Question:
Jaw Clenching (kind of like teeth grinding)
Answer:
I've been taking 10 mg of Prozac (fluoxetine) since the beginning of
August (3 months). It is going well for the most part, but for some
reason over the last 2 weeks, I have been seriously clenching my jaw
when I sleep. Sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night and
catch myself doing it. It was to the point where the back of my neck
really started to hurt. I found it almost impossible to stop
clenching. I was about to go buy a plastic mouthpeice (the kind you
would wear if you were on a field hockey team) when it started to
subside. My neck feels much better too, thank God.
I've clenched my jaw like this one time before in my life - about 8
years ago. That was when I was going through an extremely bad time for
about 3 months or so.
The thing I'm wondering about is that although I THINK the Prozac has
helped me in some ways at this time, it's almost like the anxiety is
coming out or showing itself in another way - the clenching. It's like
it has found another channel or something. I hope this is not the
case. When I felt the need to start the Prozac I wasn't clenching at
all. Now I feel better in some ways which I think is the result of the
Prozac, but then the clenching started. And the funny thing is that
I have no idea WHAT I was clenching about. If I start doing it again,
I'm getting that mouthpeice. The jaw clenching I find to create a
vicious cycle. That is, once you start doing it and your neck starts
to hurt, that makes you more nervous, so you clench more.
I'm glad it seems to have subsided. But: if it starts up again, please get
yourself a mouth guard to wear at night! My dentist made me a custom one;
it was expensive but in the long run, much cheaper than all the crowns he
was putting on the molars I kept cracking. 8-) I wear it *every* night
and don't even notice it. It definitely works. And it has prevented
recurrences of TMJ problems (the joint where your jaw hinges to your head,
just below your ear) which can make me dizzy; people who grind and clench
often have TMJ issues -- I did for years.
I used to clench my teeth all night long and wake up with sore and popping
jaw joints in the morning. My jaws would ache all day long. Especially if I
was extra tense.
The above symptoms completely disappeared when I started on regular daily
benzodiazepines about 18 years ago. First Xanax for two years, then
clonazepam starting 16 years ago and up to the present time.
I take clonazepam 3 mg/day for panic disorder, and apparantly the cessation
of my temporomandibular joint syndrome has been an added benefit.
As I said, I clenched twice in my life so far (that I can remember).
Once was when I was not taking any meds at all and now. If I knew it
was temporary, I wouldn't be so concerned about it. I can't stand it
anymore. That's it. I'm getting a field hockey mouthpiece next chance
I get.
