|
|
Post by tridlette on Sept 22, 2004 15:04:35 GMT -5
I remember reading somewhere recently that there may be a side effect of using SSRI's with increased tendency to teeth grinding and TMJ (jaw pain).
I have been on Zoloft most of the last 9 yrs. and my TMJ has gotten to the point where I started seeing a specialist.
Can anyone tell me if there is any truth to this, has anyone had worse jaw pain, grinding teeth at night, breaking teeth?
I don't know if I can function without my meds, but I am tired of the pain in my jaw and the frequent root canals and crowns that I have had lately.
Thanks for any input.
Laurie
|
|
|
|
Post by eaccae on Sept 22, 2004 17:23:49 GMT -5
Laurie,
As a suffer of TMJ myself - I can't speak to the zoloft aspect as I have never been on it - but do you have a mouthguard for nighttime? It makes a huge difference. Also - my sister who suffers from the worst TMJ had the same amount of problems both on and off the zoloft. It didn't really make much of a difference.
|
|
|
|
Post by gina1kid on Sept 23, 2004 12:22:25 GMT -5
I take Zoloft and I haven't experieced any TMJ. But I also take calcium/magnesium at night and it seems to calm me so that I can sleep at night.
You might want to try it. Calcium seems to have a calming effect on me.
|
|
|
|
Post by eaccae on Sept 23, 2004 12:26:25 GMT -5
Unfortunately calcium/magnisium won't do much for TMJ - but I think the mouthguard at night can really help. You can get a generic one at most grocery stores - or your dentist can custom fit one for you. But it certainly helps if you have problems at night.
|
|
|
|
Post by catseye on Sept 23, 2004 13:03:49 GMT -5
I dont know about zoloft, my dentist tells me that mine is because I had braces... I wear a mouth guard at night, that helps ALOT! If I forget it, I sure know it the next day...
|
|
|
|
Post by tridlette on Sept 23, 2004 15:27:27 GMT -5
Oh, I am on my third custom night guard, and have a day time guard as well, and still have cracked 4 molars despite them.
I did wear braces too. I am just desperate to find some way to end this constant pain. Maybe I am grasping at straws now!
I was eating an ice cream cone and the pain in my jaw was so intense and my jaw locked on me. Now I am afraid to eat anything that I have to open my mouth wide for.
If anyone does hear of ANY other possible causes or treatments, I am all ears.
Thanks for all the input!
|
|
|
|
Post by milesofsmiles on Sept 23, 2004 16:00:18 GMT -5
I was on an antidepressant last year, can't remember which one it was, but it did cause me to feel like I had a tense jaw, like I was biting down hard. My Dr. had never heard of that side affect, but it was happening. It stopped within a couple of days of stopping the med. Miles  |
|
|
|
Post by eaccae on Sept 23, 2004 21:46:51 GMT -5
I wish I had better news for you. My sister and I have had it our whole lives. When I was younger my jaw was stuck open several times - had to go to the doctor to close it. This is a topic of conversaton between the two of us on a weekly basis. My sister was down to 94 pounds last week - she was in such agony she wasn't able to open her mouth or chew - couldn't eat for a week . . . it seems to get worse for her with stress. I don't have a problem at night - just duirng the day - get a lot of migraines. So far we haven't heard of anything tht can really help. The dentist gave my sister jaw exercises but they haven't made any kind of a difference and unfortunately her spasms usually last a good week or two! Neither one of us had braces (I had braces but - it was a device to stop a habit that was aggravating my TMJ so it wasn't the cause). For both my sister and me - I think it is related to our anxiety. We both suffer from social anxiety. Trauma has also been known to cause it - as well as sudden bite change.
I wish I had better news for you - but I know what you are going through!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by mskris on Sept 27, 2004 7:18:25 GMT -5
Tridlette: So sorry you have this... You may want to try a different SSRI (paxil, prozac, etc.). They are not all the same, despite having the same mechanism of action. When I was pg, I had to up my paxil dose an extra 5mg daily, I was so tense (I was having rages, but also tend to grind my teeth in my sleep when tense). You may want to consider a change in med or a change in dose... it could be the zoloft isn't CAUSING the grinding... My sister has TMJ and she was told to get braces AGAIN  to help alleviate it. I had braces, and do not have TMJ...so I'm not sure of this connection. Good luck, whatever you do. Kris |
|
