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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by CK1 on March 3, 2005, at 21:54:52
Hi all,
I started Zoloft 4 weeks ago and have been on 50mg for a week. I am getting an extremely stiff neck and a dull ache at the base of my skull. It hurts very much and I believe this pain is NOT caused by anxiety since I have had those before.
Is this a common SE of Zoloft? I've had a pretty good week so far and could feel my anxiety improving but, if this neck ache is being cause by Zoloft, there is no way I can take it.Thanks for you help!
Posted by Larry Hoover on March 3, 2005, at 22:24:42
In reply to STIFF NECK, posted by CK1 on March 3, 2005, at 21:54:52
> Hi all,
> I started Zoloft 4 weeks ago and have been on 50mg for a week. I am getting an extremely stiff neck and a dull ache at the base of my skull. It hurts very much and I believe this pain is NOT caused by anxiety since I have had those before.
> Is this a common SE of Zoloft? I've had a pretty good week so far and could feel my anxiety improving but, if this neck ache is being cause by Zoloft, there is no way I can take it.
>
> Thanks for you help!It's not specifically listed as a side effect, no. Some muscle cramping was reported, and backache, but that's as close as I can match the symptoms.
Moist heat might bring you relief. Here's my method. I wet a towel down thoroughly, and fold it so it fits flat inside a large ziploc bag. Without sealing it yet, I zap it in the microwave for a couple of minutes (time will vary). Then I seal it up, and wrap another good sized towel around that, and lay it on the affected area. It'll hold the heat for 20-30 minutes, just like the hotpacks at a physiotherapist's clinic.
Lar
Posted by Sarah T. on March 3, 2005, at 23:29:33
In reply to STIFF NECK, posted by CK1 on March 3, 2005, at 21:54:52
Hi CK1. Are you on any other medicines, traditional or alternative, besides Zoloft that might be interacting adversely with the Zoloft? Have you mentioned the stiff neck and pain to your doctor or to a neurologist? I do think you should call your doctor. It may not be anything to worry about, but on rare occasions, a so-called occipital headache or headache at the back or base of the head can be a sign of something serious. If the stiffness and pain persist and/or get worse, or if they are accompanied by nausea, dizziness or blurred vision, please seek medical attention. I hope you feel better soon.
Posted by jasmineneroli on March 4, 2005, at 0:41:34
In reply to Re: STIFF NECK » CK1, posted by Sarah T. on March 3, 2005, at 23:29:33
I always got a stiff neck on Celexa. I believe it is a common, but unreported side effect of SSRI's.
My massage therapist (who worked on it for me), mentioned that he has noticed a lot of his patients with stiff necks (and headaches) were also on SSRI's. It kind of goes along with the jaw clenching. Are you doing that? It maybe causing a stiff neck.
If it persists or worsens, let your doctor know, for sure.
Alternating ice and heat can help (as can a good medical massage).
Take care,
Jas
Posted by Cairo on March 4, 2005, at 6:53:22
In reply to STIFF NECK, posted by CK1 on March 3, 2005, at 21:54:52
I get stiff neck with every SSRI I take. It goes away when I wean off the SSRI. Same with Effexor and Cymbalta. Stretching and moist heat help, but muscle relaxants have only minimal effect. I find manual massage and myofascial release to help. I personally will not take any more SSRIs as this side effect is not tolerable to me and the other benefits are minimal to nil.
Cairo
> Hi all,
> I started Zoloft 4 weeks ago and have been on 50mg for a week. I am getting an extremely stiff neck and a dull ache at the base of my skull. It hurts very much and I believe this pain is NOT caused by anxiety since I have had those before.
> Is this a common SE of Zoloft? I've had a pretty good week so far and could feel my anxiety improving but, if this neck ache is being cause by Zoloft, there is no way I can take it.
>
> Thanks for you help!
Posted by SLS on March 4, 2005, at 8:19:15
In reply to Re: STIFF NECK » CK1, posted by Cairo on March 4, 2005, at 6:53:22
> I get stiff neck with every SSRI I take. I personally will not take any more SSRIs as this side effect is not tolerable to me and the other benefits are minimal to nil.
What medications are you taking or considering?
- Scott
Posted by shoebox on March 4, 2005, at 9:01:06
In reply to Re: STIFF NECK » Cairo, posted by SLS on March 4, 2005, at 8:19:15
The jaw-clenching thing is probably to blame,(notorious SSRI symptom) but there's one other possibility: are you sleeping more heavily than before you started on the Zoloft? If you are, a deep "druggy" sleep can cause muscle stiffness since you tend to get "stuck" in one position and zonk out rather than maintain a steady cycle of sleep stages. Just a thought.
Posted by lara53 on March 5, 2005, at 5:25:03
In reply to STIFF NECK, posted by CK1 on March 3, 2005, at 21:54:52
> Hi all,
> I started Zoloft 4 weeks ago and have been on 50mg for a week. I am getting an extremely stiff neck and a dull ache at the base of my skull. It hurts very much and I believe this pain is NOT caused by anxiety since I have had those before.
> Is this a common SE of Zoloft? I've had a pretty good week so far and could feel my anxiety improving but, if this neck ache is being cause by Zoloft, there is no way I can take it.
>
> Thanks for you help!For me zoloft was the worst offender of headache and neck pain,unfortunately one of the ones that were also working.Didn'nt get above 50mg. I even went to a pain doc. with different pain meds still no relief;had to quit taking it.I hope you find a solution.
laura
Posted by lara53 on March 5, 2005, at 5:27:36
In reply to STIFF NECK, posted by CK1 on March 3, 2005, at 21:54:52
> Hi all,
> I started Zoloft 4 weeks ago and have been on 50mg for a week. I am getting an extremely stiff neck and a dull ache at the base of my skull. It hurts very much and I believe this pain is NOT caused by anxiety since I have had those before.
> Is this a common SE of Zoloft? I've had a pretty good week so far and could feel my anxiety improving but, if this neck ache is being cause by Zoloft, there is no way I can take it.
>
> Thanks for you help!PS cymbalta took away all my pain {do have some arthritis] but side effects for me ugh!
Posted by CK1 on March 5, 2005, at 13:58:43
In reply to Re: STIFF NECK, posted by lara53 on March 5, 2005, at 5:27:36
Thanks for you help everyone. When I went down to 25mg yesterday, my neck did not hurt. After 4 weeks of Zoloft, there has been no improvement in anxiety but a tiny improvement in depression. It's not the drug for me. The only other med I'm taking is Allegra for allergies and have been taking this for years.
I was on Paxil 10mg for 2 years (from senior yr in high school to freshman in college) and it worked WONDERS for my anxiety (BTW..NEVER had depression before I started SSRI's!). I got off bc it was hurting my libido a tiny bit but learned this wasn't such a great idea! Anxiety came back ALONG WITH depression. Resumed taking Paxil again and it worked as well as before I stopped for 8 months UNTIL this January, when it totally stopped working! Since then, I tried Effexor for 2 weeks which made me tense and agitated and Zoloft for 4 weeks which is doing nothing except giving me a painful stiff neck. These "potentially" activating SSRI's are not for me and Paxil WAS wondrous! (the regular Paxil, not CR) Can you go back on drugs that previously worked after they "poop out" and have them work again? Remeron sounds like a good drug for anxiety and I love the fact that it's sedating. I miss the "calm, cool, and collected" feeling that Paxil gave me. I'm grinding my teeth, not sleeping, and getting agitated with these last two ssri's. In fact, I think I feel better on NO SSRI's.
I know I'll get better, but, as you all know, the "Waiting Game" gets tedious. Wait 4 weeks, wean off, try something else, another 4 weeks, etc.
I also got a blood test that said I was very low in 5-HTP so I'm considering going back on Paxil and taking a small dose of 5-HTP. Has anyone else here only had one drug that worked for them??
Posted by Phillipa on March 5, 2005, at 16:39:08
In reply to Re: STIFF NECK, posted by CK1 on March 5, 2005, at 13:58:43
Paxil at l0mg, and Luvox. Incredibly I took up to 250mg of Luvox until the pdoc switched me because he wanted me to Test Celexa. That was the beginning of the end. No AD has worked for me since then. I am taking l5mg of remeron at bedtime with l0mg of valium and sleeping well. I am still on the 25mg of zoloft even though I'm supposed to go up on it. I think I'll wait. Fondly, Phillipa
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