Does Adderall Dilate Pupils? Is It Normal or A Side Effect?

People suffering from ADHD use Adderall on prescription to deal with the mental health issue. Having dilated pupils is one of the side effects of Adderall. Patients often ask Does Adderall dilate pupils and How long does Adderall dilate pupils. If one thinks they must stop taking Adderall because of this, then they would be very wrong. The reason behind this lies in the mechanism of Adderall and other stimulant drugs that bring about many other repercussions with the dilation of pupils. We will understand about Adderall and its effects, how it dilates our pupils, and what the related symptoms are that come with the dilation of pupils due to Adderall.

Does Adderall Dilate Pupils? Finding Out Its Symptoms and Alternatives

What is Adderall?

Adderall is a CNS stimulant that treats Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and a sleeping condition called narcolepsy. It is a mixture of two salts, Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine, which are its main ingredients. Adderall is found in the market as an immediate-release medication. It is also available in extended-release tablets, which have other brand names like Mydaysis, Adderall XR, and Dynavel XR. Adderall’s mechanism involves binding with norepinephrine and dopamine receptors, which send their neurotransmitters to the brain. This helps in making one feel calm and relaxed because it slows down brain activity. It is a Schedule II drug acquired only by prescription.

What is Pupil Dilation and How Does it Affect our Vision?

Also known as Mydriasis, pupil dilation means that the pupils in the eyes are widened, and it happens due to many reasons. It can happen when there is less lighting in an area, or due to some emotional trigger, or maybe because of taking some medication. In this case, it is Adderall. Dilation takes place when the dilator in the iris contracts due to signals from the sympathetic nervous system because of excitement, stress, or darkness. This widens the pupil and gives a blurred, unclear vision. The same action takes place due to stimulant medications like Ritalin, Xanax and Adderall. Understanding how the medications affect our pupils becomes important when it keeps happening because of the dose.

How does Adderall Dilate Pupils?

The mechanism of Adderall is such that it can affect many parts of our body, one of which is our eyes. It begins with binding, where the dopamine and norepinephrine receptors send their neurotransmitters into the brain. This action not only activates the central nervous system but also triggers the sympathetic nervous system. The SNS is connected to the iris in our eyes, which makes the dilators present in this part of our eyes come closer to each other. This allows the pupil inside the iris to widen, making vision blurry for some time. This also allows the eyes to intake a lot more light for better vision. 

Is it Normal for Pupils to Dilate When Taking Adderall?

It is usually fine when Adderall consumption often leads to pupil dilation. It is a common side effect of Adderall, and it stays for a few hours in our eyes. In normal conditions, temporary light sensitivity and blurry vision might be the result. So, the patients need to understand that this dilation is not one of the major effects of Adderall, making it less harmful for eye health. But when one overdoses on Adderall, they find some unusual things happening to their eyesight, like having extremely blurry vision, headaches, and dizziness. This is when one should consider talking to a doctor about using Adderall for ADHD.

Symptoms of Pupil Dilation From Adderall Overdose

Adderall already has a lot of serious side effects on overdose, and pupil dilation is one of them. Here are some symptoms that can take place if we have prolonged dilation:

• Photophobia: This is a condition in which our eyes become completely incapable of receiving and filtering light because the pupils are unable to constrict back to normal.
• Impaired Vision: When the iris has difficulty focusing on near or distant objects or images, one can have impaired or blurry vision.
• Night Vision issues: At night, while walking on the road or driving a car, one will realise that the headlights of other vehicles and streetlights are blinding their eyes for a brief moment.
• Difficulty in Perceiving Depth: As prolonged dilation causes an inability to identify distances, one might also start losing the idea of recognising how far or deep objects can be. This can cause serious issues in activities like driving.
• Damage in the Drainage System: Patients can have damage in the narrow drainage angles of the eyes, which can lead to strain on optic nerves and even loss of vision.
• Damaged Retina: This is certainly happening if the pupils are unable to constrict themselves for a long period.

Alternatives for ADHD to Avoid Pupil Dilation

If Adderall can lead to dilation in pupils, then there are alternative medications for ADHD that one can take and avoid not just the side effect but also other side effects of the stimulant drug. 

Non-stimulant Drugs:

• Strattera is one of the best alternatives to Adderall, even prescribed to children for ADHD.
• Kapvay and Intuniv are also good alternatives to the stimulant that is available in the form of extended-release tablets.
• Qelbree is new to the market, but it is as effective as Strattera.
• Wellbutrin is a safer off-label medication for ADHD.

Non-pharmacological Alternatives:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is the first recommendation of doctors in ADHD, as it helps learning the skills that can treat inattentiveness and hyperactivity.
• Having a healthy and hygienic diet with regular exercise and meditation can help one with stress.
• Ginkgo Balboa and Rhodiola Rosea; and supplements like zinc, iron, vitamin B6, and magnesium are some of the most effective natural alternatives to Adderall.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does Adderall dilate pupils?

The immediate-release medication of Adderall can dilate our pupils for 4-6 hours, but it can do the same for almost 12 hours in its extended-release version. The duration varies in different patients, because they might have different dosages, different metabolism, or even the colour of the eye might be different.

Does Adderall make your pupils small or big?

As Adderall is a stimulant drug, it can activate the sympathetic nervous system and dilate our pupils, which widens the pupil, making it bigger, not smaller. This happens because the SNS triggers our “fight-or-flight” response when adrenaline is released by the medication.

Are dry eyes a side effect of Adderall?

Having dry eyes is one of the common side effects of Adderall. This happens because Adderall helps one focus and blink less, which leads to less tear distribution in the eyes, and that makes our eyes, and sometimes a little bit itchy. 

Does Adderall make your eyes red?

Adderall does make our eyes red and cause a sense of irritation. This is a normal side effect of the drug that makes the eyes dry and itchy, leading to redness and irritation. It can also swell our eyes in some cases, which needs to be treated medically.

Does Adderall cause eye pressure?

Adderall has a tendency to increase intraocular eye pressure (IOP) in some patients already having a condition called Glaucoma. If you have glaucoma or any underlying eye problem, then consult your doctor about it before they prescribe you Adderall.

How to fix blurred vision from Adderall?

Blurred Vision is one of the side effects of Adderall, and it happens due to dryness, strain, and sensitivity to light. If it persists for a longer period of time, then you must consult a doctor immediately, as it is an early sign of glaucoma. Before talking to your doctor, take OTC eye drops and remove dryness, wear sunglasses, and do not stop your Adderall dose at any cost.

Conclusion

Pupil Dilation caused by Adderall is a completely normal phenomenon. It is a common side effect of the drug that can happen to any patient with ADHD. An overdose of Adderall can make this simple occurrence a big issue for the eyesight, because if not treated, one can have a permanent loss of vision. Adderall is a potent drug, so switching to its alternative with a doctor’s approval can help ADHD patients.