What Does Xanax Do to Your Eyes? Short-term and Long-term Alprazolam Effects on Vision

What Does Xanax Do to Your Eyes? Short-term and Long-term Alprazolam Effects on Vision

People suffering from anxiety disorders often have panic attacks, which cause them to feel extreme fear and dread. Some people take alprazolam for anxiety, but what does Xanax do to your eyes?

Xanax is an effective prescription drug for anxiety and especially when you require a fast-acting medication for panic attacks but it affects the eyes when used or abused in the long term causing symptoms such as challenges with night vision, blurred vision, bigger, dilated, or enlarged pupils, a change in color vision, double vision, and difficulty in reading among others. In some instances, it may cause the yellowing of the eyes which requires immediate medical consultation.

Xanax is one of the most common prescription drugs used to treat panic attacks and other related anxiety disorders. It is a short-acting benzodiazepine drug that works by decreasing natural chemicals in your brain that lead to feelings of stress or panic.

With prolonged use, any medication has side effects – even if it’s for a good reason. The side effects of Xanax may include dry eyes and mouth, headache, dizziness, change in vision, nausea, and more. In this article, we will discuss what is Xanax and its side effects on eyesight as well as what Xanax does to your eyes.

Contents

What Does Xanax Do to Your Eyes?

When you take Xanax, especially when abusing it, the drug can change your eyesight by causing blurred vision, watery eyes, and even a change in coloration. This is because it harms your eyes by affecting how your pupils (the black part of the eye) respond to light, leading to watery eyes and eye color change. You may experience blurred vision or have difficulty reading.

Additionally, you may notice that your pupils have become larger or that they have changed in color. These are the common Xanax side effects affecting the eyes:

  • Bigger, dilated, or enlarged pupils
  • Blurred vision
  • Challenges with the night vision
  • Change in color vision
  • Difficulty in reading
  • Double vision
  • Eye irritation causing watery eyes
  • Heightened eyes sensitivity to sunlight
  • Yellowing of the eyes
  • Other eye-related side effects

These effects mainly occur when abuse or use the medication over an extended period of time. Some people may easily abuse Xanax because it gives them a feeling of calm and relaxes the muscles. These effects can calm their anxieties and stresses but can easily be misused.

If these symptoms are not temporary and persist, contact a medical professional immediately. Regardless of the risks of Xanax use, people still seem to be drawn to this powerful drug with its high degree of effectiveness for treating anxiety and other mental health conditions.

What Does Xanax Do to Your Eyes?

Xanax Effects on the Eyes

Benzodiazepines affect the activity of GABA in muscle-relaxing effects. This may cause the pupils to dilate and long-term use may have marked effects on the eyes.

Among the people taking Xanax in the long term, 63.3% complained of symptoms of eye irritation, blurred vision, or difficulty in reading.

Xanax affects your eyes in a number of ways. Some people who are taking Xanax for extended periods of time have claimed that it has caused them to have problems with their vision, such as blurred vision and difficulty reading. It is particularly a major problem for those abusing Xanax over a long period of time.

For some people, these side effects were present only when they first started taking Xanax, but others have found that their eye symptoms continued even after they had stopped taking Xanax.

1. Bigger/ enlarged/ dilated pupils

Xanax when used in high doses or when abused for a period of time can negatively affect the eyes in several ways including having bigger or dilated pupils. This may be one of the common side effects of Xanax on your eyes.

The pupils will dilate, growing larger or wider than normal. The reason for pupils dilating is that Xanax affects GABA. Xanax affects the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA that relaxes the muscles including the eye muscles. The effect may be accompanied by watery eyes or not.

Once the medication leaves your body, the dilated pupils should return to their normal size. However, when the drug is abused constantly, the dilation will remain for a long time.

In some people, one of the pupils is noticeably larger or smaller than the other when Xanax is abused. This is also seen in most abused narcotics and psychotropic medications.

2. Watery Eyes

Benzodiazepines including Xanax can cause watery eyes according to one recent study. The watery eyes however should not be a major reason for content since it is not a serious impairment. Therefore, in most instances, you do not require any medication or treatment to deal with it but it resolves as soon as the body can tolerate the medication.

However, in some cases, the watery eyes may become an impediment to conducting your daily routines. Moreover, it may also persist for a very long or become severe. In these instances, you need to see a doctor.

3. Blurred Vision

The other common side effect of Xanax and other benzodiazepines on the eyes is blurred vision. The condition may be accompanied by watery eyes and dizziness or not. The condition also resolves with time in most instances.

However, similar to the watery eyes above, the condition may become serious or last for long requiring medical action. This is necessary if the blurred vision is impeding your daily routine such as reading, driving, and working among others.

4. Yellowing Of The Eyes

Finally, in rare instances, Xanax may cause yellowing of the eyes as a side effect. In normal cases, yellowing of the eyes is a sign of jaundice indicating liver damage.

Therefore, yellowing of the eyes may indicate a serious problem. Thus, see a doctor if the medication is causing the yellowing of your eyes.

Does Xanax do anything to your eyes?

Yes, Xanax does do something to your eyes. You may notice that when you’re taking Xanax, your pupils may become enlarged, dilated, or black in color. Moreover, you may have waterly eyes among other side effects described in this article. This can be caused by the medication and is a sign you need medical attention.

Other side effects include difficulty with reading and blurred vision. While some people might have these symptoms from time to time, it’s important to check in with a doctor if they occur frequently while you’re on the drug:

  • Blurred vision, bigger, dilated, or enlarged pupils
  • Change in color vision
  • Difficulty in reading.
  • Yellowing eyes

Is blurred vision a side effect of Xanax?

Xanax is a drug that is often prescribed to people who suffer from anxiety and panic disorders. It works by decreasing the brain’s production of adrenaline and its effects. One of the side effects of Xanax is blurred vision, which may be one reason why you are experiencing this symptom.

Blurred vision can happen for many different reasons including stress or even just being tired. Some people say that taking a Xanax pill makes their eyes feel heavy or glassy, which may cause some blurriness if they are looking at something up close.

If you have blurry vision after taking Xanax, it could be because your eyes are dry, the air is too dry, or you have floaters in your eyes. So make sure that you drink plenty of fluids and get some sleep to solve these other common reasons for blurry vision.

Is blurred vision a side effect of Xanax?

Does Xanax make your eyes red?

Xanax may cause red, irritated eyes but it is a side effect incidence not known meaning that the side effect may happen but is not counted. Therefore, red eyes ( bloodshot eyes) may be reported by very few people but are not found in controlled studies for alprazolam.

The rare side effects seen with Xanax that are vision-related are:

  1. Having bigger, dilated, or enlarged pupils- Pupils are the black part of your eyes.
  2. Some people may experience a change in color vision
  3. Other people may have difficulty seeing at night or a total lack of night vision.
  4. Increased eye sensitivity to sunlight

Other side effects that are seen that relate to eyesight more frequently include:

  1. Double vision
  2. Blurred vision

What do Benzos do to your eyes?

If you’ve taken Xanax, it’s possible that you’ve noticed some changes in your vision. This is normal for this type of medication and can happen when you first start taking Xanax or if you take too much. Some people also experience “eye fluttering,” which is also a sign that your dosage needs to be adjusted.

In general, benzos like Xanax are not known to cause any permanent eye damage. However, they can dilate the pupils and cause blurry vision. There is a rare chance that you could develop cataracts as well. A more serious side effect of using these medications is that they may cause impaired thinking and reasoning abilities.

Additionally, they may impair your motor skills so it’s important to avoid driving or operating heavy machinery while taking this medication. If you take benzos long-term, there might be additional risks for your eyes such as developing cataracts.

Cataracts are a clouding of the lens in the eye and can impact your vision greatly as time goes on. If left untreated, it can lead to blindness in one or both eyes or other serious health conditions such as glaucoma or diabetes.

Benzodiazepines and vision problems

Benzos cause vision problems in about 63% of patients on long-term use. The other most common side effects of benzodiazepines are dry eyes and mouth, headache, dizziness, change in vision, nausea, and more.

Benzodiazepines cause vision problems in about 63% of patients on long-term use. Studies have shown the severity and frequency of the adverse effects increase with higher doses of the drug. It has also been found that long-term use doubles the risk of developing cataracts or glaucoma.

Studies show that those taking high doses for longer than 12 months have 3 times increased risk of developing myopia compared to those who have never taken benzodiazepines before. Those taking high doses for less than 12 months have an increased risk of 50%.

It is unclear why this occurs but it is believed that prolonged use may lead to an increase in dopamine levels which can cause elongation in eye growth. This research should not stop you from using Xanax if you need it but it is important to be aware of these potential risks to your eyesight so you can take care if they become a problem.

Benzodiazepines and blurry vision

Over time benzos can cause side effects like blurry vision or a change in color of eyesight. Dry eyes are one of the most common side effects of Xanax and other benzodiazepines. When you have dry eyes, you don’t produce enough tears to lubricate your eye.

This is a result of the medication decreasing natural chemical levels in your brain that normally lead to feelings of stress or panic. Because of this decrease, there is an imbalance in the normal chemical production leading to dryness and irritation.

Another common side effect experienced by people taking benzodiazepine medications is blurred vision or a change in the color of their eyesight. This effect occurs when the person doesn’t blink enough due to lower eyelid mobility caused by the medication.

The reason behind this is that when we blink it spreads tears across our cornea, which is what helps keep our eyes moist and clear. Without blinking, there’s a buildup of moisture on our cornea as well as deposits on some areas where tears should be spreading and then this leads to blurry vision and a change in colors seen through your eyesight.

Benzos and pupil dilation

Benzodiazepine drugs like Xanax can also cause pupils to dilate because they affect the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA, which has a muscle-relaxing effect on the iris. The pupil constricts when you shine a light on it and will dilate when it is dark or there is little stimulation to that part of the eye.

Benzos can also cause pupils to dilate because they affect the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA, which has a muscle-relaxing effect on the iris. The pupil constricts when you shine a light on it and will dilate when it is dark or there is little stimulation to that part of the eye.

When should I be concerned about dilated pupils?

When should I be concerned about dilated pupils?

You should get concerned when one or both of your pupils becomes fixed in the dilated position and does not react to light.

It could be a sign of serious problems. Some people may also experience blurry vision, change in eye color, droopy eyelids, blurred or double vision, and sensitivity to light.

Xanax is a prescription medication used to treat panic attacks and other related anxiety disorders. It is a short-acting benzodiazepine drug that works by decreasing natural chemicals in your brain that lead to feelings of stress or panic.

With prolonged use, any medication has side effects – even if it’s for a good reason. The side effects of Xanax may include dry eyes and mouth, headache, dizziness, change in vision, nausea, and more. While these are typically mild side effects with few complications from long-term use of this treatment option; some people might experience blurred vision as one symptom of their Xanax use.

If you notice your eyesight is deteriorating on Xanax, you should see your doctor right away and mention the potential side effect to him/her so they can rule out any other possibilities.

What is Xanax?

Xanax is a fast-acting benzodiazepine drug that can be prescribed to treat anxiety and reduce feelings of stress. It’s in the same group as drugs like Valium and Klonopin, which are also used for treating anxiety issues.

Thus, Xanax is a short-acting benzodiazepine drug that decreases the natural chemicals in your brain that lead to feelings of stress or panic. It is normally prescribed for people who suffer from anxiety disorders but can also be prescribed for other medical problems such as seizures and depression.

Doctors will typically prescribe Xanax for short periods of time to patients who have anxiety or other similar problems. Xanax comes in tablet form and is usually taken by mouth 2 or 3 times a day with food.

It takes about 5 to 10 minutes of taking the pill to one hour to take effect, so it’s important not to miss any doses if possible. Xanax should not be taken with alcohol because it can increase the risks of side effects like breathing difficulties and drowsiness, so it’s important that you don’t drink while taking Xanax.

Xanax is usually only taken for a few weeks at a time before doctors will switch over to another medication or discontinue the use of Xanax altogether. There are many other types of medications you can use for treating anxiety, but Xanax does work well for some people and has fewer drawbacks than most medications on the market today.

How Xanax Works

Xanax is a benzodiazepine that is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Benzodiazepines are very effective for treating these disorders because they have a sedative effect on the central nervous system and can reduce feelings of stress or anxiety.

Xanax is often prescribed as a first-line treatment for these issues. Xanax works by binding to GABA receptors in your brain that control mood, arousal, and anxiety levels. The drug causes increased production of GABA neurotransmitters, which act as “inhibitory” neurochemicals in the brain.

This means that they reduce the number of excitatory neurotransmitters in your brain – like dopamine and glutamate – which can lead to feelings of anxiety or stress. The increased GABA also slows down neuron activity in your brain, decreasing restlessness and impulsiveness.

Benefits of Taking Xanax

Xanax is a medication that is used most commonly as a prescription drug. It’s often prescribed for people who have anxiety disorders, panic disorders, or those who are experiencing difficulty with sleep.

One of the benefits of Xanax is that it can be taken orally, which means you don’t need to inject it or use other complicated methods to get the medication in your system. When Xanax is ingested, it quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier and starts working within minutes.

Another benefit of taking Xanax is that it’s a legal prescription drug. This means you can ask your doctor to prescribe it to you without having to worry about getting into any legal trouble or being caught at customs when you go on vacation abroad.

It’s also worth noting that there are some studies that show if you take Xanax long-term, your chances of developing an addiction are much lower than if you took other drugs like cocaine or heroin over the long term. In fact, only one percent of people who take Xanax for more than two years will develop an addiction problem with this drug.

Side Effects of Xanax

Xanax is a benzodiazepine drug that can be prescribed by your doctor to help you with anxiety and insomnia.

There are many side effects of Xanax including ataxia (loss of balance), cognitive dysfunction (inability to think clearly), constipation (hardening or narrowing of the stool), difficulty in micturition (inability to urinate), drowsiness, dysarthria(slurred speech), fatigue (low energy level), memory impairment, skin rash, and weight gain.

A few common Xanax side effects include blurred vision, diarrhea, decreased libido, and increase appetite. Others include acid or sour stomach, belching, bigger, dilated, or enlarged pupils (black part of the eye), change in color vision, difficulty seeing at night, difficulty urinating, excessive thirst, increased heart rate, increased muscle strength and endurance, loss of appetite, lightheadedness, muscle spasms, nausea or vomiting, pounding in the ears.

Xanax may also increase the chances of water retention. If you take Xanax for a long time there is a risk that it can have serious effects on your eyes.

One of the most dangerous effects on your eyes from Xanax is blurred vision; this effect is caused by the dilation of pupils which can happen as soon as 20 minutes after taking the pill.

It’s also possible that you may experience difficulty seeing in dim light as well as extreme light sensitivity while taking Xanax which can last up to six weeks after stopping the medication. Some people who use Xanax may even experience changes in color perception while they are on it too!

Long-term Dangers of Xanax

There are many long-term dangers associated with taking Xanax. Firstly, the drug will affect your brain and the way it functions. It can also lead to addiction.

Many people who take Xanax for a long time will develop a tolerance towards it, meaning that you need to increase the dosage of Xanax in order to get the same effect.

This could lead to an overdose if you don’t know how much is too much. Moreover, there are some very serious side effects related to taking Xanax for a long time like “rebound anxiety.”

When someone takes Xanax for a while and then stops abruptly, they can experience withdrawal symptoms that are more severe than what they felt before they started taking it. These symptoms can include heart palpitations, insomnia, and sweating.

Does anxiety cause dilated pupils?

There are many different types of anxiety disorders that could cause dilated pupils. In the case of a panic attack or acute stress disorder, the pupil constricts but dilates once the attack has subsided.

Some people will say that their pupils were dilated due to anxiety during an event but that’s only temporary.

Anxiety does not cause dilation in the long term.

  • Panic Attacks: The person will generally have a sudden sense of terror or impending doom as well as physical symptoms like shaking, sweating, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
  • Acute Stress Disorder: The person will have persistent feelings of intense fear or sadness after a traumatic event or life-threatening situation such as a war zone or natural disaster.
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The person will suffer from flashbacks from past traumatic events and may be constantly “on edge” with feeling vulnerable because they expect another traumatic event at any moment.
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: This can affect anyone who has ideas about things being dirty or contaminated which causes them to excessively wash their

Is alprazolam a good sleeping pill?

Alprazolam can make you tired but is not a recommended medication for insomnia treatment. This is because Xanax doesn’t have a high enough dose of a substance that helps people sleep. What alprazolam does have, however, is a chemical that suppresses panic attacks.

So, if you’re suffering from anxiety or panic disorder and are looking for a good sleeping pill, Xanax might not be the best choice for you.

What medications affect eyesight?

There are a number of medications that can affect eyesight including:

  • Diuretics.
  • Antihistamines
  • Chemotherapy drugs
  • Antidepressants
  • Cholesterol-lowering drugs
  • Beta-blockers
  • Birth control pills
  • Some medications for HIV/AIDS
  • Sleeping pills.
  • Some Pain killers (NSAIDs).

How do you get rid of blurry vision?

There are several ways that you can naturally get rid of blurred vision including:

  • Rest and recovery- One of the main causes of blurry vision is being tired, having stayed for long using a screen, or not having enough rest. Therefore, to ensure you resolve the blurry vision challenge, you can take a rest.
  • Lubricating your eyes- One of the main causes of blurry vision is dry eyes. Therefore, you can get rid of blurry vision, you can ensure that the eyes are lubricated.
  • Improving air quality- Air quality can affect your eyesight. To get rid of blurry vision, you can therefore ensure that you improve the air quality.
  • Stop smoking- Smoking affects the eyes and other body systems. Therefore to ensure you restore the normal working of the eyes in blurry vision-affected people, you should quit smoking.
  • Avoid allergens- Most of the time, eyes are affected by allergens. You can either avoid allergens or take medication for allergic reactions.
  • Clean your contact lenses- To ensure that you get proper and non-blurry eyesight, you can clean your spectacles or eye lenses.
  • Take omega-3 fatty acids– Omega-3 fatty acids are known for their benefits to most body systems. The omega-3 fatty acids can help restore the normal working of the eyes in blurry vision.
  • Protect your eyes- You can use spectacles for protecting your eyes or use medication.
  • Take vitamin A- Retinol is known as being good for our eyes. Therefore, you can use either food containing vitamin A or Vitamin A supplements

Final Words

The drug Xanax, a benzodiazepine, is a prescription drug that reduces anxiety and stress. It also helps with sleep problems. Xanax is used to treat panic attacks, seizures, or sudden episodes of intense anxiety. You should not use Xanax if you have severe breathing problems or lung disease.

Xanax can cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and blurred vision. This medication can also make it difficult to concentrate and react quickly. Make sure to talk to your doctor about the risks before taking Xanax.

It is important to know what Xanax is and if it will have any negative effects on your eyesight. Xanax, or alprazolam, is a prescription medication for the treatment of panic disorders, anxiety disorders, and depression.

The most common side effects of Xanax are dry mouth and eyes; however, some patients may experience other side effects such as blurred vision and difficulty urinating. It’s important to note that not all patients will experience these side effects, but it’s best to consult with a doctor before taking Xanax to check for any possible interactions.

FAQs

What is Xanax?

Xanax is a prescription drug that’s used to treat anxiety. It’s also sometimes used to help with panic disorder and acute seizures, but the FDA doesn’t recommend its use for long-term treatment of those conditions. How does Xanax work? Xanax works by blocking nerve signals in the brain that cause anxiety and other symptoms.

Is Xanax addictive?

Yes, it’s possible to develop an addiction to Xanax. It’s also possible to become dependent on it over time if you use it in high doses. However, quitting should be quite easy because you can simply stop taking it when you start feeling anxious again. And most people who are addicted or dependent on Xanax are able to quit without any problem at all – especially if they talk with their doctor about the plan beforehand.

What are the side effects of Xanax?

Some common side effects are dry eyes and mouth, headache, dizziness, change in vision, nausea, and more.

Does Xanax affect your eyesight?

Yes! As with any medication, prolonged use of Xanax has the potential to cause side effects like dry eyes and mouth, headache, dizziness, change in vision, nausea etc.

Sources:

  1. Medical News Today
  2. U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus

Dr. David Barlow

David is a well-known researcher and author in the anxiety disorders area with extensive research on their etiology, nature, and treatment. He started the site to share his real-life experiences on the management of anxiety disorders with successful diagnosis and treatment being his motivation to write or review the content on this site.