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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by reb on October 17, 2001, at 23:03:19
just started effexor XR (37.5 mg)-- after first few days i'm experiencing severe tension in my jaw(s)... i keep uncontrollably clenching/grinding my teeth. it's extremely uncomfortable & hard to hide it from people... (as i really don't feel like explaining to them why!) i'm ready to quit it but just wanted to ask first if anyone else experienced this & if it will go away. if i had a guarantee that this would go away within a day or 2 & then the drug would work great, i might consider sticking it out. btw i have long-term disthymia, with occasional bouts of deeper depression. it's partly genetic & partly long-term-stress induced. i'm very anti-drug because of bad experiences w/ psych drugs years ago, but last year did try zoloft which seemed to help me not feel so low, but eventually went off, & now i'm trying this because of the added noradrenaline boost it's supposed to give. thanks for any feedback!
Posted by triedit on October 17, 2001, at 23:20:48
In reply to effexor- jaw tension, posted by reb on October 17, 2001, at 23:03:19
I had a rough time with the initial side effects of the 37.5 dose as well. ESPECIALLY the jaw stuff. Irritated my TMJ so bad it was hard to take the pills!
BUT now (2 months later--but actually it only took a couple of weeks) I have the grinding problem only at night. My dentist fitted me with a plastic appliance that I wear when I sleep and its GREAT! Even my headaches went away!
I am having a bit of depression again, but am still not willing to up the dose. Im hoping its just because its been so gray and rainy in Toronto!
Posted by dave40252 on October 18, 2001, at 16:12:04
In reply to effexor- jaw tension, posted by reb on October 17, 2001, at 23:03:19
> just started effexor XR (37.5 mg)-- after first few days i'm experiencing severe tension in my jaw
Hi I have this same problem every time i start effexor. For me it never lasts more than a week or two and then diasppears. Good luck!
Posted by Katey on October 21, 2001, at 14:56:54
In reply to Re: effexor- jaw tension, posted by dave40252 on October 18, 2001, at 16:12:04
Hi, well, my experience with effexor (thats been shared a few times on the board) definately included a clenched jaw...i was grinding so hard without trying that i was starting to feel pain everytime i opened my mouth wide. i also had a constant never ending headache. i only lasted for five days on effexor, so i cant tell you if it goes away or not.
Posted by reb on October 22, 2001, at 1:13:07
In reply to Re: effexor- jaw tension, posted by Katey on October 21, 2001, at 14:56:54
thanks for your experiences!
katey, i lasted one day less than you (4)!! i thought if this is making me feel this weird then i'm going to bail now while i still can. i wanted to gnash my teeth so hard, it was unbearable. then there were several wasted days as the drug was leaving my system, felt weird & out-of-it, headachey, unable to concentrate/function... it's hard being a guinea pig when you are trying to function-- work and go to school, etc...! it would be another thing if i was just sitting around all day & had nothing to lose. i can definitely say with zoloft, i did not have these reactions. then again everyone's different...
Posted by JohnX on October 22, 2001, at 23:21:46
In reply to effexor- jaw tension, posted by reb on October 17, 2001, at 23:03:19
Reb,
I am a bonafide self-proclaimed expert at this
problem as it has haunted me ever since starting
anti-depressants.If it doesn't go away on its own accord, here
are meds that will help:1) Klonopin (will work fast - same day)
2) Serzone (will work fast - few days)
3) Zyprexa,Geodon,etc. (will work fast -few days)
4) possibly Remeron (jury still out)
5) Buspar (publications have listed buspar as
an anti-dote to Serotonin med induced
bruxism, didn't work for me though,
may take a few weeks).
6) Inderal (maybe, results in a few days)Basically the serotonin is inhibiting
dopamine in a area of the brain where dopamine
prevents another chemical acetylcholine from
stimulating your jaw muscles.The meds that antagonize the serotonin 5ht-2a
receptor (Serzone,Remeron,Zyprexa,etc) will
alleviate this. Buspar works a little differently
and has few side effects, but it may take a few
weeks to kick in.good luck,
john> just started effexor XR (37.5 mg)-- after first few days i'm experiencing severe tension in my jaw(s)... i keep uncontrollably clenching/grinding my teeth. it's extremely uncomfortable & hard to hide it from people... (as i really don't feel like explaining to them why!) i'm ready to quit it but just wanted to ask first if anyone else experienced this & if it will go away. if i had a guarantee that this would go away within a day or 2 & then the drug would work great, i might consider sticking it out. btw i have long-term disthymia, with occasional bouts of deeper depression. it's partly genetic & partly long-term-stress induced. i'm very anti-drug because of bad experiences w/ psych drugs years ago, but last year did try zoloft which seemed to help me not feel so low, but eventually went off, & now i'm trying this because of the added noradrenaline boost it's supposed to give. thanks for any feedback!
Posted by Willow on October 23, 2001, at 17:19:59
In reply to Re: effexor- jaw tension » reb, posted by JohnX on October 22, 2001, at 23:21:46
I've had problems with my neck muscles which also affect my jaw. I've had this problem before the effexor. Baclofen has eliminated the problem. It takes a couple weeks to click in.
BEST WIHSES
Willow
Posted by JohnX on October 23, 2001, at 19:11:46
In reply to Re: effexor- jaw tension - medication, posted by Willow on October 23, 2001, at 17:19:59
Hi,
Baclofen was suggested to me by my doctor to
help with my chronic tension headaches and
jaw tension. Could you describe in a little more
detail your experience? I put a feeler out
for the med a few weeks ago, but got no replies.
I would also like to know if you think it would
help to reduce benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms
(as I am hooked on Klonopin).Thanks for any info,
John
> I've had problems with my neck muscles which also affect my jaw. I've had this problem before the effexor. Baclofen has eliminated the problem. It takes a couple weeks to click in.
>
> BEST WIHSES
> Willow
Posted by Willow on October 23, 2001, at 21:35:28
In reply to Re: effexor- jaw tension - medication » Willow, posted by JohnX on October 23, 2001, at 19:11:46
>Could you describe in a little more
detail your experience?I take a generic form of baclofen so it isn't expensive. This medication comes scored so it is easy to split in half. My prescription is filled with 10mg tablets which I split. The doctor has written the instructions to read "take one half to one tablet three times daily as when required." For some reason it isn't fast acting like flexeril, so I find I have to take it everyday. The flexeril will knock me out thus I don't feel the pain caused by the spasms, but the baclofen actually stops the muscle spasms. (It did take awhile for it to kick in though. I don't recall if it was a week or longer.)
I take half a tablet (5mg) every night. I don't take it during the day.
It is very sedating for me so if I'm in alot of pain or twitching a lot I'll take a whole tablet (10mg).
>I put a feeler out for the med a few weeks ago, but got no replies.
Oops, sorry I missed it. I haven't been posting as much as usual. I would encourage you to give it a try. Compared to ADs and flexeril the side effects are minimal.
> I would also like to know if you think it would
help to reduce benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms (as I am hooked on Klonopin).Gees that is a hard question. I don't have much technical knowledge of medications just my opinions. Baclofen is a "central nervous system" depressant, (my doctor's wording ~ I think it means it affects our brains functioning,) so perhaps it would help to take the edge off the withdrawal symptoms. An added bonus would be that it can relieve the pain caused by the muscle tension making it easier for you to deal with other "pains." Hope my logic makes sense to you.
Let me know if you decide to try it and how it goes.
Willow
Posted by JohnX on October 24, 2001, at 11:53:51
In reply to Re: effexor- jaw tension - medication, posted by Willow on October 23, 2001, at 21:35:28
This is the end of the thread.
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