluegreensea]

Hi Bluegreensea. Just been looking up castor oil eye drops…looks good! Can you tell me what make you use and would recommend as there are so many to choose from? Thanks