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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jared on January 28, 2001, at 23:08:41
Has anyone here experienced noticeable, long term visual disturbances while on or after taking ssri's. I would be more specific, but I'm trying to keep this question very open. I will tell you my experience. I have been on SSRI's(all of them) on and off since I was 14. At this point in time I have this constant visual disturbance where I see what I can only describe as these little shooting stars, only with no light involved. Its like I see something dart by really quick, like a movement in my visual field. I wonder if this could be realated to the SSRI's? The opthamologist I went to did not have an explanation.
Others have said they are floaters, or white blood cells rushing through my eye that for some reason I am seeing projected onto my visual feild. I am also incredibly nearsighted and sometimes see these little blue "stars" fade in and out of my vision. I have also used marijuana from time to time throughout my teenage years, but haven't done that for a year now. (I am 23). I also did LSD 2 times when I was 16-17. Any thoughts? Thank you.
Posted by Mark H. on January 29, 2001, at 19:36:22
In reply to Visual Disturbances and SSRI's, posted by Jared on January 28, 2001, at 23:08:41
Hi Jared,
Some SSRIs cause changes in visual perception in some individuals; however, those I'm familiar with have been short-term and stop when the medication is stopped.
Floaters are common, and almost anyone who pays attention can see the cells pulsing around in the way you mentioned (by staring at a clear sky, for instance).
More important, perhaps, is the ability of the brain to compensate for imperfect information from the eyes. Many people with severe floaters or even retinal damage can still see relatively well, thanks to the brain's ability to reorganize visual information to help perception more accurately represent external reality.
I'd say that if your ophthamologist has given you a clean bill of health, then the less you concern yourself with these minor disturbances, the less you will be conscious of them over time, and the less they will bother you.
Nevertheless, in this and all advice from non-professionals such as myself, if your experience and concerns persist, by all means have your eyes checked regularly, and don't hesitate to ask for a referral to a neurologist if you think there is any chance that these are early warnings of an underlying organic problem. You're responsible to seek the care you need, and the above is just my opinion, based on my own experiences.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
Posted by Sunnely on January 30, 2001, at 20:30:29
In reply to Visual Disturbances and SSRI's, posted by Jared on January 28, 2001, at 23:08:41
Hi Jared,
I'm not sure if visual disturbances have been reported with the SSRIs per se. Paxil has been reported to cause a glaucomatous attack especially in the elderly. This is probably not your case as this would have been found by your ophthalmologist.
I know for fact that visual disturbances have been reported with nefazodone (Serzone) and its chemically relative drug, trazodone (Desyrel). To be more specific, the visual disturbances more commonly reported with these 2 drugs are "visual trails" or "ghost shadows" sometimes called "palinopsia" (seeing again or visual perseveration) The exact cause or reason as to how they occur is unclear. The phenomenon seems to occur in a dose-related fashion that is, the higher the dose, the higher the chance. Usually lowering the dose of the drug helps alleviate this problem.
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> Has anyone here experienced noticeable, long term visual disturbances while on or after taking ssri's. I would be more specific, but I'm trying to keep this question very open. I will tell you my experience. I have been on SSRI's(all of them) on and off since I was 14. At this point in time I have this constant visual disturbance where I see what I can only describe as these little shooting stars, only with no light involved. Its like I see something dart by really quick, like a movement in my visual field. I wonder if this could be realated to the SSRI's? The opthamologist I went to did not have an explanation.
> Others have said they are floaters, or white blood cells rushing through my eye that for some reason I am seeing projected onto my visual feild. I am also incredibly nearsighted and sometimes see these little blue "stars" fade in and out of my vision. I have also used marijuana from time to time throughout my teenage years, but haven't done that for a year now. (I am 23). I also did LSD 2 times when I was 16-17. Any thoughts? Thank you.
Posted by dude on June 13, 2001, at 12:14:16
In reply to Visual Disturbances and SSRI's, posted by Jared on January 28, 2001, at 23:08:41
Hi Jared,
I have had this same problem for 6 years.
I have never taken SSRIs (until starting zoloft
2 weeks ago). My problem started after a bad
trip on LSD (in addition to about 30 good trips).
What happened was taking the LSD caused what is
called Hallucinogenic Post Perceptual Disorder,
which caused visual changes similar to those on
LSD, such as the trails and floaters, and afterimages
when I look at something colorful.Let me tell you that this is completely harmless,
just somewhat of a nuisance. What you are seeing
is probably the white blood cells, and possibly
other stuff in your eyes that everyone has. But
for some reason (either because of the LSD, weed,
or SSRI's), you have a heightened perception, and
therefore you notice these things more than the
average person. To the extent that you ignore it,
it will not bother you, but if you obsess about
it a lot, then it will bother you a lot.
But as I said, it is harmless, so don't think that
there is some sort of permanent eye/brain damage.If you are more interested in learning about
Hallucinogenic Post Perceptual Disorder and
talking to people who have this problem, check out
the web site at:http://www.stormloader.com/hppd/
Take care,
dude> Has anyone here experienced noticeable, long term visual disturbances while on or after taking ssri's. I would be more specific, but I'm trying to keep this question very open. I will tell you my experience. I have been on SSRI's(all of them) on and off since I was 14. At this point in time I have this constant visual disturbance where I see what I can only describe as these little shooting stars, only with no light involved. Its like I see something dart by really quick, like a movement in my visual field. I wonder if this could be realated to the SSRI's? The opthamologist I went to did not have an explanation.
> Others have said they are floaters, or white blood cells rushing through my eye that for some reason I am seeing projected onto my visual feild. I am also incredibly nearsighted and sometimes see these little blue "stars" fade in and out of my vision. I have also used marijuana from time to time throughout my teenage years, but haven't done that for a year now. (I am 23). I also did LSD 2 times when I was 16-17. Any thoughts? Thank you.
Posted by Mitch on June 13, 2001, at 23:19:17
In reply to Visual Disturbances and SSRI's, posted by Jared on January 28, 2001, at 23:08:41
> Has anyone here experienced noticeable, long term visual disturbances while on or after taking ssri's. I would be more specific, but I'm trying to keep this question very open. I will tell you my experience. I have been on SSRI's(all of them) on and off since I was 14. At this point in time I have this constant visual disturbance where I see what I can only describe as these little shooting stars, only with no light involved. Its like I see something dart by really quick, like a movement in my visual field. I wonder if this could be realated to the SSRI's? The opthamologist I went to did not have an explanation.
> Others have said they are floaters, or white blood cells rushing through my eye that for some reason I am seeing projected onto my visual feild. I am also incredibly nearsighted and sometimes see these little blue "stars" fade in and out of my vision. I have also used marijuana from time to time throughout my teenage years, but haven't done that for a year now. (I am 23). I also did LSD 2 times when I was 16-17. Any thoughts? Thank you.Jared,
I have also experienced visual distubances with SSRI meds. Currently, I am under suspicion of temporal lobe epilepsy. These "things" coming out of the corner of your eye is a common thing with TLE. I personally, (and others without an epilepsy diagnosis) have experienced nighttime hallucinations on Prozac. On Celexa I would see something out of my periphery and become startled and look and there was nothing there.
1) Have you taken any other antidepressants besides SSRI's and did you get anything similar?
2) Which SSRI's seem to be the worst culprits?I doubt if a couple of LSD experiments is causing this-especially if you didn't notice this until starting taking any SSRI AD's.
Also, Serzone is well-documented for a "shimmering peripheral visual field effect" in many people.
Mitch
Posted by Zo on June 16, 2001, at 20:57:12
In reply to Re: Visual Disturbances and SSRI's » Jared, posted by Mitch on June 13, 2001, at 23:19:17
> Currently, I am under suspicion of temporal lobe epilepsy. These "things" coming out of the corner of your eye is a common thing with TLE.
Mitch, how's it going? Am following your posts with interest. For a year, way back before I was diagnosed, I lived in the country. . .and could have sworn I saw little bunnies scampering away, out of the corner of my eye, when I walked. TLE has the *most* interesting symptoms!
This is the end of the thread.
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