What Causes Dizziness After Weaning Off Of Cipralex?

Posted on Wed, 5 Feb 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 5 Feb 2014 Answered on

Fri, 28 Feb 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Good day doctor. I have been on cipralex for 7 months and gradually weaned myself off it. I now feel dizzy almost like drunk in my head and I get this cold strange feeling when I move and move my head. I also have tingling in my spine at times. could it be brain zaps as they call it as its withdrawal symptoms? and if so how long will it last amd what can I take to reduce these strange feelings?

Answered by Dr. Manisha Gopal (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Need to know few details before answers Detailed Answer: I have read your question carefully and it says that you have been on cipralex and gradually tapered it and are off it now. Since you have stopped it , there is a feeling of dizziness when you move or move your head with some occasional tingling in spine. Before I answer you , I would like to know - 1. the dosage of cipralex which you were taking 2. how did you taper it? like, in how many days did you do the dosage reduction? 3. why were you on cipralex ? 4. were there any complaint similar to this previously? Only after these answers I will be able to guide you properly. wish you good health Dr. Manisha Gopal MD Psychiatry

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Manisha Gopal (10 minutes later)

I was on it for panic attacks and anxiety. I took for 6 days half then the next six days a quarter of half.

Answered by Dr. Manisha Gopal (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Take good diet and get test done. Detailed Answer: Hello, You have not mentioned the dosage which you were taking? First- you tapered it fast, six days tapering in anxeity disorder is not recommended...I think you must have had these symptoms pretty soon after stopping the drug. Was this tapering under medical guidance? Secondly, these symptoms can be due to cervical spondylosis, so I asked if there were some of them earlier also, like even before treatment? You should get your blood pressure checked, and may be take an x Ray neck ( to rule out cervical ). ~~ Once both of these are normal, then it is highly likely due to withdrawal. Such withdrawal are supposed to wean off itself in few weeks to a month. nothing is required. In rare cases it may persist and need to be manged. You have not told for how long are these symptoms been there? You can take - -- a multivitamin like - rejunex OD or neurogardin, etc., --take adequate water and --more of fruits and salads in your diet these will help a lot in handling these complaints. ##Do get the test done please feel free to ask more questions for clarifictaion Dr. Manisha Gopal MD psychiatry

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E