[Guest]

Dr.,

My step up to 40mg on Celexa seems to have made a significant difference. I have been on it almost 5 weeks now and therapist says my HAMA is down to 6-7 for the last 2-3 weeks. Anyway, there is one sticking point that seems to be most stubborn. Muscular tension, jaw, face, and center of chest. Comes and goes throughout the day, some days not really at all, others it lingers throughout on and off. Since it is not combined with the other symptoms much anymore, it doesn't bother me like it used to. However, I still worry sometimes it is the disorder coming back and it is quite annoying.

Therapist says muscular tension in anxiety is often very slow to respond to antidepressants and that I need to learn to stop associating it with the more severe anxiety (sometimes the tension feeds worry and nervousness), it may linger for quite some time and will not likely lead to the return of the more serious symptoms as the antidepressant is usually very effective in keeping those in check once it works. I had never heard this before regarding antidepressants and muscular tension, is this accurate?

Is this something that is usually treated with additional medication if if lingers, or is it normal practice to just wait it out, assuming no other complications? (my HAMA is so low now, but it doesn't necessarily tell the whole story, most of the score is driven by this remaining issue).

Thanks as always.

[Guest]

I don't really know the answer to your questions. There is a literature on the use of Buspar for teeth clenching, but generalized muscular tenseness is different. Often many problems do disappear as time goes on.
[quote] Dr. ,

My step up to 40mg on Celexa seems to have made a significant difference... [/quote]