
Stopped Taking Citropham Anti Depressant. Is This Related To Getting Shingles?

Psychological stress can cause shingles.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for your query.
I appreciate your efforts for medical consultation in so much distress.
Citropham contain citalopram, which is used for anxiety and depressive disorders. On sudden stoppage it can lead to SSRI discontinuation syndrome. Which can cause following symptoms:
Stress/anxiety/agitation, irritability and poor concentration.
Shingles (Herpes zoster) is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a limited area on one side of the body (left or right).
The initial infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes the acute, short-lived illness chickenpox which generally occurs in young age. Once an episode of chickenpox has resolved, the virus is not eliminated from the body and remain in dormant in neurons.
After some years virus can reactivate, which is more likely to occur in people whose immune systems are impaired due to aging, immuno-suppressive therapy, psychological stress, or other factors and can go on to cause shingles.
As citalopram can lead to psychological stress, it can cause shingles by suppressing immunity.
I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you. In case of any doubt, I will be available for follow ups.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
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Need to rule out other causes of shingles
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Thanks for follow up.
Celexa and shingles can be related to each other due to psychological stress in withdrawal or due to exacerbation of illness. But in your follow up query it appear that your shingles start 2 days after stoppage of celexa.
There is need to rule out other causes of shingles, in your case like:
-Fever
-Use of steroid
-Immuno-suppression due to infection or chronic illness
Please accept my answer in case there are no further queries and recommend our services to your friends too if you have found it helpful.
Wish you good health.
Regards

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