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What Causes Blurred Vision And Loss Of Hearing While On Escitalopram?

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Posted on Sun, 8 Jan 2017
Twitter Sun, 8 Jan 2017 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 31 Jan 2017 Last reviewed on
Question : We took our 17 years old daughter to the ER last Tuesday. We had seen a counselor (psychologist) who deals with teens' problems and has done so for many years. She told us that our daughter was suffering from depression and to taker her to the ER. The doctor there prescribed Escitalopram and our daughter has been taking it since 01/03/17. Today, she was starting her basketball practice and after 1/2 hour or so, she felt she was about to pass out so she laid her self down immediately. She had passed out in the past and therefore recognized the symptoms: her hearing was going and her vision was blurry. I read that if one of the side effects was causing her to pass out, to get in touch right away with the doctor. We are going to set an appointment for her to see the same medical doctor as my husband has since mine doesn't take any new patients. However, at this time, I am wondering what is best to do. She is now resting in bed.
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Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Reduce the dose of Escitalopram to 5.

Detailed Answer:
Hi thanks for asking from HCM

I can understand your concern. Escitalopram is a SSRI drug and during first week of starting the drug a lot of adverse effects like nausea, dizziness, heaviness, gastric upset etc are seen. To minimise the risk it is recommended that the drug should be started with low dose and doses should be upped gradually.

She has been given 10 mg as starting dose and this could be the reason she was about to pass out and developed blurred vision. But this is not a serious issue. Till she is shown to a psychiatrist you can reduce the dose of drug to 5 mg per day. The dose can be continued for about a week and then can be increased again to 10.

If you have blood pressure machine then check her BP. Give her plenty of fluids and this will help in improvement of symptoms.

Thanks. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 5192 Questions

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What Causes Blurred Vision And Loss Of Hearing While On Escitalopram?

Brief Answer: Reduce the dose of Escitalopram to 5. Detailed Answer: Hi thanks for asking from HCM I can understand your concern. Escitalopram is a SSRI drug and during first week of starting the drug a lot of adverse effects like nausea, dizziness, heaviness, gastric upset etc are seen. To minimise the risk it is recommended that the drug should be started with low dose and doses should be upped gradually. She has been given 10 mg as starting dose and this could be the reason she was about to pass out and developed blurred vision. But this is not a serious issue. Till she is shown to a psychiatrist you can reduce the dose of drug to 5 mg per day. The dose can be continued for about a week and then can be increased again to 10. If you have blood pressure machine then check her BP. Give her plenty of fluids and this will help in improvement of symptoms. Thanks. Take care.