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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sarah T. on May 21, 2005, at 23:10:29
Does anyone know exactly what it is about certain meds that causes bruxism and oral movement disorders such as "cud chewing," cheek chewing, etc? I got off of Zoloft about six years ago. I'd been on it for a year and a half, and during that time I developed a mild movement disorder that manifested mainly as cheek chewing. Needless to say, I was very upset about this, particularly since I hadn't been warned about this possible side effect. It continued for several years, even after I'd long since stopped taking Zoloft. Over the past year or so, the involuntary mouth movements have almost completely stopped. I had read that lowering dopamine levels, caused by elevated serotonin levels, cause the movement disorders. Is that correct? If so, why did this problem persist for so many years after I stopped Zoloft?
Posted by AMD on May 22, 2005, at 0:21:35
In reply to Bruxism, chewing etc. -- causes, posted by Sarah T. on May 21, 2005, at 23:10:29
I can't speak specifically to your problem, but my own bruxism has been incredibly bad lately ... I have literally chewed away some of the skin behind my two back-most molars. The skin has turned black from the damage, and although I suspect it just needs time to heal once I get a mouthguard, I'm still upset about it. I think my once-wonderful smile needs to be corrected (again) as well -- perhaps via braces.
amd
Posted by jerrympls on May 22, 2005, at 1:41:00
In reply to Re: Bruxism, chewing etc. -- causes, posted by AMD on May 22, 2005, at 0:21:35
I chew on my lips or bit my lips - A LOT whenever I am on a stimulant. I also gring my teeth when I sleep - or at least the dentist tells me I do. He says to take a B complex vitamin 2xdaily to help.
Posted by ed_uk on May 22, 2005, at 7:14:44
In reply to Bruxism, chewing etc. -- causes, posted by Sarah T. on May 21, 2005, at 23:10:29
Hi Sarah,
It sounds like you developed tardive dyskinesia on Zoloft. SSRIs have occasionally been reported to cause TD.
>I had read that lowering dopamine levels, caused by elevated serotonin levels, cause the movement disorders. Is that correct?
Possibly. The reality is no doubt very complicated!
>If so, why did this problem persist for so many years after I stopped Zoloft?
TD can last for a long time. It has been hypothesised that dopamine receptors become 'hypersensitive' in response to reduced levels of dopamine. This is only a theory. Presumably, the hypersensitivity persists long after drug discontinuation.
Kind regards,
Ed.
Posted by Phillipa on May 22, 2005, at 18:38:22
In reply to Re: Bruxism, chewing etc. -- causes » Sarah T., posted by ed_uk on May 22, 2005, at 7:14:44
TD from zoloft? I'm glad I haven't upped the dose. Fondly, PJ O
Posted by Sarah T. on May 23, 2005, at 22:53:24
In reply to Re: Bruxism, chewing etc. -- causes, posted by AMD on May 22, 2005, at 0:21:35
Hi AMD. I strongly suggest that you go ahead and get a mouth guard. Do you have dental benefits? If I remember correctly, my dental plan didn't pay much for the mouth guard, which was very expensive, but I'm glad I got the guard. When I was on Zoloft, my teeth grinding got so bad that I had to wear the mouth guard even during the day. The mouth guard really did help.
Posted by Sarah T. on May 23, 2005, at 22:58:03
In reply to Re: Bruxism, chewing etc. -- causes, posted by jerrympls on May 22, 2005, at 1:41:00
Hi Jerry,
That's interesting that you've had this problem while on stimulants. The bruxism was worst for me while on ssri's; however, when I was on stimulants, it would happen occasionally during the "rebound" period, when the blood levels of the drug were declining. When the stimulant blood levels were higher or peaking, I didn't have the problem, so I thought that lent some support to the idea that lowering dopamine levels cause the problem.
Posted by Sarah T. on May 23, 2005, at 23:02:06
In reply to Re: Bruxism, chewing etc. -- causes » Sarah T., posted by ed_uk on May 22, 2005, at 7:14:44
> > TD can last for a long time. It has been hypothesised that dopamine receptors become 'hypersensitive' in response to reduced levels of dopamine. This is only a theory. Presumably, the hypersensitivity persists long after drug discontinuation.> Kind regards,> Ed.>
Hi Ed. Thanks for mentioning this theory. It certainly makes a lot of sense. Since I developed the problem while on Zoloft, I thought that the makers of Zoloft should have paid for my horribly overpriced mouth guard.
Posted by gromit on May 23, 2005, at 23:28:33
In reply to Re: Bruxism, chewing etc. -- causes » jerrympls, posted by Sarah T. on May 23, 2005, at 22:58:03
> That's interesting that you've had this problem while on stimulants. The bruxism was worst for me while on ssri's; however, when I was on stimulants, it would happen occasionally during the "rebound" period, when the blood levels of the drug were declining. When the stimulant blood levels were higher or peaking, I didn't have the problem, so I thought that lent some support to the idea that lowering dopamine levels cause the problem.
I used to get this when I took meth and I get it from SSRI's too. It's a little different though, with stims I bite my lips, grind my teeth etc, with an SSRI it's more of a constant tension in my neck/jaw area.
Posted by darkhorse on May 24, 2005, at 6:37:17
In reply to Bruxism, chewing etc. -- causes, posted by Sarah T. on May 21, 2005, at 23:10:29
I started to notice this effect when I started using Venlafaxine around 1997.
I tried all other SSRis and they all made it worse.
Even though I refrained from using SSRIs for a couple of years , daytime bruxism never went away,it waxed and waned,and until now I still grin my teeth.I tried Buspirone as it was said that it helps, but nothing.
I guess I'll just live with this side effect.
I agree with Ed, that it is a form of TD, that may or may not diminish with time.Best wishes,
Darkhorse.
Posted by jparsell82 on May 27, 2005, at 22:21:49
In reply to Re: Bruxism, chewing etc. -- causes, posted by darkhorse on May 24, 2005, at 6:37:17
I thought I read somewhere that drugs that block the 5HT2a receptors help bruxism. It'd be interesting to know if Serzone did or didn't cause bruxism like the other SSRI's. I got bruxism pretty bad from SSRIs and still have it to this day even though I don't take them anymore. My doctor said that Buspar might help, also Klonopin... even though it didn't help me.
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