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Can Anxiety Cause Lightheadedness And Dizziness?
Question: I have a question about my lightheadedness I have had for 2 months since a night of heavy drinking. Then started with a dizzy spell. And since then I have quit smoking, started and STOPPED prozac in that 1 month because it made everything worse. I have generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder for 12 years. I worry about everything. I am 26 year old male. My doctors have told me I am lightheaded and off balance feeling and heavy in the eyes from anxiety and from drinking that one night and I excessivley worry. My ENT doctor also said its anxiety as he did some tests on me and neurological exams and he said nothing with my ears and nothing neurological and to not worry about a brain tumor. I am constantly thinking this off balance and nervous feeling and lightheaded feeling is a brain tumor for the last 2 months. Sometimes I do not notice it and other times its very annoying. I take 3 xanax a day @ 0.5 mg. Please tell me I'm not dying from a brain tumor or MS. My doctors and ENT said I would have much worse symptoms and other symptoms than just an off balance lightheaded/ heavy eye feeling if it was a brain tumor after two months. they say anxiety!!!!! do you agree?
Brief Answer:
There is no cause for worry.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. If your ENT Specialist found everything within normal limits and could not categorize the dizziness, it is most likely due to anxiety and your medications (drug-induced).
2. A bout of heavy drinking leads to gastritis, especially if you have not eaten that day and dehydration thereafter. Such a dizziness is usually unlike the spinning sensation (vertigo) where the ears are involved. These effects wear off over a day or two and hence it is now anxiety (which is very common with dizziness) and both Prozac (Fluoxitine) and Xanax (Alprazolam) may cause dizziness and lightheadedness.
3. Any Brain tumor and MS will not be missed on an MRI Scan. Hence a normal MRI Scan should allay your fears. Remember that these diseases are extremely rare and the
4. Are you on any medication for the dizzyness?
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
There is no cause for worry.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. If your ENT Specialist found everything within normal limits and could not categorize the dizziness, it is most likely due to anxiety and your medications (drug-induced).
2. A bout of heavy drinking leads to gastritis, especially if you have not eaten that day and dehydration thereafter. Such a dizziness is usually unlike the spinning sensation (vertigo) where the ears are involved. These effects wear off over a day or two and hence it is now anxiety (which is very common with dizziness) and both Prozac (Fluoxitine) and Xanax (Alprazolam) may cause dizziness and lightheadedness.
3. Any Brain tumor and MS will not be missed on an MRI Scan. Hence a normal MRI Scan should allay your fears. Remember that these diseases are extremely rare and the
4. Are you on any medication for the dizzyness?
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi, thank you for your reply.
I am not on anything for the dizziness/off balance feeling.
I have not had an MRI as my General Practitioner and ENT Doctor did not recommend that I need further evaluation because it was anxiety after the dizziness caused from the alcohol, which as you mentioned would have occured if I did not eat or drink much the next day. And I had eaten nothing that entire day after, besides a small bowl of soup. The day OF drinking all I had was a banana. So that is VERY little in 2 days.
Also, the dizziness or lightheaded feeling I explain, I have not noticed for the last hour, but I guess when I pay attention to it I notice it.
Also, I get strange rumble sounds that come and go in my ear. That has occured for years.
So I should not worry about brain tumor or MS? As far as I AM AWARE I am a healthy 26 year old male.
Thank you for your time Dr.
I am not on anything for the dizziness/off balance feeling.
I have not had an MRI as my General Practitioner and ENT Doctor did not recommend that I need further evaluation because it was anxiety after the dizziness caused from the alcohol, which as you mentioned would have occured if I did not eat or drink much the next day. And I had eaten nothing that entire day after, besides a small bowl of soup. The day OF drinking all I had was a banana. So that is VERY little in 2 days.
Also, the dizziness or lightheaded feeling I explain, I have not noticed for the last hour, but I guess when I pay attention to it I notice it.
Also, I get strange rumble sounds that come and go in my ear. That has occured for years.
So I should not worry about brain tumor or MS? As far as I AM AWARE I am a healthy 26 year old male.
Thank you for your time Dr.
Brief Answer:
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. It is good to hear that you can manage without medication for dizziness. The brain tends to compensate within 6-8 weeks and the dizziness usually disappears.
2. Severe gastritis seems to be the cause for the dizziness you had that day.
3. You must re-evaluate your medication.
4. The sounds in the ear are normal. They are usually due to the Eustachian tube.
5. You should not worry about any brain tumor or MS. There are highly unlikely at your age.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. It is good to hear that you can manage without medication for dizziness. The brain tends to compensate within 6-8 weeks and the dizziness usually disappears.
2. Severe gastritis seems to be the cause for the dizziness you had that day.
3. You must re-evaluate your medication.
4. The sounds in the ear are normal. They are usually due to the Eustachian tube.
5. You should not worry about any brain tumor or MS. There are highly unlikely at your age.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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