Posted by 4wd on October 6, 2005, at 21:11:11
In reply to Re: Painful stiff neck from Celexa, any advice? » 4wd, posted by JaneB on October 6, 2005, at 0:35:29
Hi Jane,
Yes, I do have an underlying condition - degenerative arthritis and bulging disks in my neck. But it's barely noticeable until I take an SSRI. The Klonopin I take really does help - I just hate being on a benzo long term.
No non SSRIs have worked for me - that's why I'm still on one even though it causes the bad neck pain and spasms. Effexor was great that way, though. The neck pain became a non issue. I still had the knots in my shoulder blades but they didn't actively hurt. You might want to try it. (But it isn't fun getting off it)
Maybe I ought to just give up and accept that I have to be on Klonopin long term. I need it for anxiety anyway. .5mg/day does the trick for the most part. I still have a lot of morning anxiety and it takes a while for the Klonopin to kick in but then I'm okay. Taking an additional dose at night doesn't seem to add any benefit. I'm not ususally anxious at night anyway.
Thanks for your reply. I have gotten off Effexor at least 5-6 times because it wasn't working well and then went back on it every time because I couldn't stand the neck pain. I'm about at that point now. Except it doesn't work. I haven't tried Remeron - my doctor wants me to but after my first dose I got such severe restless legs (and hunger the next day) that I chucked it.
Do you have any side effects from the Klonopin? You haven't had to raise your dose?
Marsha
> Years ago I remember the dr. giving me Klonopin to help me sleep and I was so amazed that an added benefit was relief from the painful neck and shoulder spasms (just like you described.)
> However, although I blamed that muscle tension on all the SSRI's I used, I can remember having those spasms and pain from way back to college days and I didn't try AD's until menopause years. If it is not my neck and shoulders it is my hip and legs. Klonopin helps both.
> Recently when I went off AD's and Klonopin the pain and tension returned with a vengeance and I had to do physical therapy to get relief and go back on Klonopin. The dr. had predicted that if I went off the meds I would have pain. So what I am saying is that SSRI's exacerbated an already existing condition, depression and anxiety exacerbate it also. The same dose of Klonopin has helped me get some relief for 7 or 8 years (.50 mg)divided through the day. Many days I only use .25 mg.
> Stretching helps. Good posture helps. Massage helps. But for me--only with the addition of Klonopin do I get relief (even without SSRI's.) One doctor tried to switch me from Klonopin to Neurontin but that gave me headaches. What non SSRI has worked for you besides Effexor? Jane
>
>
> > I've had this with every SSRI I've ever been on. The muscles in my neck and shoulders just stay clenched. There are also knots of muscle spasms in my upper back along the shoulder blades. Except for this problem, Celexa would be an okay drug for me but the pain is just not acceptable.
> >
> > I didn't have this problem on Effexor (but Effexor quit working). So I know it's the SSRIs- I've switched back and forth many times and the pain comes and goes as I switch from SSRI to non-SSRI.
> >
> > Is there any solution?
> >
> > Marsha
>
>
poster:4wd
thread:563558
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051003/msgs/563855.html