scream_phoenix Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 i started taking anafranil again a little over a week ago, and although i don't have all the side effects i remember having from taking it several years ago yet, the one that is definitely bothering me so far is the increased sensititivity to sunlight. my pupils can't contract very much, and remain [freakishly?] dilated most of the time. which is bad, especially if you live somewhere where its 100+ degrees and really really bright in the summer. just staring outside today makes my eyes hurt. is this a side-effect of just anafranil, or do other TCA's do this as well. i realize i should probably give the drug the full 8 week trial, but i don't think i can make it if my eye's are this sensitive to sunlight all the time. any insight, or advice to counteract this side effect would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
null0trooper Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 i started taking anafranil again a little over a week ago, and although i don't have all the side effects i remember having from taking it several years ago yet, the one that is definitely bothering me so far is the increased sensititivity to sunlight. my pupils can't contract very much, and remain [freakishly?] dilated most of the time. which is bad, especially if you live somewhere where its 100+ degrees and really really bright in the summer. just staring outside today makes my eyes hurt. is this a side-effect of just anafranil, or do other TCA's do this as well. i realize i should probably give the drug the full 8 week trial, but i don't think i can make it if my eye's are this sensitive to sunlight all the time. any insight, or advice to counteract this side effect would be appreciated. According to (a c.1980 abstract), desipramine (Norpramin) can increase pupil size as well. I really hadn't noticed much change myself. From the same ref, amitryptaline (Elavil) might not dilate pupils as strongly as desipramine - but I'm not certain that means much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catnapper Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 I take Vivactil (protriptyline), another TCA, along with Wellbutrin and Topomax, and although I've never noticed the increased sensitivity to sunlight, the dry mouth and increased chance for heat exhaustion bother me. I also live in the Southwest and am naturally very fair and am one of those people who need sunblock if I'm going to be outside for more than ten minutes, so because I'm already so sun sensitive it would be hard to make me more so. I haven't noticed the sun sensitivity to my eyes, but I usually wear prescription sunglasses because I'm nearsighted. I asked for really dark lenses on account of my location and find they help a lot with sun headaches. Getting a good pair of dark glasses may help. Vivactil is my least favorite drug because of the side effects (mostly the dry mouth), but by using daily mood charts and going off of it for a while, the pdoc and I found it does work so now I'm back on it. Hope you find a reasonable solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirMarshall Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 I was on Elavil about 15 years ago. It dilated my pupils and made me highly sensitive to the sun. Not only that, but when I went out to an airshow and thought I would be safe by slathering on sunscreen I got a bizarre combination of sunburn and raised bumps. arrgh. a.m. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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