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Suggest Treatment For Involuntary Tongue Movements
Question: I HAVE INVOLUNTARY TONGUE MOVEMENTS AND DUE TO A LOT OF SALIVA I HAVE TO SWALLOW EVERY 5 -15 MINS 24/7. I HAVE HAD THIS CONDITION FOR OVER 2YRS NOW. IT IS VERY FAST. IN ORDER TO SPEAK I HAVE TO KEEP ON SWALLOWING. MY TONGUE PRESSES ON THE BACK OF MY LOWER MIDDLE TEETH ALL DAY. I AM UNDER A DR AND A THERAPIST. I HAVE HAD AN MRI AND TESTS AND IT SHOWS UP NOTHING. I HAVE HAD BLOOD TESTS AS WELL. BOTH MY DR AND THERAPIST THINK THIS PROBLEM STARTED AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME THAT I WAS UNDER AN ENOURMOUS AMOUNT OF STRESS AND THEY BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE CAUSE (LIKE A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN).
I AM DOING MEDITATION AND HYPNOSIS AND THERE IS A LITTLE IMPROVEMENT. IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN BE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL. EATING AND SLEEPING AND TALKING ARE VERY HARD TO DO. TO LOOK AT ME I LOOK NORMAL.
I AM DOING MEDITATION AND HYPNOSIS AND THERE IS A LITTLE IMPROVEMENT. IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN BE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL. EATING AND SLEEPING AND TALKING ARE VERY HARD TO DO. TO LOOK AT ME I LOOK NORMAL.
Brief Answer:
Consult a psychiatrist
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I have read your query and you appear to highly distressed with your problem. I can understand your concerns.
I have some suggestions for you:
1. Having all the investigations normal is a good sign in the sense that you do not have any serious brain disease (you have mentioned that your MRI-Brain shows up nothing abnormal) which can cause such involuntary tongue movements.
2. Such kind of involuntary muscle (tongue in your case) movements are called dyskinesias. These are usually due to side effects of some psychotropic medications or a brain disease (none in your case) or psychological stressors.
Stress-induced/psychological involuntary tongue movements might respond to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants like escitalopram. There are no published studies or drug trials but I am sharing my clinical experience with you. I have seen some of my patients with similar complaints responding to escitalopram. (Here I must tell you that the drug has to be taken under supervision of a psychiatrist only).
3. For excessive salivation, drugs like glycopyrrolate in doses of 1mg or 2mg can be used but again under your treating doctor's supervision.
4. Please continue doing meditation. This is an excellent stress buster.
Visit your psychiatrist. Please discuss these issues and you might find a solution for your problem. Donot take any of the medications listed above on your own.
Hope this information helps you.
Any further queries are welcome.
Thanks.
Consult a psychiatrist
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I have read your query and you appear to highly distressed with your problem. I can understand your concerns.
I have some suggestions for you:
1. Having all the investigations normal is a good sign in the sense that you do not have any serious brain disease (you have mentioned that your MRI-Brain shows up nothing abnormal) which can cause such involuntary tongue movements.
2. Such kind of involuntary muscle (tongue in your case) movements are called dyskinesias. These are usually due to side effects of some psychotropic medications or a brain disease (none in your case) or psychological stressors.
Stress-induced/psychological involuntary tongue movements might respond to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants like escitalopram. There are no published studies or drug trials but I am sharing my clinical experience with you. I have seen some of my patients with similar complaints responding to escitalopram. (Here I must tell you that the drug has to be taken under supervision of a psychiatrist only).
3. For excessive salivation, drugs like glycopyrrolate in doses of 1mg or 2mg can be used but again under your treating doctor's supervision.
4. Please continue doing meditation. This is an excellent stress buster.
Visit your psychiatrist. Please discuss these issues and you might find a solution for your problem. Donot take any of the medications listed above on your own.
Hope this information helps you.
Any further queries are welcome.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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