Hi. It’s Jenny at AnxietyBoss.com. Our question today is from Robert in Denver, Colorado. Can Xanax cause blurred vision?
Blurred vision is a known side effect of the usage of Xanax (alprazolam). Although blurred vision is not as common as other side effects such as drowsiness or clumsiness, it’s still an effect that many patients experience. This is not usually a blinding experience, but it may cause some difficulty in seeing. As a result, reading and doing other activities that involve intense concentration may come across as much more difficult.
Sometimes patients may experience blurry vision in just one eye; other times, they may experience blurry vision in both eyes. If this has affected you in such a severe way that it’s interfering with your day-to-day activities, you may want to speak to your doctor about other medications that won’t cause this.
It’s also important to make sure that your blurry vision is not being caused by something more serious such as myopia, presbyopia, cataracts or another eye disease.
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Thanks for the post
I was looking for this
Glad it was helpful- thanks for visiting.
Interesting. I’ve been taking Xanax for years. I also have wet macular degeneration in both eyes; have had over 40 injections. However the AMD only affects central vision, not peripheral. I also have a mild cataract in my left eye. I’m legally blind in my right so it’s kind of irrelevant. The blurred vision has become significantly worse in my left eye over the last year, yet they say they see minimal change in the severity of the cataract. I wonder of this could be the cause. With my other issues it doesn’t take a lot of loss to make a significant difference in my ability to function. I’m a little frustrated because I’m kind of getting an “it is what it is” reaction. Thanks
Talk to your doctor about the possibility of Xanax causing your blurry vision. But being on a benzodiazepine long term is not the intended use for it…only meant to be taken for a few weeks, until other treatments with less side effects start to work. Here is the link for the side effect profile of Xanax: https://anxietyboss.com/anxiety-treatments/prescription-drugs/#alprazolam.
I just saw this. I understand re: the use of Xanax and have discussed it at length with my doctor. We have tried virtually all alternatives including antidepressants, things like Abilify, etc., etc. They either don’t help or I have severe side effects. He has given up on anything but benzo’s for my anxiety issues. A 16 year old lawsuit has finally ended so perhaps that will help. However after being on them for more than ten years, my understanding is that it needs to be a slow process to titrate off of it. I’m not sure they actually help any more; I suspect the relief I get is more related to withdrawal. If this is a viable explanation of the non-AMD vision issues I’m having, that would relieve the frustration of the doctors not knowing what’s causing it and give me additional motivation. I’ve had 40 plus injections in that eye and that could be a factor as well, at least in my mind.
Just taper the dose very slowly when you decide to go off of it- it may take a few months, given you have been on it for years.