What Drugs Cause Dilated Pupils? Certain substances can affect the nervous system, leading to pupil dilation (mydriasis). While pupils naturally adjust to light changes, drug use can also cause them to expand abnormally. Stimulants, hallucinogens, and certain medications are the most common culprits. This article explores the drugs that cause dilated pupils, why it happens, and what it may indicate about substance use.
If you or a loved one is struggling with drug addiction, Live Oaks Wellness is here to help. Call us today or verify your insurance to learn more about our personalized treatment options and start your journey toward recovery.
How Do Drugs Affect Your Pupils?
Drugs can cause your pupils to do two things, constrict (become smaller) or dilate (become larger).
- Constriction: Constricted, or pinpoint, pupils are typically associated with opioids such as heroin, morphine, and many prescription painkillers. These drugs activate the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which controls functions such as digestion, relaxation, and pupil constriction.
Dilation: Some substances (which we’ll discuss in greater detail in the next section, What Drugs Cause Dilated Pupils?) have the opposite effect on pupil size, causing them to expand or dilate. These drugs interact with the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which controls the body’s “fight or flight” response. SNS activation – which normally occurs when a threat has been detected – includes dilating the pupils to increase visual perception.
What Drugs Cause Dilated Pupils?
The answer to the question, what drugs cause pupils to dilate, doesn’t have a quick answer. Several substances from multiple categories can have this effect.
Stimulants
Many drugs that cause pupils to dilate fall into the stimulant category. Stimulants speed the delivery of messages through the central nervous system (CNS).
Stimulants also activate the sympathetic nervous system, which, as alluded to in the previous section, causes “fight or flight” responses such as:
- Dilated pupils
- Accelerated heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Enhanced focus
- Boost in energy
If you were facing an actual threat, these temporary changes would allow you to take in a greater amount of visual information and react more quickly.
Stimulants that can cause dilation of the pupils include:
- Amphetamine
- Dextroamphetamine
- Caffeine
- Cocaine
- Dexedrine
- Methamphetamine
- Methylphenidate
- Nicotine
The list of stimulants that can cause your pupils to dilate also includes some common prescription medications, such as Adderall and Ritalin, which are often prescribed to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Adderall is composed of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, while Ritalin contains methylphenidate.
Other Drugs That Cause Pupils to Dilate
Stimulants aren’t the only substances that can cause pupil dilation. Other drugs that can have this effect include:
- Alcohol: This drug can cause both the constriction and dilation of pupils, though neither effect is usually as pronounced as what occurs when a person uses stimulants.
- Antidepressants: Two categories of commonly prescribed antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), often cause dilation of the pupils.
- Cannabis (marijuana): As with alcohol, various studies have found that cannabis can cause slight dilation of the pupils
- Club drugs: This informal category includes ketamine, LSD (acid), Rohypnol (roofies), and MDMA (molly or ecstasy). Their impact on a person’s vision, perception, and sensitivity to light can include dilation of the pupils.
What Are Other Common Signs of Drug Use?
Constricted or dilated pupils are far from the only signs that a person has been using drugs. For example, the following signs may indicate that a person is currently under the influence of alcohol or another mind-altering substance:
- Slurred speech
- Impaired coordination or unsteadiness
- Difficulty following conversations
- Significant change in energy level
- Acting with uncharacteristic aggression or passivity
- Poor judgement
- Loss of inhibitions
- Impulsivity
Someone who continues to use drugs over an extended period may begin to exhibit other signs as well.
Other Signs Such As:
- Unintentional weight loss or gain
- Abnormal sleep patterns, which can include insomnia or hypersomnia
- Lack of attention to appearance and personal hygiene
- Downturn in performance at work or in school
- Memory problems and other cognitive impairments
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Being secretive or deceptive about where they go and who they associate with
The longer a person’s drug use persists, the greater their risk becomes of developing a substance use disorder, which is the clinical term for addiction. Signs that someone has become addicted to alcohol or another drug can include:
- Using the drug more frequently or in greater amounts than they intended
- Using the drug in ways that are especially hazardous, such as by combining drugs or driving while under their influence
- Continuing to use the substance even after incurring physical, psychological, or social harm as a result of prior use
- No longer participating in activities that used to be important to them
- Failing to pay bills or meet other responsibilities
- Needing to use greater amounts of the drug to experience the effects that they could previously achieve via smaller doses
- Developing physical and/or psychological withdrawal symptoms when they try to curtail or end their drug use
Untreated drug addiction can be devastating. Addictions are chronic, progressive diseases, which means that they are likely to persist and get worse if a person doesn’t get the care they need.
Thankfully, addictions are treatable conditions. With effective professional help and a concerted effort, people who have become dependent on any addictive substances can end their use of these drugs and live healthier lives in recovery.
The path to recovery often begins with an assessment by a doctor or other qualified expert. In addition to providing an accurate diagnosis and evaluating how a person has been impacted by their substance use, the professional who conducts their assessment should also be able to recommend appropriate treatment options.
Learn More About Addiction Treatment in the San Francisco Bay Area
Live Oaks Treatment Center offers comprehensive, personalized treatment to adults who have become addicted to alcohol, stimulants, opioids, and other substances. We also provide dual diagnosis services to patients who have both an addiction and a co-occurring mental health concern, such as anxiety, depression, or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Treatment options at our rehab in the San Francisco Bay Area include detox, residential care, and outpatient programming. Our team will work with you to identify the full scope of your needs and determine which programs, therapies, and services are best for you.
To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
