New to celexa ... jaw clenching and loss of appetite?

[detroitrockcity]

I've suffered from what could be called "moderate" depression for many years -- I've functioned pretty well and have been successful career-wise; however I was always blue and sad. I have a great therapist of more than two years and she finally convinced me to take an anti-depressant --I resisted for quite some time. I now take Celexa -- it's been over a week, and I feel much better.

However, I keep clenching my jaw? What's the deal? I'm seriously thinking of buying a mouth guard to wear when I sleep at night.

I've also lost my appetite -- well when I felt depressed I binged -- now I eat a bit at each meal and push it away when I'm done ... anyone else have that happen?

Meerkat?

[lindsay]

I am on my second round of citalopram (celexa) and my appetite has also dropped. I usually have a really good appetite (when not depressed) but i am now like you (after 2 weeks on the drug) i manage a bit of food and then my stomach seems to close up and i have to stop eating. I have a similar jaw clenching, my mouth seems to become swollen looking and feel to stick out more than usual and my lips somehow will not relax , i can`t really explain it, but if it`s like when i was on the drug before these side effects do seem to disappear. However i don`t think my appetite really came back proplerly until i was off citalopram. Hope this helps.
Lindsay

[Meerkat]

detroitrockcity wrote:

I've suffered from what could be called "moderate" depression for many years -- I've functioned pretty well and have been successful career-wise; however I was always blue and sad. I have a great therapist of more than two years and she finally convinced me to take an anti-depressant --I resisted for quite some time. I now take Celexa -- it's been over a week, and I feel much better.
However, I keep clenching my jaw? What's the deal? I'm seriously thinking of buying a mouth guard to wear when I sleep at night.
I've also lost my appetite -- well when I felt depressed I binged -- now I eat a bit at each meal and push it away when I'm done ... anyone else have that happen?
Meerkat?

Hi DRC,
I don't know whether you've seen my earlier comments about weight gain/loss, but I'll go with what I experienced myself and how my MD explained it.
Personally I have experienced very little impact on my weight as such, but more so a difference in weight distrubution. Less fat around the waist, but more toned and muscular on the upper body and legs. I noticed that due to a general mood improvement, I'm more inclined to be more active and actually enjoy doing work outs which are in and of themselves a very powerful anti-depressant.
My MD explained it as follows:
If you're unmedicated depressed, you either 'stuff' your feelings of insignificance and self-loathing by overeating, OR you're so depressed that the mere interest in sustenance completely eludes you and you under-eat or 'starve'. In either case, becoming successfully medicated for depression will likely relieve some of the depression related weight issues.

If you 'Stuffed', you'll notice that the urge to overfeed due to negative emoting will decrease and by on top of that getting more active, you're likely to healthily lose a couple of pounds and/or improve your physical condition. That essentially what happened in my case.

If you 'Starved', you'll notice that by getting less depressed, your appetite will increase and that you'll likely healthily gain a couple of pounds.

He also noted that either scenario would be a good point to reset your metabolism by doing a purge and a switch to a healthier diet, which more often than not has an anti-depressant effect in and of itself.

Now, as to the jaw-clenching 'bruxism' and related head-aches 'migraines', he suggested NightGuards and those work for me. Btw. famous depressed people in history very often had 'bruxism' and Sir Winston Churchill was known to sleep with a small washcloth between his jaws, so it's not an uncommon symptom and neither is the solution to it.

Hope this helps you out.

[Ezin]

Jaw - you need to research SSRI-induced jaw dyskinesias and dystonias, or SSRI induced orofacial movement disorders, or variations on that theme; in a study with healthy volunteers on a serotonin booster antidepressant, I believe 50% showed this movement disorder within 2 days (Healy). It's a neurological adverse drug effect. Also research on SSRI-induced extra-pyramidal effects, or SSRIs and EPS (extra pyramidal syndrome), or read the relevant chapters in Joseph Glenmullen's book on antidepressant side-effects 'Prozac Backlash'(lots of references, will give you the scientific what-not, and won an the annual award from the American Academy for the Advancement of Medicine). A chapter is available on-line, simply google on: Glenmullen Prozac Backlash, go to the homepage, and then navigate to the book intro and Chapter one.

Do not expect your doctor to be aware of the prevalence of SSRI-induced movement disorders - so if possible, go equipped with relevant documentation.

e.g. apart from Glenmullen, numerous academic papers and articles, and lots of individual reports, a swift google threw up: "Serotonergic Agents Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, e.g., fluoxetine,(Prozac), fluvoamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil) sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa),escitalopram (Lexapro) are used fordepression and a variety of other men-
tal illness.

"Unfortunately, these drugs
are reported to produce the side effect
of increased clenching and bruxism. Actually, the term SSRI-induced
bruxism may not be accurate in that
the actual motor behavior does not
present as brief, strong sleep state-
related contractions as seen in brux-
ism but more of an increased sustained
nonspecific activation of the jaw and
tongue musculature. Patients generally describe an elevated headache and tightness in their jaw, tongue, and
facial structures...." from an on-line article called 'Medical Management of Oral Motor Disorders: Dystonia, Dyskinesia and
Drug-Induced Dystonic Extrapyramidal
Reactions'

You should see your doctor ASAP to report it. Don't mess about with movement disorders. Most people simply do not connect the drug to jaw and facial aches and movements, or to morning jaw stiffness. There are too many people out there with damaged and crumbled gnashers, plus continued need for post-drug mouthguards (because the bruxism didn't remit).

Glenmullen seemed to find that a person exhibiting one of the main neurological adverse drug reactions, seemed to be more likely to suffer from some of the other neurological ADRs. The book will walk you through the effects, how to recognise them, and sensible courses of action.

Appetite - the drug acts on all serotonin in the body, roughly 95% of which is outside your brain, and a heck of a lot of that is associated with the gut... one possible reason why nausea/diarrhoea/lots of other digestive upsets are described by SSRI-users. Again, Glenmullen's book will give you much relevant info. Many get over the initial digestive adverse effects.

[detroitrockcity]

Well thanks for the opinions everyone -- last night was the first night that it didn't happen -- the clenched jaw -- so maybe it is disappearing. Will let you know.

Thanks Meerkat for the weight information.

[DetroitRockCity]

Jaw clenching has subsided. My clothes are looser, which has made me very happy.

[Be positive]

I too an new to citalopram (celexa, have been on it for 4 days (20mg), I seem to have a loss of appetite too. The plus side is that I dont seem to have had any of the other side effects that people have mentioned apart from the dry mouth, but then I usually forget to drink so this is helping in a way as it reminds me to drink more! I am not getting the hot flushes, but am feeling rather cold most of the time, is this normal??!!

This is the first time I have ever taken anti-depressants as I always thought that I could cope alone, but have got to a point where I realised that I needed help, but am still unsure as to what they will do to help, but understand that I need to take them for a few weeks to really see the difference.

I am trying to be positve about taking these tablets and hope that this will in turn help me keep positive.

It has been nice to read about other peoples experiences and realise that I am not the only one who gets down and needs support.

How long do you normally need to take these tablets for before most people see a positive effect, I am hoping its not too long!!

[Shaki]

Hi, I noticed a difference after about 2 weeks, I still had problems, but they seemed easier to identify and cope with.

Took 20mg for 12 weeks, then my doctor and I agreed I would come off. I've had to take 20mg every other day for last two weeks. I'm taking my last pill tomorrow!

Originally the doctor told me I'd need to stay on for 4/6 months after feeling better, but thinks I've responded to the treatment really quickly. I have also been exercising more and keeping a diary which I'm sure have helped!

On the other hand I have a friend who has taken medication for eight years. This scares me so much! Her doctor doesn't even see her, she just gets a repeat prescription every month!

I guess it's so very different for everyone! But Good luck!

[Laura]

When I began taking a different SSRI, Zoloft, I experienced the jaw clenching problem, but after about a week it went away, and I have no have problems since. I am about to switch to Celexa.

[carie uk]

i had jaw clenching when i started taking celexa,but it went away after a couple of weeks,funny thing is i have just had my dose up'd 2 30mg,guess whos grinding jaw again!but i know this side effect will soon disapear.

[carie uk]

i also lost weight at begining,but after a month i started eating more,so put on weight,now im on higher dose i feel same as when i started so not really feeling hungry.i do workout 4 4-5 hours a week,i would recomend exercise to any1 suffering from anxity depression,i love it and i was always the 1st to walk off when ever exercise was mentioned,so any weight gain can b moulded in2 a beautiful shape!

[Chris]

Has anyone had the loss of Appetite go away after a few weeks on Celexa?

[carie uk]

hi chris,yeah if u see my post above,my appetite came bk after 3-4 weeks,and has just dissapeared again and that cos i was put up from 20mg 2 30mg on fri.

[Meerkat]

I completely agree with you Carie.
My excercise not only lifts my mood tremendously, but where I had grown a modest potbelly and a likewise modest 'benzene-ring' around the waist, I managed to trim down to the level where comfortably fit into my old army uniform (last time I could do that, was about twenty years ago. I'm 52yo) and I noticed that I stretch the shoulders of my shirts again. Also the adverse sexual side-effects have completely disappeared, but the benificial ones have remained. I feel like 25 again in that respect.

[carie uk]

Hi meerkat!bet u felt gr8 getting in2 ur uniform again good on u!u are such a positive person 2 have on this site.-Chris u managed to start munching again,let us know....

[Chris]

carie wrote: hi chris,yeah if u see my post above,my appetite came bk after 3-4 weeks,and has just dissapeared again and that cos i was put up from 20mg 2 30mg on fri.

Oh that's good. I suffer from anxiety. I am really thin so I need to gain weight. When your appetite came back was it greater than before you ever took celexa?

[carie uk]

Chris,hi,my appetite came bk with avengence,this drug also a good thing with people with eating issues my doc mentioned it should get me back eating normally,which it did but as mentioned i have just lost it again,but i no in another week i will make up 4 lost time ha ha!hey please try and b good to yourself and even though u dont feel like it try drinking smooties,milk,milkshakes,in the side effects leaflet,there is a mention of anorexia,but as a rule most peoples appetite increases.oh just thought u could get sum protein shakes from health shop 2 help u along a bit.if still no go in a week or 2 and u havent starved quite yet,get in and c your doc.i eat like a man,and will do again when this extra 10mg has settled on me.

[carie uk]

Any jaw grinders can get a mouth sheild to stop any damage to teeth

[soulsaxx]

I just started Celexa(i take the generic)after years of depression. I had a complete meltdown one day going to work over a flat on my car. My mom and sister encouraged me to get something for my illness. My doctor gave me Celexa. I too, at first didn't eat much. I take it in the evening. My anxiety has gone. I used to not be able to sit in the back seat of a car because of claustrophobia, but a couple weeks ago I got in the back without thinking about it. Now, I do things without pondering. I take 40mgs. I had the jaw thing, as well. Also, teeth clatters a little if I hold them together. I feel great.

[carie uk]

soulsa,
so pleased its working for you,i was afraid of trains planes and buses,but the celexa sorted that out and made me see what the real reasons for my anxitey sorted them and am now in process of coming off,got to laid back!