Changing Injection Medications

By Sharrnel

1 min read

I have been having injections in both eyes for over a year now.

I am told that the leaking has stopped and if I wanted to I could switch to another medication to extend my visits. At first, I thought OK, but then I started thinking about it. If my eyes are doing fine with this medication why switch? Just to get another week between visits?

Right now I am doing 7 weeks, this new medication would allow me to go 8 weeks. I don’t know if this is a natural process to switch medications and do they do this sort of thing all the time. What are your thoughts?

Have you switched injection medications before?

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Sharon Moore Moderator
<inline-mention username="Sharrnel" user-id="4524103"/> it’s wonderful the leaking has stopped and the time has extended to 7 weeks. I don’t know what medication your doctor wants to change to. A new medication Vabysmo is being used and some are extending to 12 weeks over time. Wishing you all the best going forward. Sharon Moore Patient Leader
Sharrnel Member
This is an update from my previous posting about switching medication’s to extend office visits. I think I misunderstood some of what my dr said. He clarified to me that it doesn’t matter what medication you are on, you can extend the time between visits. So I decided to stay with the medication I was on, which is Avastin. My next visit, I will have a dye test done. If that shows no leakage at all and confirms what the doctor sees in my previous photos, then I can start extending one week at a time. Sharon
1. Brown Eyed Girl Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Sharrnel" user-id="4524103"/> it's good to hear that you have a bit more clarity now about your treatment. I hope your tests go well at the next appointment and that you can extend the time between injections. Please let us know how you go. Best wishes, Wendy, Patient Leader.
CommunityMember33bea1 Member
I understand the doctor said the time between injections could be extended. When my husband extended the time he had a leak and then it was too late, some vision had been lost. So if it’s working why do they want to extend injections and risk a bleed???
1. Sharrnel Member
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember33bea1" user-id="4571022"/> Oh my, I am so sorry for your husband. I think people don’t want to have to go to the dr so often so they extend their visits if your eyes are stable. Myself included. You certainly gave me something to think about. I’m going to talk to my dr about that on my next visit. 
2. Brown Eyed Girl Moderator
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember33bea1" user-id="4571022"/> I'm so sorry to hear your husband lost some sight by extending the time between his injections. I think studies have shown that some people drop out of treatment if the time, effort and cost become too onerous. That may be one of the reasons doctors try the treat and extend method. I hope his sight remains steady from now on. Best wishes, Wendy, Patient Leader.

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