Jaw pain from prolonged amphetamine use?

[korky8097]

Swim has been perscribed to adderall for 3 or so years now for A.D.D. Until now he has never experienced any clenching jaw or pain, even when he was doing meth and was into getting pretty amped up. Recently it seems that whenever swims normal dose for the day (40mg) wears off, he is left with a clenching jaw that sticks with him the rest of the day and into the next day. The pain is mild, but he wishes to find out what is happening and intends to try to correct it, as he doesnt want problems down the road.

Swim believes it is probably due to lack of nutrition (magnesium perhaps?), as he has been off his huge dose of daily vitamins for a few months now in the form of animal paks. He just never bought more when he ran out for some reason. Has anybody encountered a similar problem, and if so what would be recommended (besides pain killers, swim has thought of that already)?

Thanks

[old hippie 56]

Swim had that problem with adderalls, jaw hurts like hell. Multi-vitamins did the trick, with a meal. He also found out that milk takes the edge off also.

[HandyMan81]

In some cases, bruxism may be traceable to drugs. Smoking (Madrid et al., 1998) and alcohol (Hartmann, 1994) may cause, or at least exacerbate, the condition.

Antidepressant and antipsychotic medications may trigger bruxism in non-bruxers (reviewed in Brown & Hong, 1999; Gerber & Lynd, 1998). For example, within a few days of initiating velafaxine therapy for depression, a man with a bipolar disorder developed bruxism.

In another study (Ellison & Stanziani, 1993), daily intake of the antidepressants fluoxetine (=prozac) or sertraline triggered sleep bruxism in four non-bruxers.

The effect of anti-depressants is still uncertain (Stein, Van Greunen, & Niehaus, 1998). Still, clinicians should bear in mind the theoretical possibility that drugs or medications may induce or exacerbate bruxism.

While chewing and grinding movements have been observed in amphetamine addicts, recognition and management of this problem have rarely been highlighted. Botulinum toxin (BTX) has previously been demonstrated to be effective for bruxism associated with movement disorders, such as cranial-cervical dystonia. However, there is little information on its use in tardive bruxism.

Treatment of bruxism

Unfortunately, there is no accepted cure as yet; mainly because the causation for the condition is normal physiological reflex activity. Ongoing management of bruxism is based on prevention of the abrasion of tooth surfaces by the wearing of an acrylic dental guard, created to the shape of the individual's upper teeth from a bite mould.

This requires trips to the dentist for measuring and fitting. Alongside this full width guard, smaller and alternative shapes can be obtained, some with proprietary names. The main goal of treatment is to prevent further tooth damage and requires that the nightguard be worn as long as the person has teeth.

If a tense jaw is experienced during wakefulness, some sufferers find it helpful to gently press their jaws open with fingertip pressure, to relax the affected muscles much as one would treat a leg cramp, but in this case, it is important to take care not to overextend the jaw joint.

Though, presently, there is no cure available for bruxers, it may be found beneficial to work at reducing stress and anxiety before bedtime, by a winding-down activity such as massage, meditation or reading, and eating early enough to ensure a fairly empty stomach at bedtime may also help.

Additionally, there is some evidence to suggest that prolonged magnesium and/or calcium supplementation may alleviate bruxism. Most of these treatments will not significantly reduce bruxism and should be used in combination with a professionally fitted nightguard.

Nutritional Supplements.

Magnesium's vital role in nerve and muscle function led at least two researchers to the suspicion that bruxism may be traceable to insufficient consumption, or inefficient utilization, of this metal. Magnesium-deficient diet is said to cause frequent teeth grinding in both sleeping and awake pigs (cf. Lehvila, 1994, p. 219).

In humans, the suggested treatment involves magnesium supplements. According to Ploceniak (1990), for instance, prolonged magnesium administration nearly always provides a cure for bruxism. This confirms the earlier report of Lehvila (1974), which claimed remarkable reductions (and sometimes even disappearance) in the frequency and duration of grinding episodes in six patients who took, once a day, a tablet of assorted vitamins and minerals (which included 25 mg {in children} or 100 mg {in adults} of magnesium), for at least five weeks.

When the supplements intake stopped, the symptoms returned.
Earlier, a similar logic led Cheraskin & Ringsdorf (1970) to study the effects of nutritional supplements on teeth grinders or clenchers. Of these, 16 took calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), iodine, and vitamin E. When surveyed a year later, they reported that bruxism vanished.

In contrast, the 15 bruxers who only took vitamins A, C, E and iodine showed no improvement. It seemed reasonable to conclude that the active agents were calcium and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5).


Treatment Rationale

At least two lines of evidence suggest that taste feedback may be conveniently used to prevent bruxism.

First, extensive work in conditioned taste aversion—despite its many differences from the approach described in this note—raises the intriguing possibility that unlearned, instinctive taste aversion can serve as a powerfully aversive, readily associable, stimulus in sleeping bruxers (Bernstein, 1991; Chambers and Bernstein, 1995; Garcia, Ervin, & Koelling, 1966).

Second, known therapeutic practices also suggest that taste aversion may be used to treat bruxism. Thus, the childhood syndrome of finger sucking can sometimes be treated successfully by applying spicy liquid or denatonium benzoate to the fingers.

Prevention

Relax. If you have a lot of stress and anxiety in your life, try relaxation techniques.

Learn to recognize when you are clenching your teeth. Practice keeping your teeth apart, bringing them together only when swallowing or eating. When driving, avoid clenching the wheel with both hands because often your teeth will be clenched as well.

Do not overuse and stress your jaw muscles. Avoid chewing gum constantly, biting your nails, resting your chin on your hand, or cradling the telephone receiver between your shoulder and jaw.

Change your diet. Eat softer foods, and use both sides of your mouth to chew your food. Avoid hard or chewy foods, such as popcorn, apples, carrots, taffy, hard breads, and bagels.

Maintain good posture. Poor posture may disturb the natural alignment of your facial bones and muscles, causing pain.

Medications

Short-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), narcotics, muscle relaxants, or antidepressant medications can relieve or reduce inflammation, control pain, and relax the jaw muscles.

Medication Choices

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to treat inflammation and pain. These are the most commonly used medications for TM disorders.
• Narcotic pain relievers (such as acetaminophen with codeine or hydrocodone) are used in some cases of acute, severe pain. Because narcotics are addictive, they are not to be taken for longer than 2 weeks.
• Muscle relaxants, such as diazepam (Valium) or cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), are used in some cases of acute pain or prolonged muscle spasm. Because they are addictive, sedating, and can cause or worsen depression, muscle relaxants should be taken at the lowest possible dose and for no longer than 2 weeks.
• Low doses of tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), can effectively relieve chronic pain and make treatment more successful, but the effects seem to decrease over time.4 These medications have also been helpful for improving disrupted sleep patterns, which can cause bruxism.

Conclusion

Bruxism and facial tics are atypical manifestations of tetany. Biological research is necessary to explain the clinical facts and their etiology, such as non-utilization of reserves through the lack of another trace element or of a hormone.

We know, for example, that magnesium deficiency is accompanied by symptoms which are spontaneously corrected by the administration of magnesium.

We know that the supply of vitamin D facilitates the intake of magnesium by the organism.

This manuscript's only goal is to make known the clinical observations accumulated over the last ten years and to encourage practitioners to prescribe magnesium for the greatest good of their patients.

When To Call a Doctor

Call your dentist or other health professional immediately if you have had an injury to your jaw or face and:

• Your jaw is very painful.
• Your jaw is locked open or shut, or you are unable to move your jaw easily or smoothly (a sign of disc displacement, dislocation, or fracture).
• Your jaw appears to be deformed or swollen.
• There is swelling in the sides of your face.
• Your teeth no longer fit together normally when biting down (malocclusion).
• A severe headache or neck ache strikes suddenly, without apparent cause, or is different from previous headaches.

Call your dentist or other health professional if you:

• Have pain when moving your jaw (biting, chewing, swallowing, talking, or yawning) that is not getting better after 2 weeks of home treatment.
• Have had jaw pain for a long time (chronic).
• Have anxiety, stress, or work-related problems caused by your jaw discomfort and pain.
• Continue to have symptoms (such as pain with clicking or cracking sounds or your jaw locks) after 2 weeks of home treatment.
• Notice a change in the way your teeth fit together when you close your mouth.

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[ponygirl]

I've had bruxism my whole life. I've ground though all the crowns I've had.

Get a bite guard (I've ground though 3...cost about $300 a pop)
Go to an orthodontist and see about getting your teeth aligned
Get acupuncture (This one helps me a lot)
Get massages...sometimes neck and shoulder tension causes bruxism they think
See a chiropractor for an adjustment

Don't overdo the minerals too much...hard on the system. Make sure you take a multi mineral because they work together

I know it repeats the article but this is a short highlight of what I've done and what's worked for me

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good way to make a long story, short:)