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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Anna laura on November 9, 2001, at 8:13:44
I've got this problem: when i turn my head from left to right and viceversa, i get visual distortions (objects and persons seem to "bend").
I've been suffering from these curious visual distortions for a year by now;
It started during my last bout of depression last year (major episode over dhysthymia); i eventually recovered from the major episode (came back to my old dhysthmya) by the end of January of the current year, but the symptoms persisted; I talked to a bunch of doctors about it, but nobody seems to have a clue. I've been searching on the net too and didn't find anything resembling this strange discomfort. I'm starting to doubt it might be caused by a medical condition ( i hope not).Any input will be appreciated
Posted by Lorraine on November 9, 2001, at 9:23:53
In reply to Curved vision : any clues?, posted by Anna laura on November 9, 2001, at 8:13:44
I get very bizarre side effects from ADs, especially Wellbutrin and Nardil. With Wellbutrin when I entered a light room from darkness the whole room dance for me with light bogging this way and that and I had visual trails. On Nardil, I had very wierd visual things, like when I take my reading glasses off a horizontal line remains across my vision where the rim of the glasses were for maybe 1/2 hour to 45 minutes. Plus the bottom filed of my vision seems to be cut off.
I saw an opthamologist (both times) and she looked it up in her book (Opthamolic side effects of psychotropic medications) and found the side effects lists so that plus the physical exam told me not to worry (the effects were noted to be reversible on stopping the med). It just became a question of whether the effects were tolerable and safe for say driving. You might go see a good opthamologist and ask about this--bring your meds.
Lorraine> I've got this problem: when i turn my head from left to right and viceversa, i get visual distortions (objects and persons seem to "bend").
> I've been suffering from these curious visual distortions for a year by now;
> It started during my last bout of depression last year (major episode over dhysthymia); i eventually recovered from the major episode (came back to my old dhysthmya) by the end of January of the current year, but the symptoms persisted; I talked to a bunch of doctors about it, but nobody seems to have a clue. I've been searching on the net too and didn't find anything resembling this strange discomfort. I'm starting to doubt it might be caused by a medical condition ( i hope not).
>
> Any input will be appreciated
Posted by cb on November 10, 2001, at 21:50:57
In reply to Curved vision : any clues?, posted by Anna laura on November 9, 2001, at 8:13:44
> My son has just started having visual distortions. When he walks for any distance, his vision begins to "roll". He says it's like when a tv screen scrolls. When that subsides, objects appear to be wavey. He is bipolar and on wellbutrin, tegretol, lithium and synthroid. The pdoc said that it was not a drug side effect. The internist said that she had never heard of anything like this. Please post if you learn anymore about this. I will try to do some research too. Thanks
Posted by Cressida on November 10, 2001, at 23:34:14
In reply to Re: Curved vision : any clues?, posted by cb on November 10, 2001, at 21:51:05
I've had visual distortions for well over three years. I noticed the problem soon after taking my first dose of Zoloft. Whenever I look at a person's face their nose and ears, including my own, seem to stick out or appear altered in size. My psychiatrist was befuddled and had no clue to the cause. He has to reassure me that it's not a symptom of schizophrenia at every appointment. It's much better now than it used to be, but it still bothers me a great deal; it's the only obstacle I have left to overcome.
I know I have strabismus and amblyopia. Perhaps my anxious/depressed/ADD state of mind is exaggerating or amplifying the problem.
Posted by Remi on November 11, 2001, at 3:01:47
In reply to Re: Another case of distorted vision, posted by Cressida on November 10, 2001, at 23:34:14
I had visual distortions after three months on Wellbutrin. Yep, like a TV screen rolling that would sometimes widen and stay for a few minutes. I quit the Wellbutrin for that reason. Never wanted to deal with that while driving. It never came back. I was sure it was the med.
Posted by petey on November 11, 2001, at 8:14:31
In reply to Re: Another case of distorted vision, posted by Remi on November 11, 2001, at 3:01:47
> I had visual distortions after three months on Wellbutrin. Yep, like a TV screen rolling that would sometimes widen and stay for a few minutes. I quit the Wellbutrin for that reason. Never wanted to deal with that while driving. It never came back. I was sure it was the med.
Just to let you know, I have been having visual distortions ever since I started on these meds. I never had any problems with my vision at all until I started screwing around with medication. I know how you feel being concerned about SUDDENLY being scizophrenic, it scared the crap out of me ,too. I've had all kinds of side-effects that make you feel like your losing your mind. Since I started to cut out certain meds. and decrease the dosages of others, alot of these symptoms have gone away! Currently I am on Zoloft ( yes, I do have alot of visual problems with this med.), I'm actually starting to feel a little better. I believe if you did'nt have this visual problem before the Zoloft, then it probably is caused by this med. I have found that the side-effects don't go away until you start decreasing the dosage. Hope this helps. Good luck!
Petey
Posted by cb on November 12, 2001, at 14:49:40
In reply to Re: Another case of distorted vision, posted by Remi on November 11, 2001, at 3:01:47
>Remi- did your visual distortions come and go? Thank you for sharing your experience. Were you on any other meds at the time? We are going back to the pdoc tomorrow and I am going to suggest that it's the wellbutrin. The doctors are making my son feel like they think he's crazy since they keep saying that they have never heard of any such thing. I also think that the wellbutrin is increasing his anxiety (again the drs don't agree) so I wouldn't mind if they switch him to another AD (although since he can't take SSRIs I don't know what left...). ANyway, thank you again!
Posted by Remi on November 28, 2001, at 3:13:08
In reply to Re: Another case of distorted vision » Remi, posted by cb on November 12, 2001, at 14:49:40
Sorry to take so long to respond. Yes my visual problems came and went and I had one hallucination! I got off that stuff asap. There is another poster who also hallucinated on Wellbutrin. I never had one before, ever. My vision problems are gone and of all things, I am having a rather smooth time adjusting to Effexor. My Pdoc and I just move on when that happens. We are all different and he doesn't take this stuff, so how would he know what effects it has on me. I hope your pdoc can at least acknowledge this much. Still it seems like there is something here they aren't telling us about in the insert.
This is the end of the thread.
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