Key takeaways

  • The more common side effects of Xiidra are eye irritation, metallic or bad taste in the mouth, and reduced visual acuity (sharpness of vision).
  • Mild side effects include eye redness, increased tear production, eye discharge, eye itching or discomfort, and headache.
  • While allergic reactions weren’t seen in studies, they have been reported after the drug became available. Symptoms can be mild (such as skin rash and itching). Or they could be serious (such as swelling or difficulty breathing) and require immediate medical attention.

Doctors prescribe Xiidra eye drops to treat dry eye disease in adults and some children. It’s usually used long term to treat the symptoms of this condition. Dry eye disease symptoms can include:

  • dryness
  • stinging
  • burning
  • pain
  • itching
  • feeling like you have something in your eye

Like other drugs, Xiidra can cause mild to serious side effects (also called adverse effects). Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Xiidra can cause.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their Xiidra treatment. The more common side effects include:

  • eye irritation
  • metallic or bad taste in your mouth
  • reduced visual acuity (sharpness of vision)

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

To learn more about reduced visual acuity, see the “Frequently asked questions about Xiidra side effects” section (“Does Xiidra cause any long-term side effects?”).

Xiidra may cause mild side effects in some people. See the drug’s prescribing information for details on all of these side effects.

Examples of mild side effects reported with this drug include:

  • eye irritation
  • eye redness
  • producing more tears than usual
  • eye discharge
  • eye itching or discomfort
  • headache
  • metallic or bad taste in your mouth
  • blurred vision
  • sinusitis (sinus infection)
  • mild allergic reaction
  • reduced visual acuity (sharpness of vision)

Usually, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily manageable. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop using Xiidra unless your doctor recommends it.

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

To learn more about reduced visual acuity, see the “Frequently asked questions about Xiidra side effects” section (“Does Xiidra cause any long-term side effects?”).

Xiidra doesn’t usually cause serious side effects. But it might cause severe allergic reaction, although there were no reports of this in studies.

If you develop serious side effects during Xiidra treatment, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911. Or call your local emergency number.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone. It gives doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Xiidra, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Xiidra can cause an allergic reaction. This side effect wasn’t seen in studies but was reported after the drug came on the market.

Symptoms can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it difficult to breathe
  • swelling of your eyes

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. Examples include:

  • an oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to Xiidra, they’ll decide whether you should continue using it.

Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling or difficulty breathing. If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

Your doctor can confirm whether you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Xiidra. If you have, they may switch you to a different treatment.

Xiidra helps treat dry eye disease in adults and children ages 17 years and older. The possible side effects of the drug are expected to be the same in children and adults.

Learn more about some of the side effects Xiidra may cause.

Blurred vision

Blurred vision was one of the less common side effects reported in people who used Xiidra in studies. This side effect may occur when you apply the drops, but it should go away shortly afterward.

What might help

If your blurred vision doesn’t go away, talk with your doctor. They may recommend an eye exam to check your vision. They can also advise on whether you should continue using Xiidra.

Metallic or bad taste in your mouth

In Xiidra’s studies, one of the more common side effects was taste changes. This side effect may cause certain foods to taste bad or bitter. Or it may cause a metallic or unusual taste in your mouth.

What might help

Maintaining proper dental hygiene or brushing more frequently may help make the “off” taste in your mouth less noticeable. Some other tips to try include:

  • limiting alcohol intake
  • chewing sugar-free gum
  • sucking on mints or lozenges
  • drinking plenty of water
  • adding lemon to your water

If this side effect bothers you, talk with your doctor. They may recommend a different treatment for dry eye disease instead.

Headache

Xiidra may cause headache as a side effect. Headache was reported as a side effect in the drug’s studies, but it wasn’t common.

What might help

Headaches usually go away within a few hours. Try to rest if you can. It can also be helpful to take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Sinusitis

Sinusitis (sinus infection) is a possible side effect of Xiidra. It’s one of the less common side effects reported by people in the drug’s studies.

Symptoms of sinusitis may include:

What might help

Sometimes, sinusitis goes away on its own. OTC treatments are available to help ease your symptoms. These include saline nasal rinses and steroid nasal sprays, such as fluticasone (Flonase).

Talk with your doctor if you think you have a sinus infection. It’s possible you may need an antibiotic prescription medication to treat this condition.

Is Xiidra a steroid?

No, Xiidra is not a steroid medication. It belongs to the drug group called lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 antagonists.

What are the side effects of Xiidra vs. Restasis?

Xiidra and Restasis are available by prescription. They treat chronic dry eye (also called dry eye disease) in adults and some children.

Both medications have some common side effects and some unique side effects. Learn more about how the side effects compare in this Xiidra vs. Restasis article.

Is hair loss a side effect of Xiidra?

No, hair loss wasn’t a side effect seen in studies of Xiidra.

Older research suggests a link between dry eye disease and alopecia areata (AA), a condition that causes hair loss. It’s thought that the inflammation involved in AA may trigger dry eye disease, or vice versa, in some people.

If you are concerned about hair loss, talk with your doctor. They can help identify the cause and suggest ways to manage it.

Does Xiidra cause any long-term side effects?

Xiidra isn’t known to cause any serious long-term side effects. Most of the side effects reported in the drug’s studies were temporary and went away on their own.

But one side effect of Xiidra that may affect you long term is reduced visual acuity (sharpness of vision). An eye exam determines how well you can see details from a certain distance, which is your visual acuity. Eye doctors often use letter charts to measure a person’s visual acuity. For example, having “20/20” vision means you can see the letters clearly when you’re 20 feet from the chart.

People using Xiidra in studies commonly reported reduced visual acuity. But vision can be corrected with glasses, contacts, or surgery. If you have reduced visual acuity, your eye doctor can check your vision and recommend the best way to correct it.

If you develop side effects that bother you or seem severe while using Xiidra, tell your doctor. They can recommend whether you should continue using the eye drops.

Could I get a sore throat from using Xiidra?

It’s possible. In studies, a small percentage of people had sinusitis (a sinus infection) during Xiidra treatment. And sinusitis may cause a sore throat, among other symptoms.

To learn more about sinusitis as a side effect of Xiidra, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Can Xiidra cause diarrhea?

No, it shouldn’t. Diarrhea wasn’t reported in studies of Xiidra. Since Xiidra is an eye drop, it’s not expected to affect your digestion or cause stomach upset.

A rumor claims that swallowing eye drops containing the drug tetrahydrozoline (such as Visine and Clear Eyes) may cause diarrhea. While this rumor isn’t true, ingesting eye drops is known to be dangerous and may cause harmful effects, especially in young children.

Xiidra is meant only for use in the eye. All medications, including eye drops, should be stored out of reach of children and pets.

If you have diarrhea that bothers you or seems severe, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to treat it.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Xiidra treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were using when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Xiidra affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Xiidra may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. (This is known as a drug-condition interaction.) Other factors may also affect whether this drug is a good treatment option for you. Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Xiidra. Factors to consider include those described here.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to Xiidra or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe it for you. Ask them about other medications that might be better options.

Alcohol consumption: Xiidra should not interact with alcohol. If you have questions about drinking alcohol while using Xiidra, talk with your doctor.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding:It is not known whether Xiidra treatment is safe during pregnancy. Researchers haven’t studied the drug in pregnant people.

Xiidra isn’t expected to affect breast milk or a breastfed child. This is because the drug is an eye drop and works in your eye. Not much of it absorbs into your blood, so it likely wouldn’t pass into breast milk. But this is not known for certain because researchers haven’t studied it.

Before using Xiidra, talk with your doctor if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or considering either.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.