Effexor alternatives - Narrow-Angle Glaucoma

[SierraSix]

Greetings

my doctor just prescribed me Effexor, but he didn’t know I am predisposed to narrow-angle glaucoma, which is a contraindication Has anyone dealt with this before are there any alternatives

thanks, Mark.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello,

Anti-depressants are not recommended for people with narrow angle glaucoma. The reason for this, is that any anxiety medication is a form of relaxant, and it can cause the eye to dilate slightly, pushing the iris forward, which in turn, can make the already narrow drainage system of the eye even narrower. There are also over the counter medications that can cause this to happen. Any medication that mentions warnings of precautions if you have glaucoma, will be for people with primary angle closure glaucoma( narrow angle glaucoma)

If you have received successful laser treatment or undergone cataract surgery, it may be OK to use an anti-depressant, otherwise they are best avoided.

Many people find breathing exercises for anxiety and depression help them immensely. YouTube has many videos on this, which you may find helpful.