Does anxiety cause diarrhoea.

[leepy]

Hi I'm new to this site, would like to ask a question. Is diarrhoea a common symptom of Anxiety. I've had it bout 8weeks now, and get very panicky if I'm not close to a toilet. It's seems to be ruling my life at the minute. I'm on 10mg of citalopram a day for my anxiety, have been taking it for 4weeks. Could this be causing my diarrhoea.

[Mandy26]

Hi leepy, I'm not sure about the medication but whenever I have a bout of anxiety I get really bad stomach cramps and have to go to the toilet. Have you looked into irritable bowel syndrome also? This can give you an urge to go to the toilet very quickly and is a very common thing in people. X

[hollow]

Hi leepy and welcome. Yes in answer to your question anxiety can cause this. Medication can also cause diarrhoea but you say you've had the symptom for 8 weeks but only been on your meds for four so maybe more your anxiety is the cause.

[Pennylayne]

Hi leepy , if you've had the diarrhoea for 8 weeks and have only been taking the citalopram for 4 it's unlikely to be what is causing it.

Eight weeks is a long time to have it continuously and you need to get to your GP and tell them your symptoms, it's important to find out what is causing it.

It may very well be IBS ......has anything changed in your diet? You may have an intolerance to something .....there are lots of reasons.

On the other hand if anxiety is the cause your GP may want to change your citalopram dose or suggest something else.

Either way that GP appointment is your first course of action. Take Care. PL

[Hidden]

Hi. leepy. Not half!!! This is a classic symptom. Not everyone gets it. As hollow says, it could be medication. Have you been back to your GP? Remember, however rotten it is it is just another symptom and will not harm you if treated the right way. Hope you feel better. Regards. jonathan.

[leepy]

Hi every one, thank you all so much for you're guidance on this matter, what lovely people you are. Nothing has changed in my diet, I did mentioned it to my gp a week ago and he said its prob a sympom of the anxiety, I'm due for a review again on 23rd Nov, so if its still happening then I will tell him again. It's jst uncontrollable at the min, so I'm afraid to go anywhere, so when I have to go out I panic and need to go. It's jst a vicious circle. I've never had anxiety before, I'm 45 and got a happy home life, work full time, ( on the box a minute ) so jst don't know where it's come from. Thanks to every one whose replied and I will take on board what you all have suggested. xxx

[Hidden in reply to leepy]

And, leepy, please come back and let us know how you get on. Our satisfaction is in knowing that we are able to help so don't disappear into 'the wild blue yonder'!

Best of luck. jonathan.

[duckula]

Hi, whenever i am suffering with anxiety i also get stomach cramps and constantly going to the loo. Sometimes Loperamide helps also known as Imodium. Ive since had kinesiology to find out what foods Im sensitive to so that alleviates the IBS and often the treatment calms the anxiety too.

[leepy]

Hi Duckula, I'm taking Imodium, it's helping a little but not stopping it..

Do you mean by not eating the foods you're sensitive to is helping to calm the anxiety, or the Imodium is helping the anxiety..??

[Pennylayne]

It's fairly obvious that it's causing you a fair amount of hassle and if you are working full time you could do without it TBH. I would be inclined to go back to the GP sooner and be quite honest about how bad it is and how much it's affecting you. You probably need to rule out a medical cause as nobody should have it for that long really and not know the reason.