Posted by mattdds on April 21, 2009, at 1:31:49
In reply to PERMANENT DAMAGE, posted by sam K on April 20, 2009, at 20:07:24
> venting/please read
>
> ever since I took LUVOX ive had this sensation in my teeth that DOESNT GO AWAY. It annoys me all day. If i stop taking antidepressants it goes away. I cant take any meds that help me feel better without this happening anymore. YOU have no idea how much this annoys me. It affects my voice, my expression. I hate it. every second of the day its happening. I just feel my teeth. when I talk, read, write, whatever I feel them. And its not a good feeling. It feels like they are moving/fallingout/weird cracking/bending feeling.Sounds frustrating! Sorry to hear you are having a tough time.
SSRIs such as fluvoxamine are well-known to increase nocturnal bruxism (teeth clenching and grinding), which could be causing your current increased awareness of your teeth. They also seem to increase masticatory muscle tone (chewing muscles) during the daytime, and may be causing you to clench your teeth together during the daytime. Over time, this can strain the ligaments that attach your teeth to the bone, as well as your temporomandibular joint, and associated ligaments and muscles.
You are likely not even aware of this if you clench your teeth during the day and at night you are asleep so you certainly are not aware of it.
Try becoming aware of whether your teeth touch during the daytime. If they touch together outside of chewing or swallowing, this is considered "parafunctional". In other words, you are overworking your chewing muscles and teeth, which could contribute to the hyperawareness you are experiencing.
Try the following:
1. Leave a distance of 2-3 mm between your teeth at all times. Don't let them touch unless you are chewing or swallowing. You may be surprised at how much extra work your chewing muscles are doing.
2. Try soft foods for a week or so, give your chewing muscles a rest.
3. If your doc is willing, try amitriptyline 10 mg at night an hour before bedtime. This might help with the nighttime component over which you have little direct control. Flexeril might be a good option as well if you can handle the sedation.The good news is - I really doubt this is permanent. This is actually more common than not with SSRIs.
Good luck,
Matt
poster:mattdds
thread:891840
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090416/msgs/891881.html