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Sertraline - unusual side effects. Anyone else?

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TheUpsideDown
TheUpsideDown

Started Sertraline around 4 months ago. Started at 50mg once daily. It did very little so doc doubled it to 100mg. But since going up to 100mg, among some common reported side-effects, I've been experiencing an uncommon unreported side effect, according to my GP, and wondered if anyone else has has experienced it.

I get strong muscle tension around my upper neck, at the base of my head at the back and around my ears and jaw. Its causing hard teeth clenching, painful inner ears and persistent neck pain. Its involuntary and I can't control it. The drug has been quite successful for my extreme anxiety, but this side effect is making me miserable.

GP has tried me on different dosage variations to try to stop/ease, but as he's never come across this side effect before he's not sure what else to do, other than to try me on something else.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Forestflower
    Forestflower TheUpsideDown

    Posted

    I’ve never noticed any side affects myself from sertraline but now you explain what your getting I think I maybe be expierenceinf the same thing. 

    I have constant tension head aches that are based on my temples and back of my skull, stiff kneck like my muscles flex/spasm on their own but I also get these muscle tensions in my shoulder and back and in my legs so Am now wondering if this might be the same, although I may have somatic disorder due to anxiety so it could be either. 

    I have no advice but I find that warm compress helps ease the tension a tiny bit, I am on 200mg of sertraline and thinking about it all of my systoms have progressed over my period of reaching 200mg..

  • kerryhs
    kerryhs TheUpsideDown

    Posted

    As far as I was aware, jaw clenching and muscle aches etc are part of side effects. It’s in the leaflet. Maybe show the doc and go from there. Best of luck x
  • felixe58925
    felixe58925 TheUpsideDown

    Posted

    Hiya,

    I get this really bad too. Going up to 100mg means that it will probably take a little longer for the side effects to ease.

    I went to the dentist for it and they made me a mouth guard to wear at night which helped a little bit (and stopped any future damage to my teeth which is always good) maybe try taking magnesium supplements? I heard they help....

  • joss23656
    joss23656 TheUpsideDown

    Posted

    I get intermittent, noticeable tension at the base of my skull, my temples, my jaw and my neck. I think this is a not unusual side effect. I've been taking 50mg for six weeks, it started in the third week and, fingers crossed, is easing slightly. Hope starts to ease soon for you.

  • Sertalinesucks
    Sertalinesucks TheUpsideDown

    Posted

    yes. on 200mg. daily and only been on this dosage 3 weeks lost two jobs due to muscle strains in shoulder blade s. and they hurt like a mofo last week right shoulder yesterday in the left week before in chest wall... i cant handle it anymore. i have a panic disprder though as well and if i panic every muscle in my body flexes for 10 min to several hours. depending

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