Amitriptyline and blurred vision
Posted , 11 users are following.
Hi, I want to know if anybody has experienced blurred vision whilst taking Amitripyline. I am 49 years old and have just been prescribed up to 100mg of this drug to help me sleep. I have only been taking it for about 2 months, I started off on a lower dose. In the last 3 weeks I have got blurred vision in my right eye. I have been to the optitions 3 times and have 3 pairs of new glasses, all of which I can't see out of them. Have been back to my gp and asked for a refferal to an eye specialist. But I'm now wondering if it could be the Amitripyline ! Has anyone experienced anything like this ?
2 likes, 17 replies
borderriever bev58449
Posted
Sometimes medications effect our bodies with contraindications. You are taking 100mg of this medication.
I take the same medication for nerve and tendon damag, I take a lower dose of 75mg.
The drug is an old Anti depressent medication and it acts as a very nice sleeping tablet. Some of the contrindications are quite extensive and alarming although generally the most extreme of the medications are very rare.
I suffer problems with my eyes and most times I put these concerns down to the computer. A pair of computer glasses gets rid of the glare here and prevents some headaches. There may be a problem with how and when you take the drug, in your case it is a sleeping tablet so that is you will take it about half an hour before bed and sleep.
Depending on what drugs you are taking above the medication a cross contrindication may occure. That does not get away from the fact you are having problems. Are your eye concerns worse in the morning or evening with your lights on ?. Another suggestion. This medication does effect my eyes in electric light or when I get up, so I reserve judgement.
Look at the instruction paper in the box and read about contraindications, taking into consideration the problems you are having with other outside sources.
If after above you feel it is the drug, explain to your GP there are other medications you can try on your GPs behest
B.
bev58449 borderriever
Posted
Thanks for your comments. I was taking Topiramate for migraines and I thought it could be this drug that was causing my blurred vision so I told my gp I wanted to stop taking it as it wasn't making any difference to the amount of migraines i was getting. I have reading glasses which were fine up until 3 weeks ago when I started with the blurred vision. It is the same in the mornings and evenings and in any sort of light conditions. I just feel as though the optitions and gp are not really bothered but it is effecting every part of my waking day.
borderriever bev58449
Posted
If for any reason you feel any of above has not got your interests at heart.Visit another Partner in Practice, the same applies to your Opticion.
You can visit Web Page NHS CHOICES and look up your Surgery also Optiions in your area so you can choose who you want to be treated by
B.
Meh1305 bev58449
Posted
I was only on 10mg then 20 then 30mg and I had bad eyes and horrendous side effects. They totally emphasises my symptoms. My aches and pains and general fatigue was x100 I had no strength to dress myself some days or climb the stairs. I've noticed a major change since I stopped them. I'm now on an anti inflammatory. I've got a lot on so stress doesn't help but deffo won't ever be back on them! My doc said 50mg is treated for depression and a low dose is meant to help fibromyalgia symptoms. Hope you get something sorted out. Xx
bev58449 Meh1305
Posted
Meh1305 bev58449
Posted
Both eyes horrible blurred vision. Like the start of a migraine. It's been a lot better but some days it's still a bit off xx
debra96918 bev58449
Posted
Hi Bev, absolutely! I have seen the opticians several times and upgraded my prescription. I also find that bright lights such as headlights cause me problems. I was on a low dose and came off a few months ago but still my eyes aren't what they used to be. I was on Amitriptyline for ocular migraines and they seemed to help but I put on a massive amount of weight that won't come off. Good luck with your referral to an eye specialist. I would be very interested to hear of the outcome. Take care
bev58449 debra96918
Posted
swathy21958 debra96918
Posted
Hi.im facing the same issue in vision after taking the tablet, how do u overcome the problem can you please me,,does your vision back to normal..
elizabeth85938 bev58449
Posted
Hi Bev
?I am one of the very few cases where Amitriptyline was the trigger of a rare case of sudden onset glaucoma. I stress RARE. If you are having vision problems, which is not unusual with this drug, please talk to your GP for reassurance and/or a change of meds. Put another way, it is very unlikely that your sight will be permanently damaged by taking Amitriptyline...it is a known and documented side effect in the early days that disturbances of vision are likely but if you are not happy to continue taking them please talk to your Doctor. I found. and still do, evening lights, TV screens and laptop glare causes what I call Wavy vision. I should add that I no longer take them as I had to come off them for Life after only 3 weeks...unfortunate as they were just beginning to help me with neuropathic pain that had driven me to despair for over a year. Talk to your Doctor and explain that you are worried about vision problems and ask if any other meds you take plus the Amitriptyline could be the cause or if it may just be Amitrip. Please don't allow yourself to get over-anxious over this...we are alll here for you on this forum and hopefully can support you through this. Be better soon
Meh1305 elizabeth85938
Posted
elizabeth85938 Meh1305
Posted
It's a very old drug still in use, which is rather alarming for new patients as there is so much evidence suggesting it would be best to take it off the market completely. However, having said that, many people have been taking it for years without complications and would attest that it works for them. There are newer, less contraversial meds now and I wonder whether it is a cost issue with the NHS. as in try the cheapest first. I think as patients we should be firmer with our GP's and politely but firmly require more information which would enabe us to make our own decision as to which drug we wish to take. Certainly my experience of them has been traumatic but everyone has a different story to tell. I just wish Doctor's would listen to their patients more and put them first; not cost to their Practice. We live in hope!
bev58449 elizabeth85938
Posted
margaret40065 bev58449
Posted
yes i am experiencing the same symptoms. my right eye blurry after not taking the pills for 3 days. when did your symptoms go away?
joyce18751 bev58449
Posted
its good to read up info on d blurred vision effect of amitriptyline. i experienced that some yrs back with a 25mg dose. now i was prescribed a 12.5mg dose but am really scared to take it. Is it possible to get same side effects with this lower dose?