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Face numbness for a week

Posted , 5 users are following.

silex
silex

Hello,

I have anxiety, and experienced panic attack several times. Now i am taking Escitalopram once a day. I started taking it around 2 weeks ago. Last time when i woke up, i felt numbness on back of my head. Same day, this numbness has spread to my right face. I went to a neurologyst, he wanted MRI, but MRI results were completely normal. So, he said this might be psychological. Its 6th day. Now this numbness is on my left side as well. It doesnt go away, i start to feel it as soon as i wake up. I have diarrhea and nausea every morning too. I sometimes feel numbness on my left arm as well, seems like its weaker than right one.

If this is psychological, can it last so long? What do you think? I went to the pool the day before everything started. I suspect maybe water was not clean?

Btw, I am taking Escitalopram (Cipralex 10mg), B12 and Folic Acid everyday.

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • darren84
    darren84 silex

    Posted

    did the numbness start after you started your meds or before?
    • silex
      silex darren84

      Posted

      1 week after i started Escitalopram. I told this to my psychiatrist, she advised me to take Atarax (hydroxyzine) as well. It helps for numbness, but does not solve the problem completely.
    • darren84
      darren84 silex

      Posted

      side effects can be tingling and numbness. this might subside after your body gets used to the meds. i had the same thing when i was on fluoxitine. my numbness was in the left side of my face and my left hand. it took a month for it to go away.

      whats the folic acid for?

    • silex
      silex darren84

      Posted

      I had taken Escitalopram 3 years ago as well, but side effect at that time was only headache. I hope this is a some kind of side effect as you said.

      I take Folic acid to lower Triglycerides. 

    • darren84
      darren84 silex

      Posted

      if it carries on then suggest to the doctor to try a different med.

      you had full bloods done and blood pressure checks?

    • silex
      silex darren84

      Posted

      I checked my blood maybe 1 month before this numbness
    • darren84
      darren84 silex

      Posted

      lots of people on this forum have posted stuff about numbness. i hope you get more input on how others experienced it to. i personally think it will subside soon but im just going on what my doctor told me. i also had nausea and the runs when i started meds aswell
  • jodiemay87
    jodiemay87 silex

    Posted

    Hi Silex, 

    Well to start with that’s good news that your MRI was all good.

    Through my experience with Anxiety it can give so many different sensations & symptoms all over your body.  

    It’s do with the blood flow or something that I’ve read about, tingling, pins & needles, numbness, shooting pains can all be linked to Anxiety.

    Have you checked side effects of your medication? 

    Thought about having a massage?

    Might help to bring back any sensations?

    I have had diarrhoea for the last 2 weeks, not nice is it.

    I am waiting on stool tests atm, so fingers crossed.

    You might want to get yours checked too, just to try & put your mind at ease.

    Anxiety can be so cruel.

    But  you can beat this!

  • Guest
    Guest silex

    Posted

    How long have you been on the Cipralex? Facial numbness is quite a common side effect of SSRI medication when you first get on them. Usually the side effects don't last more than a few weeks.

    See your GP or Psychiatrist if you are concerned. 

  • pauline00568
    pauline00568 silex

    Posted

    Sorry to hear this. Have you been checked for vitamin deficiencies and thyroid disorders?
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