why does my right pupil dilate when i take antidepressants?
138520
Zoloft and Effexor both are known for causing side effects in a lot of people.  I don't know about Tofranil, but I would ask the doctor and the pharmacist if they know why your pupil dialated & if they have ever heard of it happening on anti-depressant.
743423
It would help to understand how the medication works on your brain, which will give you some resolve in why it's not good to miss doses. \n\nLexapro is part of the SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) group of antidepressants, the most selective for cases of major depression.  The drug works by keeping the neurotransmitter Serotonin, in your brain longer, instead of naturally returning to it's storage bins in your brain for later use, thus lessoning your depression.\n\nSerotonin is believed to play an important role in the regulation of body temperature, mood, sleep, emesis (vomiting), sexuality and appetite. Low levels of Serotonin have been associated with several disorders, notably depression, migraine, bipolar disorder and anxiety.\n\nRegulating your Serotonin is a complex process that occurs in your brain via SSRI's.  Naturally, you'll start to feel better over time, as the Serotonin stays in your brain longer and your brain will become acustomed to this, building a dependancy.  When stoping an antidepressant, your Dr. will create a discontinuation schedule and may counter the withdrawal effects with other drugs.\n\nSince your brain has become acustomed to the medication, stoping abruptly will cause problems.  Some of these problems are \n\nSSRI discontinutation Syndrome.\nhttp://bipolar.about.com/cs/antidep/a/0207_ssridisc1.htm\n\nBrain Shivers;\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_shiver\n\nand essentially, feeling even more depressed then you were prior to taking the medication.\n\nMost antidepressants develop some sort of dependancy.\n\nThere is currently no generic for Lexapro and there won't be one until the patent expires.\n\nMed compliance is a huge issue for patients suffering with psychiatric disorders.  You should always follow your Dr's advice and inform them of any changes in medication you have made voluntarily so that they can keep you out of harms way.\n\ngood luck
265376
I think Zoloft may cause dry eyes, but what bothers me more is the dry mouth.  Do you have that, too?  Your probably should double check with your doctor, though, in case there's some other reason.
361544
I'm taking antidepressants that are helping to control the symptoms and I'm having counseling with a qualified psychologist to get to the root cause.  Both are working really well, but it is a hard slog.\nGet a good sympathetic doctor and a good psychologist you will be amazed at how they can work.\n\nYou need to know that anti depressants don't make you feel "HAPPY" they just balance out the chemicals that aren't working right and then you can do the work you need to do to fix the problem.  Also they take a while to work.  You need to be aware that not all anti depressants work on all people.  If you're not happy with the first lot go back and talk to your doctor until you get the type and dose right for you.\n\nGood Luck!  You can beat it.
44762
I experienced something similar to the 'static shocks' that you are speaking of. When trying to stop taking the anti-anxiety/anti-depressant drug Effexor XR I experienced HORRIBLE withdrawal side effects, including something I likened to a 'shock' or..when you hit your elbow/funny bone and the jolt that goes through your arm...in your whole body! My mother also just stopped taking this, and she described the same things. A good question might be when do these occur? The frequency and any possible common denominators might help you to figure out what is causing this. Are you currently taking any medications, or have stopped them? See if these suggestions help!
588860
I was having them daily for a while about a year ago. At first I had no idea what was going on I thought I was going blind or something. The worst part about it is how fatigued you feel. It also causes serious issues with driving when you frequently have ocular migraines. I talked to an optometrist and found out extended amounts of physical activity can trigger an ocular migraine. I have since toned down my work out and haven't had an ocular migraine since.
5779
Well if the pupils ares dilating normally it doesnt seem like it would be a big cause for concern. They should get smaller when in bright lights. ANd get bigger when the light is taken away. If the reaction seems slow take the baby to the eye doctor asap.
612259
i have been taking anti-depressants for the last 2 1/2 years or so, mostly zoloft, and paxil for a short while. i began to experience teeth grinding/jaw clenching soon after i initially started on the anti-depressants. i have since been diagnosed with tmj. no surgery has been required yet, but i am wearing through the mouthguard something fearsome, and am still in pain. i have since quit the anti-depressants all together. a class action suit might be a good idea.
978590
Maybe get it checked out by an optician.  If your pupils are dilated in strong sunlight you could be getting damage to the inside oif the eye...;
127570
When you shine a bright light into the eye, the pupil constricts (gets smaller).  The pupil dilates in dim light.  Think about it like this:  if it's dark outside, your eye wants to get as much light as it can, so the pupil gets bigger to let more light back to the retina.  When it's bright out, the pupil doesn't have to be as big to get enough light to the retina.
816512
It is not so important how you feel without your glasses on but how your eyes feel with your glasses on.\nDepending on the reason for your need of glasses to begin with may explain why you are experiencing what you describe.\nYour glasses are probably getting your vision in order and when you take the glasses off you are probably experiencing the actual problem that was the cause for your need for glasses.\nYou never noticed it before you got your glasses,you were use to the way your eyes felt and how you were seeing.\nThe headaches are probably caused by the fact that your vision isn't being corrected when you take your glasses off and your eyes are trying on their own to correct themselves to the proper "alignment" as prompted by the glasses.\nYou can take your glasses back and have them read to see if the prescription is correct but I betcha it is and all of this is your getting use to better vision and getting adjusted to it.
197429
i never took it (but am looking into it) but this just occured to me, some of the antidepressants i've been on caused me to be hungrier than normal, which obviously made me eat more... do you notice that you've been eating more since you've been on it? sorry if this didn't help, sometimes those things just don't cross your mind though...\nwish i could be more help!
580052
get to a doctor, don't screw around with it.  the verge of tear and sleeping could signal depression or as you say a hormone swing, but you need to know so the dosage can be adjusted properly.
786858
Talk to your doctor if you can.  St. John's Wort is a natural herbal remedy and there are other natural herbs that are supposed to help, I'm not sure if they really do.  I felt the exact same way as you.  I took a couple of different anti-deppresants.  Although I did feel better, I felt apathetic & emotionless, like I didn't care about anything. My school work definitely surfered from it because I just didn't care if I did well or not.  I stopped taking anti-depressants because I would rather feel sad than feel nothing at all.   So antidepressants aren't always the best.  Try an herbal remedy or trying to changes omething in your life (exercise releases natural hormones that make you feel good, or get a fun job, hobby, club, sport - sometimes these things can make a big difference)
1011972
Usually, people who get "serotonin syndrome" from having too much serotonin in their system are taking 2-3 different SSRI type antidepressants *and also* using supplements in their diet too to boost their 5-HTP levels, but...yeah, it happens....\n\nMild version: light fever, nasty headache, sleeplessness, nausea.\n\nNasty version: Fever, blinding headache, vomiting, diarrhea, spasms, seizures, losing consciousness and/or becoming delirious...\n\nIt's no joke, which is why you want to keep your doctor and/or counselor informed about *everything* right down to the last aspirin, that you put in your body when on SSRIs....
294340
Anti-depressant medications work like SSRIs.  Probably cognitive and behavioral therapy are used too.
610125
Effexor made my vision blurry.  I'd rather be depressed than not be able to see.