![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by golfgirl74 on October 20, 2004, at 14:08:01
Ever since I've been on 60mg of Cymbalta, my pupils are constantly dilated. This is affecting my vision, and my pdoc has no answer for it. Has this happened to anyone else?
Posted by jboud24 on October 20, 2004, at 15:00:33
In reply to Cymbalta---dilated pupils, posted by golfgirl74 on October 20, 2004, at 14:08:01
Yes, golfgirl, you are not alone. I too experienced the dilated pupils on SSRI's. Of the 4 I've taken (Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro, Zoloft), they dilated my pupils in this order of potency:
Paxil>Lexapro>>Celexa>Zoloft. Paxil also supposedly has a moderate affinity for the Norepinephrine transporter, although there is debate as to whether that effects is happening at the clinically relevant dosage range. If you've ever done any hallucinogen, all of which act primarily through the serotonin 2a receptor, you've probably had that same blurry vision problem. It is related to sympathetic nervous system stimulation, of which you are most likely experiencing to a greater degree than you would be on an SSRI. It's likely the dual increase in serotonin and norepinephrine that is causing your pupillary dilation. You can run into problems with this while being out in the sun, or, as you have stated, while focusing in on an object. My solution was to wear sun glasses, but I know that doesn't help you in relation to your blurred vision. I'm not sure what to tell you on that one, besides that you may or may not become desensitized to it over time.Good Luck,
Justin
Posted by crazychickuk on October 20, 2004, at 15:28:14
In reply to Re: Cymbalta---dilated pupils, posted by jboud24 on October 20, 2004, at 15:00:33
I experienced this on effexor yrs ago... most commons side affect..
Posted by Colleen D. on October 20, 2004, at 22:00:04
In reply to Cymbalta---dilated pupils, posted by golfgirl74 on October 20, 2004, at 14:08:01
My husband noticed this was happening to my eyes when I first started taking Effexor. My eyes were slightly more sensitive to bright light. Now, after 5 months, I have no problem with it.
Good luck!Colleen
PPD, GAD and OCD
Posted by boomarang on October 21, 2004, at 9:58:25
In reply to Re: Cymbalta---dilated pupils » golfgirl74, posted by Colleen D. on October 20, 2004, at 22:00:04
the sun is more blinding on cymbalta and my close reading has gone completely out of focus. i need glasses to read anything within a few feet of my face. almost scarey.
Posted by Ritch on October 21, 2004, at 10:58:33
In reply to Re: Cymbalta---dilated pupils, posted by boomarang on October 21, 2004, at 9:58:25
> the sun is more blinding on cymbalta and my close reading has gone completely out of focus. i need glasses to read anything within a few feet of my face. almost scarey.
The only AD I'm taking now is a very small dose of Cymbalta. When I started it I noticed my eyes were unusually glassy and red and vision was somewhat blurry (up close and far away). An eye exam showed my intraocular pressure was up from "13" to "16". The doc said that was still normal, but my vision had deteriorated from 20/20 last time to 20/30. I'm still taking it anyhow because I can tolerate it otherwise better than just about anything else.
Posted by Cecilia on October 22, 2004, at 4:44:55
In reply to Re: Cymbalta---dilated pupils, posted by Ritch on October 21, 2004, at 10:58:33
I also have the dilated pupils on Cymbalta and now blurry vision as well and I`ve only just (after 3 weeks) gotten up to 20 mg. It`s very scary. I hate this drug. Is it really just an expensive new tricyclic?-it seems to have the same side effects. The sweating and hot flashes and anxiety are bad enough, but vision problems really freak me out. I just hate to give up on it so soon-there`s nothing else left to try. Cecilia
Posted by Ritch on October 22, 2004, at 10:22:39
In reply to Re: Cymbalta---dilated pupils, posted by Cecilia on October 22, 2004, at 4:44:55
> I also have the dilated pupils on Cymbalta and now blurry vision as well and I`ve only just (after 3 weeks) gotten up to 20 mg. It`s very scary. I hate this drug. Is it really just an expensive new tricyclic?-it seems to have the same side effects. The sweating and hot flashes and anxiety are bad enough, but vision problems really freak me out. I just hate to give up on it so soon-there`s nothing else left to try. Cecilia
I know what you mean.. I had to reduce the dosage because it was too agitating for me, now I only get a light nausea, but the blurry vision is persisting (it's worse a few hours after dosing though). The positive benefits seem to be sticking though despite all that. My eye doctor didn't seem that concerned-they offered to change my prescription for my glasses! If it's any help I've gotten blurry vision from several meds, I think it is a relatively common side effect. I must admit that desipramine and Trileptal caused worse vision probs than this did.
Posted by yznhymer on October 22, 2004, at 11:09:11
In reply to Re: Cymbalta---dilated pupils, posted by Cecilia on October 22, 2004, at 4:44:55
> I also have the dilated pupils on Cymbalta and now blurry vision as well and I`ve only just (after 3 weeks) gotten up to 20 mg. It`s very scary. I hate this drug. Is it really just an expensive new tricyclic?-it seems to have the same side effects. The sweating and hot flashes and anxiety are bad enough, but vision problems really freak me out. I just hate to give up on it so soon-there`s nothing else left to try. Cecilia
Cecilia...
I am so sorry Cymbalta is not working out for you. I understand your distress at giving up on it so soon. I barely made it through two weeks with many of the same side effects you're experiencing plus anorgasmia. I agonized over discontinuing and still don't know if I did the right thing. Not only was I disappointed but I felt like a failure at some level. And that's why I want to thank you for your post. Somehow it helps me put the failure back on the chemistry and not me. It is a small consolation, I know, but on another level it's huge.
M
Posted by Cecilia on October 24, 2004, at 4:21:51
In reply to Re: Cymbalta---dilated pupils » Cecilia, posted by yznhymer on October 22, 2004, at 11:09:11
Yeah, you`re right it is the chemistry. But it`s just so hard to know how long to force yourself to try something. I`ve tried so many many antidepressants and most of them have had varying degrees of unpleasant side effects and none of them have worked. One thing I`ve definitely concluded, I don`t do well with norephinephrine, because I`m so anxious already. Yet some people are saying that Cymbalta actually makes them sleepy. One thing I know for sure is that clinical trials tell us virtually nothing about real world effects of these drugs. Because in a trial you`re only allowed in if you have just one problem, if the trial`s for depression, they won`t let you in if you`re also anxious and vice versa. In the real world, most of us have more than one problem. I think it`s scary that apparently a lot of people are being started on a brand new drug like Cymbalta as their 1st or 2nd AD. So many drugs are introduced with great fanfare and then recalled when bad effects are discovered. I suppose there`s probably a lot of money changing hands between drug reps and doctors. Cecilia
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.