Anxiety medications and facial expression issues

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bornrebel9
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02 Mar 2013, 12:47 pm

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone has experienced issues while on anxiety medications with their facial expressions. I've been taking anxiety medications for over a year now and find that my facial muscles tend to get very stiff and I have trouble changing my facial expression. My psychiatrist has been working on trying to resolve this issue by reducing some of the medication I'm on but we aren't having much success. Any advice?



windtreeman
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02 Mar 2013, 12:54 pm

Hm, interesting. I think muscle soreness, stiffness and fatigue can be a symptom of some SSRIs and benzodiazepines. I've been on both for anxiety and haven't had much issue with that though, I will say that sometimes I care less about using the necessary energy to make appropriate facial expressions. I wonder if you're holding the same facial expression for hours, for some reason and that's leading to the stiffness.


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MountainLaurel
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02 Mar 2013, 3:37 pm

I experience tight facial muscles when I have had more than one glass of wine. My forehead & eye area gets tight and squinty. My cheek muscles feel tight & tense. I cannot relax any of these muscles until the next day.



Tyri0n
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02 Mar 2013, 5:33 pm

bornrebel9 wrote:
Hi, I was just wondering if anyone has experienced issues while on anxiety medications with their facial expressions. I've been taking anxiety medications for over a year now and find that my facial muscles tend to get very stiff and I have trouble changing my facial expression. My psychiatrist has been working on trying to resolve this issue by reducing some of the medication I'm on but we aren't having much success. Any advice?


Yes, I just went off them for that reason. It was like all the facial muscles except the ones in the front collapsed, or froze, which made me look creepy and ugly.

I'd say find another medication. Or find a natural supplement or substance that's an alternative (might have to go to an alternative practitioner for advice on this).



bornrebel9
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04 Mar 2013, 5:44 pm

I find that I have more stiffness when I'm stressed or I'm tired. My psychologist believes it's a side effect of the Risperdal I'm on.