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Questions about pupil dilation
still
catest |
Question about pupil
dilation
The
pupils being dilated (very large) is one very common sign of
meth use. But a lot of other things can cause it, too, like
medications. My son takes some psych meds and his pupils are
ALWAYS huge. When I started taking Wellbutrin, my pupils were
kind of dilated.
My question is, what else could cause it? I noticed mine are
slightly dilated, and I'm NOT USING. I've taken decongestants,
but I never noticed that effect before. It's nothing major, but
it makes me uncomfortable to think that I LOOK high when I'm NOT
(okay, it made me even MORE uneasy when I WAS high and trying to
hide it...).
Just curious. Thanks. I want to go to bed now. |
Replies... |
Ruby
y2zday |
Re: Question about pupil dilation
"If you've ever had a routine eye exam, you're familiar with the
eye drops that cause your pupils to open as wide as a cat's on a
night stalk. The extra dilation allows the doctor to get a good
look at the lens and retina inside your eyeball.
Your pupils can also widen from adrenaline medications such as
epinephrine and from commercial eye drops designed to "get the
red out," according to Rick Walters, O.D., optometrist at
Allentown Eye Associates in Pennsylvania. Many illegal drugs?
such as marijuana? can also dilate pupils.
"In general, if both eyes are dilated, it's usually a
drug-related rather than a disease-related problem," says Jason
Slakter, M.D., attending surgeon in the Department of
Ophthalmology at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. The
pupils will contract as the drug leaves the body, usually within
a day.
If only one pupil is dilated, however, you may have Adie's
syndrome, a condition in which one pupil contracts more slowly
than the other in response to light. It's usually caused either
by a malfunction in the mechanism that controls the dilation
reflex or from a harmless inflammation of the eye nerves.
More seriously, a single dilated pupil could indicate a brain
injury, stroke or tumor.
Symptom Relief
If just one pupil is larger than the other, see the doctor
immediately, says Dr. Slakter. "This is a case where a matter of
an hour or two could save your life," he says.
Review your medications. If both pupils remain dilated more than
a day, your physician should be able to pinpoint the medication
that may be causing the problem. Be sure to let him know about
any over-the-counter medicines or eye-care products that you are
using." |
forget
suzette |
Re: Question about pupil dilation
sex
If you look at your partner and think about him naked, it'll
dilate your pupils.
so will darkness. |
UCL
Angel |
Re: Question about pupil dilation
Well,
this falls under the category of "Things I Wish I Didn't Know
Something About, But Know Something About Anyway".
I found it out the hard, painful way.
Allow me to ramble, and I hope this helps
somebody........................
Pupil dilation is a symptom of meth use.
It can be a symptom of other meds too, such as antihistamines
like Benadryl, or Clarinex. Psych meds such as Risperdal or
Seroquel can cause it, but when the person is taking those, they
are usually also very sleepy and sedated, not spun and tweaking.
Wellbutrin and other antidepressants can cause episodes of mania
in bipolar individuals, along with pupil dilation, BUT,...with
meth use and dilated pupils, there is one hallmark difference:
Not only do meth users get the dilated pupils, but there is a
co-symptom that happens from smoking it or snorting it that
gives it away.
I've forgotten what causes this medically, and I don't know if I
ever knew the term for it, but, there is a certain temporary
facial-nerve affectation that happens when they smoke it or
snort it and lasts for a few hours...a sort of slight "numbing"
of the superficial muscles and skin in the cheeks, eyes and area
around the upper lip and nose area.
So they not only get the DILATED PUPILS, but also THEY APPEAR TO
HAVE WIDER, MORE OPENED EYES, almost zombie-like, staring...THEY
DON'T MOVE THEIR UPPER LIP MUCH WHEN THEY SPEAK, AND THEY RARELY
SMILE OR SHOW EMOTION.
So you will notice when you talk with someone who has just
smoked or snorted meth, that they appear to have sort of "The
Overly Botoxed Look",...kind of neutral, emotionless, eyes wide.
And because the facial muscles become slightly fixed into this
position as the familiar "compulsive meth jaw grinding" kicks in
to tighten the muscles, the meth user's face appears to be
thinner, more elongated, as though the cheeks were slightly more
hollowed.
And that's how you tell. It's similar in physical resemblance to
the "flat effect" so many schizophrenics display. And when you
see it in the face of someone you love, it is horrible
proof-positive they've been hitting the pipe or the straw.
It's sad that we learn to look for those things, but, the whole
damn thing is sad...the drug, it's lethal effects, it's users'
denial systems, and the way all our lives have been ruptured. |
Ruby
y2zday |
Re: Question about pupil dilation
True Suz!
Dilation is a sign of arousal! |
mtgl
7771 |
Re: Question about pupil dilation
That is
one thing I noticed on my husband is his eyes. Not only did they
lack emotion or joy like before but they appeared rounder and
wider as if he was scared. His appearance totally changed. too
bad he was a very good-looking guy. |
a2a
home |
Re: Question about pupil dilation
Traumatic
injuries can cause permanent damage in the eyes too. I had a
bungee cord snap me in the eye, and that eye always has been
dilated a bit more now. When I use or get real tired it gets
dilated real wide. |
See also:
What does constricted pupil or pupil dilation mean?
Dilated Pupils and Methamphetamine Use
Dilated pupils not using drugs?
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