get this everyone,,,, tmj/tmd vs antidepressants

Hi everyone!! I useto come to this board a while ago but i guess am new again, lol... Has anyone thought about what might increase or cause their pain to be so severe or for their teeth to wear down so much. Well, i just might have an answer for some of you.

Two years ago I woke in the am to get ready for work with my mouth locked in an open position. I couldn't stand the pain and was rushed to see a maxi-facial oral specialist. When i got to his office I found out that i had a dislocated jaw joint on my left side and severely warn discs. TMJ really hit me hard. The funny part is that I never had this disease in my whole life until 5 months after taking the antidepressant paxil (this was the day i woke with my jaw dislocated).
Well, it's been two years, 2 surgeries later due to disapearance of discs (i guess they were warn down to nothing), 2 joint flushes, repairs, replacements, splints and everything else that goes with it. I had no idea what had caused this to happen to me until my surgeries were already done.
The more that time went on I started to notice pain in my back teeth (molars). Come to find out I was clenching my teeth so bad to the point of where my molars were cracking. Well, constant replace and repair of those fine but now my teeth are all just warn from grinding.
My doctors were actually pretty smart to read information i had given them. See what this all boils down to is my antidepressant paxil. Paxil caused me to grind and clench so bad that i totally destroied my jaw joints, teeth and facial figure. And i know your all saying well just get off paxil. The problem is i can't because i am addicted and can't handle the withdraws. So the longer i am on paxil the more i cannot be helped........
Just wanted to find out if anyone else might be with me... and remember there is always a reason behind what is happening to you, it's just up to you to find that reason.
God bless you all and may all our pain eventually subside and are need for narcotics no longer exist.
pennyb

Penny,
I have a friend who was also addicted to paxil, not to mention the extra 100 pounds she gained, among other things. She went on liquid paxil and cut back very slowly. Addiction is tough and easy for someone to say, "you can get off". She is now on a different anti-depressant and is doing very well. Like you said, the more you are on paxil the more you can't be helped. At least it is a start being able to admit this and you know the reason behind what is happening to you. Heaven forbid, if I was on it and clenched more than I already do. A few years ago, a doctor recommended I go on paxil. Not even knowing a thing about it, I said no. For once, I must have made a "right" decision.
I take an anti-anxiety(Lorazapam) at bedtime, it helps me sleep and at times, I wake up clenching but I think I am somewhat more relaxed. I have refused anti-depressants but there may be a day if things keep going like they are, that depression may take over. So far I have been able to fight it. There are days I break down and cry, wondering what the $$$$ can happen next? Life never fails to amaze me, something always happens. December 30th, I go through my second back fusion.
Hang in there,
Elaine

i take anti-depressants (not paxil) and mine do not cause me to grind my teeth, in fact, i'm such a nervous nellie that without my anti-d, i probably would grind my teeth. maybe paxil does this, and there are other anti-d's your doc can try to put you on. there is always a way to wean off a med if the doctor is willing to work with you.

lori, how much research have you done on whatever antidepressant you are on? I have been on effexor, prozac, and celexa and paxil. All antidepressants have bad sides to them. Trust me i have been up and down doing research since i have been on them. Actually right now i am in the process of suing one of the antidepressant companies due to addiction and severe withdraw. I have tried everything to get off this medication with several doctors helping me and nothing has worked. If your antidepressant is helping you then great but you cannot say that antidepressants don't cause severe damage in one way or the other because they do. I am now part of a group that is helping people get off antidepressants due to it causing medical conditions.
TMJ is one of the medical conditions 3 major antidepressants cause. The reason being is they cause clenching of the jaw and grinding of the teeth. Hon you really need to research this and you might just find the truth behind the closed doors. But others who do have tmj and happen to be on an antidepressant can get cured. There are support groups out there. Hope this doesn't sound harsh, i didn't mean it too. But unfortunatly it took TMJ for me to finally understand how much control my antidepressant had.
take care

hey all,
oh my goodness, celexa made me litterally nuts! I went straight off my rocker! now i just read 100lbs. from paxil, in which was just picked up for me last night. no wonder she gave it to me i am in remission from anorexia and bulimia. ( due to popular belief no i di not stick my fingers down my throat!) just though i would clear that up. it is a nervous condition. anyway i'm glad to hear about the 100lbs. b4 i swallowed one of those suckers! thanks :0)

[This message has been edited by ANGELINEV (edited 12-05-2002).]