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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tina on February 28, 2003, at 8:14:49
Hey all
I was just wondering if anyone else experiences uncontrollable pupil dilation on AD's?
My pupils are huge, every morning, and it takes about an hour before they respond normally.
Anyone else or should I be really worried about this??
thanks
tina
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 28, 2003, at 8:38:46
In reply to Pupil dilation......a little scary...help??, posted by tina on February 28, 2003, at 8:14:49
> My pupils are huge, every morning, and it takes about an hour before they respond normally.
-------------------Mine seem much wider in the morning, too, but I've usually ascribed it to the lower light levels in my apartment. Do you feel unusual as well? I wouldn't worry about it too much.
Posted by IsoM on February 28, 2003, at 10:49:02
In reply to Pupil dilation......a little scary...help??, posted by tina on February 28, 2003, at 8:14:49
I've been told that my pupils look larger than normal in dim light indoors, but it;s no problem for me. Even with adequate vitaminA intake, my night vision isn't as good as it once was. Maybe ADs & our pupils trying to compensate?
Posted by fachad on February 28, 2003, at 11:55:22
In reply to Pupil dilation......a little scary...help??, posted by tina on February 28, 2003, at 8:14:49
I think cholenergic neurons mediate pupil diliation and constriction.
Maybe if the AD you are taking has anticholenergic effects the pupil diliation could be from cholenergic blockade or cholenergic rebound when blood levels drop.
> Hey all
> I was just wondering if anyone else experiences uncontrollable pupil dilation on AD's?
> My pupils are huge, every morning, and it takes about an hour before they respond normally.
> Anyone else or should I be really worried about this??
> thanks
> tina
Posted by KrissyP on February 28, 2003, at 12:12:49
In reply to Pupil dilation......a little scary...help??, posted by tina on February 28, 2003, at 8:14:49
Yes, I experienced this when I was on Prozac-man that med made me puff up, gain weight, and in the morning I couldn't see the color of my eyes because the pupils were so dialated-must be something from the chemical make-up. I would talk to your doctor.
Hope this helped a little?
KristenHey all
I was just wondering if anyone else experiences uncontrollable pupil dilation on AD's?
My pupils are huge, every morning, and it takes about an hour before they respond normally.
Anyone else or should I be really worried about this??
thanks
tina
Posted by tina on February 28, 2003, at 14:53:53
In reply to Re: Pupil dilation......a little scary...help?? » tina, posted by KrissyP on February 28, 2003, at 12:12:49
I'm on the "AD from Hell" Effexor XR. I take 75 mgs at night. It's not just that the pupils are big, it's that I can't see and I feel very dizzy and disoriented. I also get headaches centred in my forehead area. It happened while I was at work today and I was walking into things and tripping on displays. It's very disorienting. It's also that the pupils don't respond in the morning. I can shine a bright light on them and they don't grow smaller like they are supposed to. I am freaking a little because blurred vision brings out the clausterphobic in me.
SO, you are all saying that it's happened before with some medications? So, it could be the Effexor and I don't have some kind of disease or tumor?
I have a doc appt on tuesday hoping she'll know what's what or send me to someone who does.
thanks for the replies.
tina
Posted by NikkiT2 on February 28, 2003, at 15:42:41
In reply to Re: Pupil dilation......Everybody, posted by tina on February 28, 2003, at 14:53:53
What you describe Tina really does sound like Effexor start up.. I had almost the same symptoms.. but they passed in a few weeks..
Nikki
Posted by KrissyP on February 28, 2003, at 16:45:53
In reply to Re: Pupil dilation......Everybody, posted by tina on February 28, 2003, at 14:53:53
Wow! I am sorry to hear this. How long have you been on Effexor-XR, may I ask? I know medications affect all of us differently and it could be that you are obviously experiencing one of the many side effects that are required to be listed for any medication by the FDA.****Also, I had those "headaches centered in my forehead" on several occasions, with about 2 different psych meds. I'm worried about you,your doctor is the one you need to tell and I am glad you are seeing her Tuesday, feel free to post if you need support from me. All the best!
Kristen
I also get headaches centred in my forehead area. It happened while I was at work today and I was walking into things and tripping on displays. It's very disorienting. It's also that the pupils don't respond in the morning. I can shine a bright light on them and they don't grow smaller like they are supposed to. I am freaking a little because blurred vision brings out the clausterphobic in me.
> SO, you are all saying that it's happened before with some medications? So, it could be the Effexor and I don't have some kind of disease or tumor?
> I have a doc appt on tuesday hoping she'll know what's what or send me to someone who does.
> thanks for the replies.
> tina
Posted by fairnymph on February 28, 2003, at 19:22:31
In reply to Pupil dilation......a little scary...help??, posted by tina on February 28, 2003, at 8:14:49
This is totally normal, and not something you should worry about.
Personally I think dilated pupils look beautiful -- big and dark! :)
Posted by KrissyP on February 28, 2003, at 19:51:24
In reply to Re: Pupil dilation......a little scary...help?? » tina, posted by fairnymph on February 28, 2003, at 19:22:31
Ya know, I kinda wanted to say that-thanks for saying it. I agree:) Please don't worry if you have a tumor or something. I have had meds affect my vision-I get "spots" sometimes and it is more annoying than anything. After all, don't they say "the eyes are the window to the soul"??
There ya go then. :0)
Kristen
*************************************************
This is totally normal, and not something you should worry about.
Personally I think dilated pupils look beautiful -- big and dark! :)
Posted by Patient on March 1, 2003, at 17:11:46
In reply to Pupil dilation......a little scary...help??, posted by tina on February 28, 2003, at 8:14:49
Hi,
Fachad was right. I wouldn't let it scare you. It is more than likely an anticholinergic effect from the drug.
Read below post about unable to urinate.
I would also recommend a vitamin B complex, with at least a 50 mg ratio of the major vitamin Bs. B vitamins work best when taken together and with a meal, except for singlular vitamin B12 which should be taken on an empty stomach, or better yet, try a sublingual form of B 12 for better absorption.
The royal jelly is also a great idea since it contains a good amount of vitamin B complex as well as pure acetylcholine.
Posted by Patient on March 3, 2003, at 6:40:04
In reply to Re: Pupil dilation...a little scary...help?? » tina, posted by Patient on March 1, 2003, at 17:11:46
Well, I got it mixed up. Wrong. Not an anticholinergic effect but more so an adrenergic effect (drugs that increase norepinephrine). This especially occurs with drugs like Effexor and Wellbutrin, as they both increase norepinephrine. The SSRI's too increase norepinephrine, but at much smaller degrees as to not warrant them adrenergic-type drugs, such as Prozac as well as Zoloft. It is also from SSRI's, as well as other drug's action on muscarinic receptors.
I'd still take a B-complex as it helps over-all with neurotransmitter system health. Brewer's yeast or nutritional yeast may help as well, since it contains all of the essential amino-acids which are important for brain health. I wouldn't worry about it though, as long as it does not occur while you are outside, otherwise a hat and proper sunglasses would be helpful to prevent any possible radiation damage. It sounds like it goes away in the morning, so there's no need to worry.
Posted by tina on March 3, 2003, at 8:55:40
In reply to Re: Pupil dilation......Everybody » tina, posted by NikkiT2 on February 28, 2003, at 15:42:41
I've been on the Effexor only 3 weeks and I'm still at 37.5mgs. I tried to go up to 75 this past thursday but I just couldn't take it. My brain fried out and I had to work....jeez. What I mean by fried out is that I didn't know where I was, my speech was slurred, my pupils went huge over and over again and I couldn't focus on anything so driving was a treat, and I couldn't think or function like a human. I was more like an egg on the sidewalk in Phoenix in july. F-R-I-E-D!
I hate this stuff. It takes away the suicidal thoughts and depression but the extra anxiety and fuzzed out head and other side effects don't seem worth it so far......I don't get any sleep!
I'll let you know what the doc says tomorrow.
thank you for all the advice and information.
tina
Posted by KrissyP on March 3, 2003, at 15:44:37
In reply to Re: Pupil dilation......Everybody, posted by tina on March 3, 2003, at 8:55:40
Tina, please give it time. It sounds like it is helping you, the feelings that you are experiencing should subside-but obviously your doc is the one to talk to-I'm glad you are seeing her. Please let us know what happens:-)
Talk to your doc about Cogentin-a med used to help the side effects-maybe until you get used to the Effexor Cogentin will help-just a thought.
I just hate to see something that IS working for you as YOU say here-have to be stopped because of some horrible, and understandably so, side effects that are unbearable for you. Give it a try-you are worth it!:-)
I wish you the best. Hope to hear how it goes.
Kristen
I've been on the Effexor only 3 weeks and I'm still at 37.5mgs. I tried to go up to 75 this past thursday but I just couldn't take it. My brain fried out and I had to work....jeez. What I mean by fried out is that I didn't know where I was, my speech was slurred, my pupils went huge over and over again and I couldn't focus on anything so driving was a treat, and I couldn't think or function like a human. I was more like an egg on the sidewalk in Phoenix in july. F-R-I-E-D!
I hate this stuff. It takes away the suicidal thoughts and depression but the extra anxiety and fuzzed out head and other side effects don't seem worth it so far......I don't get any sleep!
I'll let you know what the doc says tomorrow.
thank you for all the advice and information.
tina
This is the end of the thread.
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