Because my life is so boring anyway, a fun new side effect!

I thought I was going mad(der).  For the last few days my teeth have been so damn sore, they ache. In fact my whole mouth is aching. As if I have been clenching my jaw all night.  I was going to ask you guys whether you had heard of this before.

 I know I sometimes grind my teeth when I am stressed but because I am wearing the plastic retainer at night (HATE that effing retainer, more on that another day), I don’t do the grinding thing that often any more.  But wow, my mouth has been sore lately. I keep stretching my mouth to try and relieve some of the ache.

 Before I posted I thought I would do a quick search on google.  Well. Surprise, surprise. A known side effect of Fluoxetine is teeth grinding and bruxism (clenching of the jaw).  I didn’t have this side effect the last few times I took this AD.  I love this AD, it used to suit me so well. 

 Fuckity fuck. 

 I can live with the loss of libido (libido?  What is this ‘libido’ of which you speak?), but this aching jaw shit is a huge fucking pain in the…..well, jaw. I am going to stick it out for a while. I hope that it is just the drug settling in; I know that the first two weeks are the worst, until your body gets used to the meds, and then the shitty side effects (usually) disappear. The doctor did warn me that my anxiety might increase in the first few days before the drug settled in.  He gave me some anxiety pills in case things got a little out of hand. I’ve only had to use it once. But I can definitely feel the drug settling in.

 For those of you who are contemplating going on AD’s and are put off, don’t worry!  The first two weeks are horrible, I won’t lie. Headaches, nausea, racing heart (and apparently sore jaw) sometimes, not always! do happen, but they really do go away after two weeks or so.  Promise. Unless of course one is just so damn skippy that you don’t care about the headaches, nausea, racing heart and sore jaw. Only joking, they do disappear. If they don’t, it might mean that you will have to try another type of pill.  Not all pills agree with all people.  

 Glad I googled the sore jaw thing (LOVE google, love), because I was getting a little freaked out by it.  

 (For those of you who also did the ‘E’ / coke thing way back in the bad old days, this feels exactly like when you have had too much E or coke.  That wanting to clench your jaw feeling the whole time and the horrible muscle fatigue afterwards.  I keep blowing air into my cheeks like a chipmunk just to relieve the ache.  What a pain, the crap jaw thing without the divine high)

Comments

[Blythe]

I had the same experience with Zoloft. It was awful. Hope it passes quickly for you.

[Rosemary Grace]

I think my sex drive went into overdrive when I was on celexa (citalopram/cipramil). My food appetite too though, I had constant PMS-like cravings for dark chocolate and brownies (with dark chocolate chips in them). I'm still trying to loose some of that weight 5 years later. Sigh.

Hopefully these side effects will bugger off as the drug really kicks in and does what it's supposed to.

[Amy]

I don't know if this will work with a night retainer, but one thing a dentist suggested to me was to relax the jaw completely before falling asleep, even to the point of letting your mouth hang open. That will reduce some of the stress and tightening of the muscle. It worked for me. I used to clench my teeth so hard at night that my jaw would click when I chewed.

The only real side effect I remember from before when I was on meds was about a week period of being a bit on the manic side. I got so much done that week, it was amazing. But please, I am NOT belittling anyone who has problems with that, it would be awful. But for someone who generally has no energy and feels like a lump a lot of the time, it was a nice little buzz.

[Meramoo]

I have a custom TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint) splint that helps with grinding/clenching. You can get cheap self-fit ones at the drugstore here, although I'm not sure how well it works. g'luck!

[kaje]

One side effect I have with Fluoxetine is yawning. I have not found anybody else who has the same side effect. I have just started AD again after being off them for a year and hey ho here I am yawning again. Bizarre but so worth it.

[Judy]

Maybe if my jaw were sore I'd quit eating so much...must try grinding and clenching to see if it helps!

HOpe it gets better soon, girl!

[Aurelia]

Ooo, sorry to hear about the teeth pain. But, I'm wondering, I never had any side effects with Wellbutrin. And a great sex life. No adjustment period, no nothing. I only went off because of some pregnancy/miscarriage issues, but I know you have said you are done. So if the one you're on is still bothering you in awhile, then maybe you should try another one instead?

[thrice]

Ditto on Wellbutrin. Jared at http://crazymeds.org/ (who has the run down on all meds) mentions the pros: Low chance of sexual side effects, unless you consider making you hornier a sexual side effect. Amongst the currently approved antidepressants Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) has the least chance of triggering mania in the bipolar. No weight gain associated with SSRIs. Often a very effective antidepressant, as dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake are sometimes the answer for someone.

Before my psychiatrist presribed my first med, she was interested in which recreational drugs I liked, 'cause she wanted to match me chemically. Coke/cigarette lovers do well with Wellbutrin. It must provide some kind of fun, because prisoners like to grind it up and snort it. Can you say that about Prozac/Fluoxetine?

[Vannessa]

I am on Cyprolex which is also very good but I also seem to have teeth clenching episodes (a lot). I did not realise it could be the ADs, thought it was stress/grief/etc. It is not so bad that my jaw is sore but I think my tooth enamel is stuffed.

[Suzie-Q.]

I have been a clencher my whole life when under stress and since i have had the twins i have spent most of my days in the dentist's office for broken crowns as a result of clenching from "twin-stress". I feel you, babe.

[J]

I was on fluoxetine for a couple of months last year. Did nothing for the depression (dothiepin sorted it in the end - great stuff), but I almost entirely lost my appetite and dropped about a stone in weight which, almost a year later, has stayed off! Could be that magic weight-loss potion after all.. ;)

[Tam]

So sorry about the jaw pain ~ it is literally a pain in the neck. In the past, I've clenched so hard that I cracked two of my lower molars.

As a result, my dentist made me a night splint for my upper teeth that I just pop in before I go to sleep. It's a hard sort of plastic that allows your lower jaw / teeth to slide. It's made a huge difference for me & when I look at the bottom of the splint & see how much I've ground it down & I'm relieved it the splint & not my teeth. Crowns are expensive & painful!

Take care ~

[rai]

Google was my savior when I started Lexapro. I spent a lot of time researching before I started taking it so I'd know what I'd possibly be up against. Oddly enough, a few weeks after starting the ADs I started Invisalign (braces alternative), wish is not unlike a mouth guard. Bonus, as I had jaw clenching for the first month or so. =]

[shaznz]

Hope they kick in quickly doll, I was on citalopram for a while - I still miss it!! I had energy like you wouldn't believe - and no hangovers! I didn't experience the sore jaw thing but I have been a "grinder" my whole life, so I was probably just used to it. AD's certainly have their place and good on for taking the step to get them, unfortunately I had to hit rock-bottom before I finally went to my Dr and got some much-needed help. I would still be on them, but doing ivf again soon. Hope things settle down quickly and you feel better real soon - hugs xx

[Kym]

Aaah yes- I remember those after-partying chipmunk-cheeks and tired jaw...took AGES for it come right and gave some pretty nasty headaches...
(smiles wistfully)
Hope you feel better soon

[Coral]

Change of subject!! I recived your book last night in the post, and started reading it at about 8, I didn't put it down until I had finished it!! (Yes, I am a bit tired today, but I will deal with that!!) Tertia, your book is really fabulous. I started on the tears at the acknowledgements - aren't I the wet? If there is anyone who is not sure if they should buy it - go ahead - it is fab! (I said that already, I am a little tired - I said that already too!)Thank you so much for your story.

[Spacemom]

Lexapro stopped working for me. I switched to cymbalta. Except for some 2 week break in side effects (like suicidal thoughts) I like it. It also got my libedo back!

[Blue]

I have the same problem with my jaw. I don't realize I am doing it until it is too late and I am already sore. I get to the point where I can feel every single tooth on my lower jaw ache individually. The bite splint from my dentist is the only thing I can do to stop it. I still clamp down but I am clamping on the plastic instead of my poor teeth.
Good luck in your adjustment onto the meds. I hope it goes quickly for you.

[Jeanne]

Ask your Doc about Cymbalta. Way less side-effects

[Luann]

I'm on Paxil. Like it MUCH better than Prozac. No side effects that I can see and I've been on it 3 years now.

[Sister Mel]

I remember those clenchy jaws in my pre -Jesus druggy e-phase. Flippin sore the next day. Sing Hallelujaaaaaaaaah alot, it opens the jaw and practises the vocal cords.
Don't go off the drugs though, we love you. We love you even more on drugs.