can anxiety cause an allergic reaction, swelling of face and tongue?

To my knowledge there is no evidence that anxiety can cause an allergic reaction. An allergy refers to a sensitivity to specific substances. I would hazard a guess that your anxiety is associated with the reaction rather than the cause of it.

On your behalf I did check Norvasc on drugs.com and the symptoms you describe are listed as 'a serious side effect' for which it is recommended you seek medical treatment. Please click here to read the information.

Hope this helps

Hi Lindam,

Anxiety probably does not cause allergic reactions, but an allergic reaction can sure cause anxiety!!

If you have a known allergy to certain meds, then it is possible your doctor needs to look at what you are taking and look into alternative formularies that won't affect you adversely. While online sites are great resources for information, they should never take the place of your doctor's advice and care.

You can read more about Norvasc here in the drugs database. An allergic reaction is a rare but serious occurence and you should tell your doctor about these symptoms and ask him if you should continue taking the medication. Also make sure you tell your doctor everything you are taking even over the counter medications and vitamins or herbal remedies. This could include common items like aspirin, or motrin, ginseing extracts, anything you are taking that is not food. These all could have a profound effect on your tolerance of the prescribed medications.

I hope this helps somewhat. Please stay in touch and let us know what the doctor determined was the problem. There might be someone else out there experiencing the same issues and your experiences will help. Also let us know how you're doing!

Vicki M

I have no experience with swelling related to medication but I felt compelled to respond because I feel like I get anxiety-related swelling in my face (lips, eye area, throat), feet and occasionally on other parts of my body.  I can't find anything to confirm that anxiety may be the cause of this, but the "outbreaks" always follow periods of high anxiety.  The swollen areas get slightly red, itch and ache.  If anybody knows anything about what this may be, I'd like to know.

I personally have noticed that in times of high anxiety (good and bad) that my upper lip swells severly and only goes away with antihistamines.  I have delt with this for 5-10 years.  I have always believed it is an allergic reaction to anxiety. However, don't try to get a doctor to fit it into their box, it won't happen. 

I have a lot of food allergies, and recently have had a lot of anxiety.. I too have the alergic reacion feelings.. lips, eyes, hands, tongue, and throat.

I am a healthcare provider, and although there is no documentation (that I have seen) that says that anxiety can cause lip swelling, I am living proof that it can.....In times of very high stress, I will get a "prodrome" similar to that of herpes simplex (cold sores).  At first I thought that the stress was causing me to "get" a cold sore, and stress is known to bring on an outbreak an herpes, so I would take my Valtrex and it would pass.......I eventually realized that it passed too quickly for the Valtrex to have had time to work, but it went away and I was happy.

Recently, I experienced my first real panic attack (or group of attacks).  One particular night my top lip started first and my bottom lip followed with significant edema.  I was concerned that I was having an allergic reaction and I took benedryl and I applied some ice.  The edema did go down but for several days if I got upset or worked up again, the swelling returned.  I have found that the reaction behaves a lot like hives (urticaria).  If you rub your lips or stimulate them, the swelling is worse or it can return after the "attack" has subsided.  Often times people who have hives can "create" them by scratching or rubbing the skin.  Another thing that I have found that will help is the application of ice.  I hold a peice of ice in a napkin and just blot the area (don't rub it back and forth b/c this stimulation and aggrivate it) and I take an antihistamine- benedryl is best if you can afford to get sleepy).....I have decided to see my doctor about trying some medication b/c this has recently worsened.....I think it is because I have had some medical issues and have been fixated on what if this????? or What if that?????

If anxiety is a problem for you, you should see your healthcare provider!

Wow - I am so glad I found this forum - I was starting to think I was crazy!

I am a dental hygienist and have had three episodes of extreme stress & anxiety followed by an episode of extreme facial swelling.

As I write my left ear is twice its normal size, red and painful & hot. I had an extremely stressful week of trying to hold on to my job & defending myself against two co-workers who were falsely accusing me of things I didn't do & say.

Earlier this year I was having stress in my marriage & had some dental work done. I was extremely stressed & anxious. The doctors in my practice and also a periodontist they referred me to had never seen anything like it. My gums became black (necrotic) around the crown prep, my whole cheek & face on that size swelled up was hot & painful to touch.

The worst case was about a year before that. I drove home crying was really upset after a terrible incident with a former employer who worked me like a dog then refused to pay me. I feel anxious over confontation and we had an extremely tense meeting. I cried the whole drive home and when I got home just had a shower and went to bed. When I woke up the next morning, my entire face, cheeks was swollen, painful & hot to touch. By the afternoon my face was extremely swollen and my husband took me to the ER. They did a litany of tests (MRI, Cat-Scan) and blood samples - everything was normal the only think elevated was my amalyse levels (created in parotid gland in cheeks and my cheeks were swollen). Even my corticosteroid levels were normal. They put me on a morphine drip and two specialists reviewed me and couldn't come up with any answers so they discharged me. I went home and took some pain meds and had a shower and was able to massage my face. I also bandaged my face and used icepacks and the swelling eventually started to subside but I was swollen & in extreme pain for three days. At the height of it (when we went to the ER) my face & neck was so swollen I was starting to have trouble swallowing and was getting scared.

I would love to be contacted if anyone is doing research in regard to physical reactions to extreme mental & emotional anxiety.

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