Itchy Eyes with Discharge on Ibrance/Faslodex

[MyMiracle13]

Hi. I’ve been on Ibrance/Faslodex for 11 cycles now and have recently been experiencing itchy, watery eyes with some discharge. Has anyone experienced this as a side effect while on Ibrance/Faslodex? Or is this an allergic reaction? If so, what medication did you take to alleviate it? Also, the longer I am on Ibrance (125 mg) the more side effects I am experiencing. I have more hair thinning, my skin is getting drier and “thinner” (more prone to scratches) and the watery and itchy eyes. My ANC is also getting lower so I am considering asking my onc for lower dosage. Alternative is to do the 5/2 dosing.

Your thoughts and suggestions?

Maria

[mariootsi]

My eyes are itchy and runny. Don't know if it is the Ibrance or allergies.

I use over the counter eye drops and they seem to help!

[MyMiracle13 in reply to mariootsi]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I will have to live with this side effect while I am on Ibrance. I’ve just bought eye drops and will try them out.

[Julie2233]

A common side effect of the meds is dry eyes, it has a medical term but I can't remember what it's called.

Tears are made up of different substances including a fatty liquid which is produced by glands along the edge of the eyelids. If these glands become blocked the eyes start producing more of the other liquids to compensate, which make the eyes watery but not lubricated. The same happens when you spend too much time looking at a screen without sufficient blinking.

The eyes are watery but feel gritty and irritated. My optometrist has suggested a heated eye mask followed by massage of the eyelids to open the glands. And an eye lubricant that does not contain preservative, that is very important. Eye lubricant with preservative can irritate the eyes more and make things worse.

Hope this helps with your eye discomfort 🙂

[MyMiracle13 in reply to Julie2233]

Thanks very much for the explanation and suggestion Julie. Do you have a particular brand of eye drops you use that has no preservative? I’ve just bought an over the counter one before I read your post and I don’t know if it contains preservative.

[Julie2233 in reply to MyMiracle13]

I use theoloz duo or lubristil. If they are preservative free it will say on the packaging. And if you are in the uk your gp can prescribe preservative free eye drops, and of course your prescriptions should be free of charge following your cancer diagnosis.

[MyMiracle13 in reply to Julie2233]

Hello Julie. Unfortunately I don’t live in the UK. I live in the Philippines but because Ibrance is not yet available here, I buy my Ibrance from Malaysia. I will look for those 2 brands of eye drops in Malaysia or Singapore. I am seeing my onc tomorrow and I will ask him about the eye drops. Many thanks for the information.

[LouisaMay]

My eyes were so irritated and dry that I actually went for an eye test to make sure my cancer hadn't metastasised to my eyeballs! It hasn't thankfully! I find a twice daily salt water eye-bath helps enormously.

[Klamato]

I, too am on the same regime. I have constant watery eyes, itching eyes and dry skin. My hair was thinning, but now it is plain brittle, and almost like I had a perm texture! I have tried several types of eye drops, but nothing seems to work. I guess I can’t complain, since I have very few side effects from the drugs I’m taking! It is annoying, but so far it’s keeping the cancer at bay, so I think it’s worth it. Good luck with everything! If you learn more, please let me know, kathy

[pattila in reply to Klamato]

I was switched from Ibrance 125 mg to 100 mg. That definitely stopped the bloody nose (when blowing nose) and the tiredness. The hair loss really can’t be helped much. I take Biotin 10,000 mg daily and I’ve had some thin regrowth. I did buy a hairpiece as well.

The watery eyes and itchy lids have improved using artificial tears to reduce watery eyes. I know, it sounds like an oxymoron, but my UCLA ophthalmologist said the watery eyes are due to dry eyes, and that body is reacting by overproduction of tears. I’m using “Systane, Long lasting dry eye relief”for lubrication and “Eye Itch Relief” for itchy eyelids. It has helped alot! I hope that helps you.