could Ambien be causing this...or is it TMJ? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

buzzy01 · 12-16-2007, 08:18 PM

I have had my upper splint for 3 months and up until about a month ago, I was doing much better. My TMJ doctor said next visit (Friday) I can begin wearing it less as long as my headaches are better and that I should write down the days I have headaches. I noticed something interesting...I take Ambien CR 12.5 mg)every other day for the last year. I have headaches everyother day. Not the morning after I take the Ambien but the morning after the night I do not take the Ambien. I tried taking the Ambien two days in a row...didn't have the headache two days in row. I tried not taking any for 2 days in a row and had a headache two days in a row. It is not just a headache but my neck and shoulder on my bad jaw side. Has anyone had or ever heard of such a thing or maybe it is my TMJ and has nothing to do with the Ambien. Thanks!

Thelma-Louise · 12-18-2007, 02:57 PM

It may be that the ambien is acting as a muscle relaxant which would mean your tmj is not fully resolved. You could be clenching or grinding at night or not able to relax your jaw muscles when you do not take the ambien.

Also - I am not familar with ambien - but if you have been taking it for a year is it possible you have developed a dependency on it similar to caffeine - like, if I don't drink diet cola every day I get a terrible headache and only anacin - which contains caffeine, will help it - but then I go back to drinking cola and don't think about how much I am hooked on the caffieine again until someone else mentions that I drink too much soda.

buzzy01 · 12-18-2007, 04:41 PM

That is interesting that you said that...those were the two possiblities I was thinking of. The problem is my GP who perscribes the Ambien CR knows nothing about TMJ and my TMJ dentist knows nothing about Ambien CR. The nights that I am not on Ambien, I can feel that I am aggrevated in my sleep and my front teeth are clenched (the back teeth cannot clench because of the splint.). I hate going off the Ambien because I feel so much better during the day but it really is for short term use only. My dr put me on it every other day so I would not become dependant. Thanks for your reply!