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What Causes Muscle Tightness In Neck After Taking Zoloft?

Posted on Mon, 3 Aug 2015

Question: I am currently on 100 mg of Zoloft and ever since I started taking it I have had muscle tightness in my neck. my massage therapist said my muscles were noticeably tighter on the Zoloft and that has stayed that way the entire 2 1/2 months that I have been on Zoloft. should I try another SSRI

ever since I started on Zoloft I have had a very tight neck. my massage therapist noticed a difference in all my muscles since I started the Zoloft. my neck is the worst. I have tried massage chiropractor and active release technique and it is still there.....Paxil made my jaw tight and my shoulders and hips. cipralex was a cleaner med but did not seem to work for me.....should I suggest a different SSRI to my psychiatrist or do you have another suggestion

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
amitriptyline;diazepam;gabapentin.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.

I understand your concerns.
Zoloft is causing tightness of muscles in you.

There are few options which I would like to suggest you as an alternative:
1. You can try tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline or nortriptyline. These have muscle relaxant properties. However, these drugs can cause constipation and dry-mouth commonly.

2. You can add benzos like clonazepam or diazepam to zoloft. These have muscle relaxant properties but can be habit-forming.

3. You can add gabapentin or pregabalin for their antianxiety and muscle relaxant properties but these can cause drowsiness.

I would recommend option 1, if you have no improvement in depressive symptoms with zoloft.

I would recommend option 2 if zoloft is working well for you. A short term (2-3 weeks) or SOS use of benzos like diazepam is safe.

Kindly discuss these strategies with your doctor and take drugs accordingly.

Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (1 hour later)

I am currently taking adavan .5 as well as needed. It doesn't seem to make any difference on the tightness. I am also on 150 of welbutrin. I know it's difficult for you to say but would a different SSRI be an option. The cipralex did not cause muscle tightening, but did not work for me as well as the paxil. I am still building on the Zoloft and I am coping, but hate to go any higher because I do not want the tightening to get any worse. So I my final question is....Do you think a different SSRI would cause the same tightening?? Have you heard of SSRI's causing muscle tightning?
Thanks so much.

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
would not recommend another SSRI.

Detailed Answer:
In my opinion, all SSRIs can cause muscle tightness. But it is an uncommon side effect.
Also, there is individual variability in effects as well side-effects of SSRIs (and all psychotropic drugs).

So, I do not think switching to another SSRI would be a good idea.

Hope this helps.

I wish you good health.
Kindly close the discussion if you are satisfied with the response and give your valuable feedback.

Thanks.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar