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shatzi
Member
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Posted Mon Oct 1st, 2007 11:28pm Post subject: Mania Meds and Visual Problems
Anyone have or had this, or ideas?
I have been VERY up lately, I seem to be getting more up by the day.
They increased my Topamax a few weeks back, and I have had a common side effect: fingers tingling. No biggie I can get used to it. I have also lost weight from it, which happens a lot, down 3 sizes since August. You just don't think about food on this med.
Last night I went for a late night walk. I thought I saw lightning, but it wasn't. I sat on the front porch and noticed I was seeing flashes of light in my peripheral vision, or when I turned my head I would see them out of the corner of my eye. They weren't flashing dots, but like a bars of light flickering 2 or 3 quick times. It got worse the more I sat there and was frankly disturbing. I also jumped at one point, I thought something was on my left but it was just a stupid plant in the garden so I was getting a bit nervous/jumpy. I didn't notice those flickering things after I came into the brighter lights in the house. Meds? Or can this visual thing happen with severe mania?
I left a message with doc today but haven't heard anything.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Posted Mon Oct 1st, 2007 11:58pm Post subject: Mania Meds and Visual Problems
this isn't going to be much help to you... because i'm not diagnosed and am not on medication.
i just wanted to say this stuff happens to me pretty regularly. not all the time, but when i feel really good or really bad.
there's... oh ... what thread is it on.... a while back redraven posted something about auditory hallucinations and we also started talking about all kinds of hallucinations. lots of things can cause it, and many people who don't have a mental illness get them. have you had this happen to you before? is it impeding in your daily activities? are you getting enough sleep right now? (lack of sleep can cause this too.)
i know nothing about the med you are on, so i can't help you there. there are some people on this site who know meds really well and i hope they can help you.
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katysara
Moderator
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Posted Tue Oct 2nd, 2007 5:13pm Post subject: Mania Meds and Visual Problems
I've not been on topiramate (topamax) myself, but I am very familiar with it. I can say with pretty much certainty that it is NOT the med that is causing these visual issues/hallucinations. It may be due to being very (psychotically) manic, or it may be down to extreme anxiety, but it aint the meds.
KSx I am an administrator on this site.
"Having a great intellect is no path to being happy."
~ Stephen Fry
See my website: www.katysaraculling.com
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Hanny
Member
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Posted Mon Oct 29th, 2007 9:09pm Post subject: Mania Meds and Visual Problems
I sat on the front porch and noticed I was seeing flashes of light in my peripheral vision, or when I turned my head I would see them out of the corner of my eye. They weren't flashing dots, but like a bars of light flickering 2 or 3 quick times. It got worse the more I sat there and was frankly disturbing. I also jumped at one point, I thought something was on my left but it was just a stupid plant in the garden so I was getting a bit nervous/jumpy. I didn't notice those flickering things after I came into the brighter lights in the house. Meds? Or can this visual thing happen with severe mania?
hi there
iv started having the same problem the last few months and was worrying so im so glad you have mentioned this as im thinking this may be a side effect.
im on venlafaxine 225mg for depression and anxiety dissorder. we have different illnesses with different meds so im thinking it is a side effect.
i have also recently been getting the withdrawal symptoms i had when coming of my last meds but iv been on this dose and med for the past 4 months. could this be normal too?
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seasun545
Member
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Posted Tue Oct 30th, 2007 9:17am Post subject: Mania Meds and Visual Problems
I´ve had same flashes of light as you describe, Shatzy, and also black dots on the corners of my eyes, wich make turn my head looking for flies or bugs. That was when I was manic and I wasn´t having any medication, In fact it was before going to see any doctor, so I think is not medication, is the mood itself and your brain having a party with fireworks when manic!
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shatzi
Member
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Posted Tue Oct 30th, 2007 1:16pm Post subject: Mania Meds and Visual Problems
I should have posted a reply last week but forgot about this thread. I went to my eye doctor last week and he ran all kinds of tests and said my eyes are normal. He said a few things could cause what I describe. One is migraines, but it happening so regularly and at night rules that out. High blood pressure can cause it, so if I exert myself on fitness walks, which I don't, that could cause it or if I have high BP, which I really don't unless I have a lot of coffee! Also he was concerned because I had Lasik last year to correct my nearsightedness and rid myself of glasses. He said sometimes the retina can get detached from pressure since the surgery only changes the shape of the cornea, the eyeball is still the same odd shape. My retina is fine. His opnion therefore is that is the meds or a blood pressure thing, or that it could be extreme mania.
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seasun545
Member
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Posted Tue Oct 30th, 2007 4:43pm Post subject: Mania Meds and Visual Problems
Thanks for telling us, shatzy, I still had no chance to tell my doctor but I was pretty sure it was mania effect.
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katysara
Moderator
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Posted Tue Oct 30th, 2007 4:56pm Post subject: Mania Meds and Visual Problems
Like I said before - and I do know about these things - it is not the meds. It is probably mania or something else.
KSx I am an administrator on this site.
"Having a great intellect is no path to being happy."
~ Stephen Fry
See my website: www.katysaraculling.com
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