Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Does Persistent Dizziness After Experiencing Earthquake Indicate?
Question: Its the case of my wife. Since the frequent after shocks felt here at XXXXXXX (after the 3rd or 4th time) that followed the major earthquake tremor in Nepal, my wife has been having some sort of dizziness or feeling that objects nearby her are moving. She thought it will be Ok in a few days but it has been almost a week...and her feeling of dizziness remains the same.
Earlier, a year back too, a fishbone was stuck in her throat for just few minutes and was cleared after swallowing solid food, but the sensation that a fishbone was stuck in her throat prsisted for days. So, after various test nothing was found and we went finally to a pshyciatrist who precribed some medicines for a month....She used to sleep a lot after taking those pills but the sensation went away gradually..
Sorry for explaining in such a long manner but thought is necessary. Sir, i fear that it is almost the same situation again...She gets anxious and is too easily saddened/sorrowed...I mean I feel that her mental ability to cope with any disturbance is too low.... Please HELP...The pills suggested by the earlier pshyciatrist was making her too sleepy almost all the time and her normal routine were getting affected..
Regards, XXXXXXX
Earlier, a year back too, a fishbone was stuck in her throat for just few minutes and was cleared after swallowing solid food, but the sensation that a fishbone was stuck in her throat prsisted for days. So, after various test nothing was found and we went finally to a pshyciatrist who precribed some medicines for a month....She used to sleep a lot after taking those pills but the sensation went away gradually..
Sorry for explaining in such a long manner but thought is necessary. Sir, i fear that it is almost the same situation again...She gets anxious and is too easily saddened/sorrowed...I mean I feel that her mental ability to cope with any disturbance is too low.... Please HELP...The pills suggested by the earlier pshyciatrist was making her too sleepy almost all the time and her normal routine were getting affected..
Regards, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
positive coping skills, antianxiety medications.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr. XXXXXXX
Welcome to HCM.
I have read the details given by you thoroughly.
There are some of those anxious personalities which get easily disturbed by the life events happening around them.
I feel she takes the things to her mind easily. This keeps on disturbing her.
The aftershocks of earthquake are making her anxious and her symptoms are derived out of this.
There are some positive coping strategies which you can ask/help her to follow:
1. Engaging her in some activities like gardening, painting etc as per her interest.
2. Ensuring that she sleeps adequately.
3. Take her out for a walk, movie or a dinner.
4. Make her feel confident that everyone is around here. There is nothing to fear.
5. Let her express her feelings uninterruptedly.
6. Practicing relaxation exercises like deep breathing and meditation.
7. Eating healthy food, more of green vegetables and fruits.
Other than this, there are some anti-anxiety, anti-depressant drugs like paroxetine, escitalopram(prescription drug). These drugs will not cause her to sleep all day and will lift her mood and reduce anxiety.
Kindly discuss these issues with your doctor.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
positive coping skills, antianxiety medications.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr. XXXXXXX
Welcome to HCM.
I have read the details given by you thoroughly.
There are some of those anxious personalities which get easily disturbed by the life events happening around them.
I feel she takes the things to her mind easily. This keeps on disturbing her.
The aftershocks of earthquake are making her anxious and her symptoms are derived out of this.
There are some positive coping strategies which you can ask/help her to follow:
1. Engaging her in some activities like gardening, painting etc as per her interest.
2. Ensuring that she sleeps adequately.
3. Take her out for a walk, movie or a dinner.
4. Make her feel confident that everyone is around here. There is nothing to fear.
5. Let her express her feelings uninterruptedly.
6. Practicing relaxation exercises like deep breathing and meditation.
7. Eating healthy food, more of green vegetables and fruits.
Other than this, there are some anti-anxiety, anti-depressant drugs like paroxetine, escitalopram(prescription drug). These drugs will not cause her to sleep all day and will lift her mood and reduce anxiety.
Kindly discuss these issues with your doctor.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
How often and for how many days the tablet has to be taken???...also which one of the two medicines we should prefer if both are available???
Brief Answer:
escitalopram is my preference.
Detailed Answer:
These drugs usually show their effect in around 2 weeks.
Depending on the response, the drugs are to be taken for a period of atleast 3-6 months as the problem of your wife is recurrent.
I personally prefer to use escitalopram in my patients.
However, both are quite efficacious.
You can consult a nearby psychiatrist for a valid prescription.
Hope this helps.
Kindly close the discussion if you are satisfied with the response and give your valuable feedback.
Take care.
Thanks.
escitalopram is my preference.
Detailed Answer:
These drugs usually show their effect in around 2 weeks.
Depending on the response, the drugs are to be taken for a period of atleast 3-6 months as the problem of your wife is recurrent.
I personally prefer to use escitalopram in my patients.
However, both are quite efficacious.
You can consult a nearby psychiatrist for a valid prescription.
Hope this helps.
Kindly close the discussion if you are satisfied with the response and give your valuable feedback.
Take care.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
But sir when to take it...I mean how many tablets a day and whether at night time or in the morning and whether after lunch or breakfast or empty stomach???
Hope my query is clear...
Hope my query is clear...
Brief Answer:
start with low dose and increased gradually.
Detailed Answer:
The drug is started at low dose of 5mg. The dose is increased gradually depending on patients response.
It is to be taken in morning after breakfast.
Initially it can cause diarhhea, restlessness and nausea in some cases. These side effects are short living and fade away in 3-4 days.
The drug is otherwise safe.
But start drug only under doctor's supervision.
Hope this answers your query.
Take care.
Thanks.
start with low dose and increased gradually.
Detailed Answer:
The drug is started at low dose of 5mg. The dose is increased gradually depending on patients response.
It is to be taken in morning after breakfast.
Initially it can cause diarhhea, restlessness and nausea in some cases. These side effects are short living and fade away in 3-4 days.
The drug is otherwise safe.
But start drug only under doctor's supervision.
Hope this answers your query.
Take care.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
