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Jaw Clenching Drugs or Nerves?


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Hello,

For 2 straight months I have had a constant jaw clenching or chewing like movement of my jaw. I have been on Zoloft mostly 50 mg for about 8 years. I tried Wellbutrin a few times. Over the summer, I took it sporadically and decided it was too much for me. A few weeks after my last dose, I noticed my mouth or jaw moving every second non-stop. It does get stronger at varying times. I am not under stress from working because I have no job, but it could be anxiety?

I went to the doctor and she recommened magnesium and potassium. I just started taking these. I read that involuntary movements can be caused by a deficiency in these minerals but it is very rare. It is possible... I thought it might be a side effect caused by Wellbutrin. I also tried lowering my zoloft dose unsucessfully for a few weeks in July. I also tried tribulus terrestris only 3 times and so all of this, the zoloft lowering, taking of wellbutrin, tribulus experimentation led to my confusion over what is causing the jaw clenching. It's more annoying than painful.

Anyone else have these jaw movements? Did they go away after being so constant?

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Yes, ever since I started taking meds I've been clenching my jaws all the time. I think it is a common side effect of psych meds, so it is very possible that it is caused by your meds, although I'm not sure about the timing in your case. In my experience jaw clenching from meds does not go away. I just have to live with having a mild jaw ache most of the time.

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  • 9 months later...
Guest Guest_Alex_*

it's unfortunate because your meds are probably the reason. There could be traces of amphetamines in those drugs and those have massive nerve reprocussions. As if you were doing coke and not buzzing off it...

I clench my jaw constantly but I only rarely smoke weed and never take any meds for any conditions. I drink alot of coffee though, I believe thats the culprit.

LAY OFF THE COFFEE!!!

Thats my only tip ;) lay off the coffee or meds :)

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I'd say it was the meds too, because I was never particularly prone to clenching my jaw or grinding my teeth until I started taking them. I ended up getting a mouth guard to wear at night as I'm less likely to catch myself doing it and be able to stop. May be worth thinking about. I figure that as I'm in my early 40s, I really don't want to wear my teeth away by the time I'm 45 LOL!

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I've only experienced it as a side effect of the atypical antipsychotics. It was minor on Zyprexa, semi-bad on Seroquel, and near-jaw breaking on Geodon and Abilify. I now take risperdal, and still have some minor jaw stuff, but nothing like the Geodon/Abilify thing. I wonder if it's a form of akasthisia? Anybody?

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we had jaw clenching when we were on 200mg od zoloft and 200mg of seroquel. we had an appliance made to help with our sleep apnes and so now we don't clench at all at night.

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we had jaw clenching when we were on 200mg od zoloft and 200mg of seroquel. we had an appliance made to help with our sleep apnes and so now we don't clench at all at night.

Knitten, so the appliance treats both your apnea and jaw clenching? That sounds awesome!

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stopping the clenching was not the intended result but hey- we'll take it. wow-an unintended positive consequence. how often does that happen?

Well, good for you. (I hope that it helps with your apnea as well.)

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i've had the problem you've described twice, once when i went up to a high dose of effexor and once when i went on a high (for me) dose of seroquel.

in both cases the problem went away when i came back down in dosage.

i bought one of those silicone mouth guards to wear at night but wound up not using it because i got it near the end of the second instance.

good luck,

grouse.

ps. oh, and i do drink coffee, but not to a large extent, 2-3 cups per day.

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  • 1 month later...
Guest teethman8318

Hello,

For 2 straight months I have had a constant jaw clenching or chewing like movement of my jaw. I have been on Zoloft mostly 50 mg for about 8 years. I tried Wellbutrin a few times. Over the summer, I took it sporadically and decided it was too much for me. A few weeks after my last dose, I noticed my mouth or jaw moving every second non-stop. It does get stronger at varying times. I am not under stress from working because I have no job, but it could be anxiety?

I went to the doctor and she recommened magnesium and potassium. I just started taking these. I read that involuntary movements can be caused by a deficiency in these minerals but it is very rare. It is possible... I thought it might be a side effect caused by Wellbutrin. I also tried lowering my zoloft dose unsucessfully for a few weeks in July. I also tried tribulus terrestris only 3 times and so all of this, the zoloft lowering, taking of wellbutrin, tribulus experimentation led to my confusion over what is causing the jaw clenching. It's more annoying than painful.

Anyone else have these jaw movements? Did they go away after being so constant?

Hi Chickendoofus,

Talk to your dentist/doctor first, but read below:

If you continue to grind/clench your teeth, you will wear down your teeth and will have massive pain .. I would recommend checking out in purchasing a non-expensive One-Size fits all night guard.

One-Size Night Guards (night, sports, general, etc.) are definitely a viable option, if you are experiencing grinding, clenching, or bruxism. I would recommend checking out www.totalgard.com - They have some great night guards that eliminate the issues I mentioned earlier. They are a proven distributor online and everyone seems satisfied with the company. Their night guards range from $5.95-24.95. Custom mouth guards from your doctor can range from $300-500+ .. I hope this helps!

Dave ;)

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Hmn, check this out.......I have had to d/c most meds for financial and life fuck up reasons and I'm grinding my teeth to powder. I already had plenty of damage dentally speaking? But now? I wake up with chronic pain that requires hard core painkillers to get thru the day.......and its spreading...this is mostly a dental problem in that, well, in a month, I'm gonna say fuck it and have fucking dentures put in.

till then? my medless state has me grinding and chewing more than the meds made me do.........sigh........this week the grinding is causing excruciating left teeth pain.........used to be the severly damaged right side, now, surprise.....

Yeah the drugs had me with bouts of that, and the fact that most of these drugs seem to weaken teeth and gums in general?

It sucks having to choose between solid food and sanity..............

Glad someone brought this up.....was beginning to feel like some kind of medical freak for a bit.........

peace

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I would recommend checking out in purchasing a non-expensive One-Size fits all night guard.

I started grinding my teeth years ago, before meds. At great cost and very uncomfortable fitting, I had a teeth guard made by my dentist. Since I have a space between my two front top teeth, the guard had to be re-designed over and over and over. When it finally fit I bit the guard in half one night. I also hated wearing the stupid thing.

Now on meds, I clench at night so much I am waking up with migraines and terrible TMJ. This Night Guard product is inexpensive and soft. I think I'll try it.

Thank you for the suggestion Dave!

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