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sore eyes

Hi to all, just wondering if anyone has experienced very sore, red, itchy eyes. I am currently on Nilotonib & taking steroids to counteract red itchy flushed skin. I've had painfull eyes for 2 weeks now I saw my GP today who has made an appointment for me to go to opthalmics tomorrow am. She, understandably wants my eyes looked at properly & thinks they may prescribe steroid eye drops. More steroids. Any advice as they are so sore.
thanks.

Hi Ali,
you could try and eyebath with a Homeopathic preparation called HyperCal Mother Tincture. Mix of hypericum and calendula flowers so nothing chemical.
2-3 drops in warm water has a very good healing effect on red and/or sore eyes. I wear contact lenses and use it all the time. It is a great all round topical remedy and I used it as a mouth wash and gargle throughout my sct. The transplant team were amazed that I did not develop mouth ulcers or infections during my transplant. It is totally safe to use with any therapy for CML (or any other condition actually)

If you do not have a homeopathic chemist near, you can order over the phone from Ainsworth's Homeopathic Pharmacy in London.
www.ainsworths.com

Sandy

Sandy, thanks for your mail. Just a quick question... isnt hypericum another name for St Johns wort? Anyhow, I have just placed an order so hope it helps. Eye hopsital today says that its due to the Nilotinib causing dry inflamed eyes.The whites of my eyes are pitted causing the pain. Drops every 2 hours & ointment. On Glivec my eyes were puffy & very watery, now the opposite.I must admit Im a bit fed up with the side effects of CML & the drugs and trying to reduce the steroids again over the last week has cause my skin the bubble up again. My results are all good which is great, its just the other bits, in & out of hospital for bloods 4 weekly and now every 2 weeks at the eye hospital. Might just as well take my bed & stay there.
Thanks for your advice, I'll let you know if it works! Hope so.
Ali

Hi Ali,

Yes, Hypericum is the botanical name for St John's Wort and should not be taken internally with imatinib as it has the effect of decreasing the bioavailability of the drug.

imatinib/Glivec:
Avoid intake of St. John's Wort herbal teas/tabs etc. if taking Tyrosine kinase inhibitors like Imatinib(Gleevec/Glivec) which is 3A4 substrate, as decreased drug bioavailability has been demonstrated.

However, homeopathic preparations have tiny amounts of the active ingredients and HyperCal used as an eyebath or topical remedy (not injested) will not cause any such interactions.

Hope it helps.... remember to use just 2-3 drops in a small amount of warm water (as hot as you can stand) as it seems to work better that way. Use as often as you need.
You could also try it on your itchy rash... just soak some cotton wool and apply to your skin, then leave to dry. It might help and will certainly do not harm.
Things will resolve in time and you will feel better ;o)
Good luck...
Sandy