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Mental Health  (Expert Forum)
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Can tingling sensation be caused by stress?
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
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MedHelp Member's Question

Can tingling sensation be caused by stress?

by Tingler, Sep 27, 2006 12:00AM
Two months ago I presented with the following symptoms all over my body (but not my face or head) - a tingling/crawling/prickly sensation. The sensation is with me EVERYDAY. It has not gotten worse but there has been no improvement either. It initially started in my feet and legs (I think) and within a few hours had spread to the rest of my body. It  started about eight hours after I had had a polio vaccination (I went to Namibia on business in July where there had been a polio outbreak which I did not know about) and on my return to my country (South Africa) I was so anxious and scared that I might have contracted polio that I went and got a booster polio vaccination three days after my return. The tingling started on the same day that I had the vaccination. My my doctor thought that I might have had a reaction to the vaccination. I went to a physician who said it was probably an inflamation of the peripheral nerves due to the vaccination and prescribed cortizone, which did not help at all. Since then I have seen two neurologists who cannot diagnose what it could be. The one neurologist said that it was a reaction to the vaccination and I should be ok in about a month - it has been two and a half months now and there is no improvement. The other neurologist did a whole series of tests (believing that the tingling was unrelated to the vaccination). I have had a range of blood tests (to test for auto-immune diseases, thyroid problems, diabetes etc) which came back negative. I have also had an EEG, a nerve conduction test (to determine whether there is any nerve damage) and an MRI - all tests have come back fine. There is also no muscle weakness, numbness or loss of co-ordination involved, so it is not MS or other similar diseases (so I've been told by my doctors). The second neurologist said that I should also have a lumbar puncture - I haven't yet. I am at my wits end. Could this tingling sensation have been caused by my initial anxiety or stress about contracting polio? I was VERY anxious about polio. I think I handle stress well (I have a stressful job) but worry about the most ridiculous 'health issues' (like polio for instance when I had nothing to worry about since I was vaccinated as a child). The more I research this tingling sensation on the internet the more over-wrought I become, imagining the worst. I don't know what caused the tingling and it concerns me constantly. It is with relief that I read on your site that some other people also have 'the tingles' and that it could be as a result of anxiety. I don't feel stressed and don't think that I am particularly anxious now about the tinling (I was initially), just concerned and frustrated - I want some answers and a solution. What can I do? Where do I go from here? Should I go and have the lumbar puncture too? Should I raise the issue of anxiety with my neurologist? Is it possible anxiety could have caused the tingling/prickly sensation? Can anyone assist please.
Doctor's Answer

by Roger Gould, M.D., Sep 30, 2006 12:00AM
Given this history, let me make a suggestion.  Before you have a lumbar tap or any other procedure, ask your doctor to prescribe klonopin, o.5 mg twice a day, and use that for a week to  see what happens to your symptoms.  If it is anxiety and a secondary anxiety( worry re the symptoms and disease), this should help, and it will also tell you the  cause.
Member Comments (12)

by socgirl, Sep 28, 2006 12:00AM
Stress can cause just about anything.  Get another opinion from a neurologist who specilizes in issues like this.  Also, try some exercises to relax like deep breathing, meditation, yoga, etc....that is if you're into things like that.  If symptoms go away after that, than you can assume it's stress.

by bjiler05, Oct 14, 2006 12:00AM
I've been experiencing the same 'tingles' as you described and I was wondering if they happened to stop?  and what you did?  It started for me on 10/10 around noon and has yet to stop.  Please let me know if there was anything that you did that helped them to stop.

by hyposteph, Oct 17, 2006 12:00AM
I had the same problem but it was after I had taken a pill called Lexapro. The DR prescribed it to me after I went to him with anxiety. I took the pill that night at 7:30pm and woke up at 1:30am with severe burning/tingling feeling all over my body from head to toe. My body felt like it was on fire from inside out but yet my skin didnt feel that hot. I quickly ran into the other room and told my mom to take me to the hospital that there was something wrong. I thought I was having an allergic reaction to it or that I was going into spontaneous combustion (no joke-i was burning that bad) At the same time I was having a panic attack which caused it to get worse. I couldnt catch my breath, I was shaking uncontrollably, and felt so sick. Finally my mom had to calm me down and said I was having a really bad panic attack. Eventually I calmed down but continued to still have waves of it all day and would still wake up in the middle of the night with panic attacks and feeling overwhelmingly hot.  Now, I had only taken one 10mg pill and a month later I sometimes still get tingly on my arms and neck and I constantly feel hot! I feel as if that pill damaged something like my nerves or heat sensory(if that makes sense) I am almost always hot and I used to always be cold. Its so annoying beacuse I used to go tanning all the time and it took me about a month just to go back to the tanning bed in hopes that I dont get a panic attack when Im in there. When I start feeling myself get hot I feel like a flush and get all nervous. I havent really felt it lately because I was put on Zoloft a couple weeks after that episode with the Lexapro because I couldnt stand the panic attacks I kept having from that night. I almost feel like its a post traumatic stress disorder from what happened that night. I get all anxious and think thats gonna happen again. I dont know im gonna keep taking my Zoloft and see what happens!

by Tingler, Oct 19, 2006 12:00AM
To: bjiler
Hi. I took the Dr's advice and asked my neurologist to put me on an anti-anxiety type drug (although I must point out that I was not having panic attacks or anything). The cause of my tingling (which has been with me for 3 months now) is probably due to the polio vaccination I received together with my excessive and extreme worry about polio and what other diseases the tingling could be a sypmtom of (MS for example). My neurologist put me on 0.5mg of Xanor (twice a day) for a week and then I was to call him. I must say that there was a vast improvement in the tingling. I took the last tablet yesterday morning and the tingling also came back full force. I cannot stay on Xanor for a long time since it is addictive according to my neurologist. His reasoning is because an anti-anxiety drug (Xanor)worked, an anti-depressive should to. So I am now on (as of today) Cipralex (0.5mg a day). Apparently they can treat tingling with it too (not only depression which I do not suffer from) but it takes about 3 weeks to kick in. So, I'm living with the tingles again. I'm to call the neurologist back in 20 days time. If Cipralex does not work he'll either up the dosage to 10mg a day or put me on an anti-epileptic medication which they think can also 'cure' the tingles. Speak to your doctor and good-luck. Anyone had any luck with Cipralex?

by AJC, Nov 01, 2006 12:00AM
To: HYPOSTEPH
I took 1 10 mg. tablet of Lexapro on Sept. 21st and had a very similar experience as Hyposteph. It has been over 5 weeks and I am still having horrible symptoms. I am on short term disability and haven't been able to return to work because of it. I feel like noone believes me because they have never heard of such a thing from only one pill. I have been desperately searching for anyone else who has experienced this so I can better understand it. Please contact me via e-mail at ***@****,  I could really use some advice and information at this point.

Thank you.

by sally1979, Nov 08, 2006 12:00AM
I have a situation where I was on lexapro for about a year, then was taken off of it not weened, then started having bad panic attacks again. My doctor put me back on it and I am now experiencing some of the similar symptoms that you all are. alot of these are just side effects, and usually go away when the medicine kicks in and starts to take full effect. I am just wondering if the medicine may not be working correctly this time around? my doctor told me that sometimes it may not work since I was on it before. can anyone give me advice. I have been going through alot of stress with family, death of friends and family and other situations but deserve to feel better and be happier. if anyone can give me advice id appreciate it. also if you need more info on lexapro there is a website called www.lexapro,com

by AJC, Nov 23, 2006 12:00AM
To: Sally
I'm sorry, I cannot give you any advice but as soon as I have any answers from a neurologist or specialist of some sort, I will keep you posted. Personally, I didn't react well at all to Lexapro and thought, and still sometimes think I am going to lose my mind while in an episode. I don't have any answers except that it was definitely the Lexapro that caused my symptoms. My family doctor has been very supportive and now I have been in a waiting game for 2 months waiting for these horrible effects to subside. LEXAPRO HAS MADE ME AT LEAST 10 TIMES MORE SENSITIVE TO EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE FROM JUST ONE 10MG.PILL. I FEEL THE CHEMICAL RELEASE THAT WAKES US UP IN THE MORNING, THE CHEMICAL RELEASED AFTER A MEAL OR WHEN MY BODY IS GETTING TIRED, AND ESPECIALLY AFTER SEX. NORMALLY I WOULDN'T FEEL THE RUSH, BUT NOW IT IS SO INTENSE I HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME MANAGING THE INTENSE FLUSHING OF NEUROTRANSMITTERS OR HORMONES. I ALSO GET VERY EMOTIONAL AND MOODY ,WHEREAS, IN THE PAST I COULD EASILY DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES. I ALSO GET SCARED FOR NO REASON AT TIMES OR SCARED AT THINGS I MIGHT SEE ON TV, WHICH IS ALSO SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT MY SENSITIVITY HAS BEEN ESCALATED TO A POINT WHERE I CANNOT FUNCTION IN THE REAL WORL AT LEAST HALF THE TIME. I will keep you posted if I get any important info. I have also posted under the UNDIAGNOSED SYMPTOMS forum under the thread title; "Lexapro, horrible side effects after only one pill" if you would like to read my summarized account.

by SPIDEY SENSES ALERT, Dec 04, 2006 12:00AM
I feel like I'm Spiderman, and the flared senses respond, but no enemies or dangers are out to get me, my body, the bio-talker is telling me something.  What?  I see that we all have the same question in regards to these rogue tinglings.  First off, in regards to the Stress, I'd say the Tingles cause the stress, so if you are taking a medication for the stress of the tingles, you may be just taking care of a byproduct, but not the original problem.  I'm gonna think out loud here, try to follow my notes, I'll keep it as fluid as possible and note that I goto the online encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page)that really helps out and I suggest to all to get started on research there on life.  



Ok, we're going to start with a few years back.  Two years to be exact.  My Body Chemistry changed after I came back from Indonesia.  I got a polio shot before I left to join in on the tsunami relief.  I could definitely feel a change in my hair follicles and fingernail plates.  I am an extremely sensitive person.  I did take continual pills while there for the prevention malaria.  [Email me at ***@**** if you need to know the 2 or 3 chemicals I filtered in me via travel doctor here in Los Angeles.]



I'm going to ignorantly point my finger to the polio vac and say on that same hunch that it may have either destroyed completely or turned off some facility in the organism of