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Hello I Was Wondering If You Could Please Help Me
Question: Hello
I was wondering if you could please help me with a certain issue i am dealing with
I was on fluoxetine for 6 years for depression but I decided to stop the medication in January 2021 as I thought I was now in a good position to deal with my issues drug free ,unfortunately after a year my issues resurfaced so I decided to go back on the medication but for some reason the medication has been causing eye and facial pain on the right side of my face
I have a warm dull ache feeling in my eye and it becomes bloodshot red and I have pulsating sensations in the cheek bone and temple area ,I also developed nasal congestion
I stopped the medication for 2 weeks and the issued subsided so I tried the medication again and unfortunately the issues reacured, i have tried other SSRIs but they have all so caused the same problems
I have been to my GP but he doesn't know why the medication is causing it
I have come to the possibility that serotonin is the culprit but obviously I am not an expert
Do you have any idea as to what could be happening?
Thanks you
I was wondering if you could please help me with a certain issue i am dealing with
I was on fluoxetine for 6 years for depression but I decided to stop the medication in January 2021 as I thought I was now in a good position to deal with my issues drug free ,unfortunately after a year my issues resurfaced so I decided to go back on the medication but for some reason the medication has been causing eye and facial pain on the right side of my face
I have a warm dull ache feeling in my eye and it becomes bloodshot red and I have pulsating sensations in the cheek bone and temple area ,I also developed nasal congestion
I stopped the medication for 2 weeks and the issued subsided so I tried the medication again and unfortunately the issues reacured, i have tried other SSRIs but they have all so caused the same problems
I have been to my GP but he doesn't know why the medication is causing it
I have come to the possibility that serotonin is the culprit but obviously I am not an expert
Do you have any idea as to what could be happening?
Thanks you
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to the "Ask a Doctor" service.
I have read your question.
Fluoxetine use may result in some cases of adverse effects such as flu-like symptoms for example, as in your case.
In some cases, it may exacerbate sinusitis also.
In my opinion, you should be checked first for sinusitis by seeing an ENT Doctor.
If there is no sinusitis, you can use the half dose of fluoxetine for one week and see if it works.
Discuss with your Doctor these issues.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
I would explain as follows.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to the "Ask a Doctor" service.
I have read your question.
Fluoxetine use may result in some cases of adverse effects such as flu-like symptoms for example, as in your case.
In some cases, it may exacerbate sinusitis also.
In my opinion, you should be checked first for sinusitis by seeing an ENT Doctor.
If there is no sinusitis, you can use the half dose of fluoxetine for one week and see if it works.
Discuss with your Doctor these issues.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Dr I forgot to mention that I have had a CT scan which was assessed by an ENT doctor who ruled out any sinus issues and I have also had an eye examinaton with no issues including healthy eye pressure, i have also tried halfing the dose but unfortunately it is the same out come
Could there be a possibility of the serotonin causing blood vessel dilation of the ophthalmic artery which could be pressing against the ophthalmic nerve? Or possibly some were on the level of a migraine?
Could there be a possibility of the serotonin causing blood vessel dilation of the ophthalmic artery which could be pressing against the ophthalmic nerve? Or possibly some were on the level of a migraine?
Brief Answer:
It could be serotonin imbalance.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Since there are no problems with your sinuses, serotonin imbalance can not be excluded in your case.
In my opinion, you could try half a dose of fluoxetine and see how it is going.
Hope this helps.
feel free to ask if you have further questions.
It could be serotonin imbalance.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Since there are no problems with your sinuses, serotonin imbalance can not be excluded in your case.
In my opinion, you could try half a dose of fluoxetine and see how it is going.
Hope this helps.
feel free to ask if you have further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Do you think an MRI scan would detect some abnormalities?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Since there was a CT scan done that did not raise any suspicion, I think there is no need for an MRI.
I don't think that the MRI scan will detect any abnormalities.
I hope this helps.
Take care
I would explain as follows.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Since there was a CT scan done that did not raise any suspicion, I think there is no need for an MRI.
I don't think that the MRI scan will detect any abnormalities.
I hope this helps.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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