However, there are a few instances when the pupils become dilated during the withdrawal period. The pupils often go back to their original size when the drug side effects fade. If your pupils dilate due to drug abuse, you may wonder whether they would remain that way for good. Are there long-term effects of pupil dilation? They include antihistamines, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, anticholinergics, decongestants, mydriatics, benzodiazepines, dopamine precursors, and stimulants. Some prescription medicines can cause pupil dilation. Iritis is an eye condition caused by inflammation of the iris. Anisocoria refers to a medical condition where one pupil is bigger than the other. If you’re happy, your pupils will appear more prominent. Most times, pupil dilation is a sign of endorphin release. How you feel can make your pupils dilate. If you get a concussion, one of your pupils may dilate.Pupils can dilate if you focus on objects far away from you.Other possible causes of pupil dilationīesides light and drug use, pupils can dilate for the following reasons: It has a list of various drugs and a pupil dilation scale which helps officers gauge the extent of pupil dilation. The Drug Recognition Card can also help first responders determine which drug is responsible for the dilation. The International Association of Chiefs of Police invented the chart to quickly determine the pupil size difference between sober people and those high on drugs. When there is suspicion of drug abuse, there is a unique tool that officers or medical practitioners can use to determine pupil dilation and the most likely cause.įirst responders use the Drug Recognition Card to determine whether or not an individual is sober. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has more information on the drugs mentioned above, including the effects of LSD. Marijuana, alcohol, and cocaine cause bloodshot eyes when they expand the blood vessels around the pupils. If you notice a heroin user has pinpoint pupils, it would be best to call 911 immediately. Sometimes, pinpoint pupils are an overdose symptom. Pinpoint pupils refer to pupils constricting and failing to respond to light. Other drugs, specifically opioids, can cause pinpoint pupils. Additionally, the stimulant medication used in ADHD treatment, i.e., Adderall and Ritalin, can also cause pupil dilation. Xanax, a benzodiazepine drug, can also make pupils dilate since it affects the activity of neurotransmitter GABA that relaxes the muscles. Some common drugs that cause pupils to dilate are: Most of them are psychotropic substances and stimulants. There are specific drugs that can cause eye dilation. Since neurotransmitters determine your pupil size, they may dilate after drug use. Therefore, they cause chemical reactions in your body, affecting neurotransmitters. Several drugs can alter pupil size since most drug interactions in the body affect neurotransmitters which are your body’s chemical messengers. This results in a chemical reaction that leads to muscle relaxation (mydriasis), making the pupils expand to allow more light in. Pupil dilation after drug abuse occurs when the drugs activate your body’s flight or fight adrenaline response by engaging adrenergic receptors in the brain and serotonin. What is pupil dilation, and why does it occur?

Pupil dilation chart