Can't seem to relax

[rogelio63]

Hey there,
Has anyone had any side effects where you feel like your muscles are slightly tense all the time? They feel like they're "quivering" almost constantly. I have to make a conscious effort to relax my muscles and even then that
doesn't work all the time.  It feels like it's related to muscle twitching.
I am currently on welbutrin, zoloft, lamictal, geodon and lithium. Anyone have what I'm talking about as a side effect to any of these drugs? Anything I can do about this?

[Midijane]

Hey there. I used to feel like that with my jaw and shoulder muscles for a long time. I never did anything about it and wouldn't say it had anything to do with my meds. I'm not really sure why it started or left.

M

[rogelio63]

I know I'm having a lot of trouble with anxiety lately but even when I don't  I still feel it.

[Bubulous]

How long have you been on these meds and how long has this problem?
Were there recent med changes?

[persephonedemeter]

Yes, the muscle quivering can happen even during relaxation after stress or tension, not just with stress or tension. It's involuntary, and basically settles down on it's own, and, for me, it doesn't seem to last very long. Just a few seconds or a few minutes.

Tension can cause it (during and after stress), but other things like being cold, having a low magnesium level, stimulants or being on meds like wellbutrin. I used to have fine and gross motor movement hand  tremors, and that was when I was started on lithium, but it got better or lessened when time went on and I was on lithium for years. After they calmed down alot, the only time I had them was when I was inwardly upset, in a very unpleasant or dangerous situation, or when I was nervous.

I did notice when I was under a lot of stress or when I was in tense situations under a lot of pressure with just a very short amount of time to make a decision, I had muscle quivering or fluttering just around the area below my eye close to the side of my nose. It also happened after the  stressful or tense situation.

When I dramatically lowered my stress level by making big changes in my life and changing the intensity level of how I cope with problems, I haven't experienced any of those facial quivers. On rare occasions, only when I got extremely emotionally upset or frustrated, I had a little fine  tremors on my hands. The last time was when I was in close proximity to a person whirling in a raging tirade and acting out. I haven't experienced the facial quiver for a long time now, but my life is definitely not as intense as it was before, although  it still has it's moments, but I notice I'm handling those moments a lot better now that I am not constantly under stress.

People didn't  see my facial quiver unless they look up close and watch it for a few seconds. They only notice it when I point it out to them because it was such a fine quiver. While it looked subtle, it felt stronger than it looked. They never last very long, even during their heyday. It's been years since I had one. I got to the point were I just carried on with the tremors and the quivers.

Before I was started on meds and prior to having mental disorders that required attention and treatment, the only times I had that kind of quivering or spasming was after an extreme physical exertion under terribly cold weather. It went away when I warmed up.

First 3 or 4 times it showed up, it used to bother me. I knew my body well enough that I hold tension in my upper back, shoulders, neck and  around my mouth. I had to make a conscious effort to not do that and just try to "stay loose and relaxed. . It helped when I stretched, take at least deep breaths every minute during tense situations, and did self massage. It also helps to  make  exaggerated yawning facial movements, "lift" or stretch  my face by lifting my eyebrows, widening my eyes, and the exaggerating yawning motion simultaneously, just to relieve facial tension. The mouth tension and gritting affected my gums and teeth. My dentist used to harp on me to learn how to relax during that time. Even though I hardly showed it, I know my anxiety level was pretty bad. When I was hospitalized and anxious, even though I looked calm, my blood pressure was 180/100. Normally, it is 115/60. That was when I was started on klonopin. Ativan didn't touch me. I don't take klonopin anymore.

I also made sure bodywork, stretches, massages and occasional saunas and jacuzzis were a part of my life. If I couldn't relax, I just took really strenuous walks or if it wasn't feasible for me to walk, I just did a few minutes of wild dancing or aerobics to relieve the tension and deep breathing in between. Like people mentioned, these days I enjoy closing my eyes and just listening quietly to music for 5 minutes or I like to think about a really wonderful time in my life or some other pleasant thing.

When there is a lull in a tense or unpleasant  situation, I ease up it in my mind by thinking of something that gives me pleasure. It could be a refrain in a song, a literary or spoken passage that gave me pause, the warm smile of someone I love,   remembering the fragrance of a peony, or  a special memory. Anything to ease or break the tension. As you know, there is usually someone who eases a tense situation with a sense of humor or a kindness like making tea or coffee. Along with it, I always take a deep breath.

I know my facial quivers wasn't because I had too much stimulants, a magnesium deficiency or an antidepressant, because I wasn't on any.  So, for me, it was mostly stress.

[persephonedemeter]

I just re-read your question. It also dawned on me that my body felt rigid or tense also. I was told by my pdoc that it may be a side effect to the antipsychotics I was taking. It wasn't extreme rigidity, just a noticeable tension. I combatted it with the above like stretching, moving. For me, it wasn't the worse side effect I went through. I can't remember if I was on Geodon or Abilify at the time. I know I was off Risperdal. Didn't have it when I was on Lamictal, and I wasn't on Wellbutrin for very long because it didn't do a thing for me. Again, I was under a lot of stress also, and I was on Lithium and Klonopin. In hindsight, I think it was mostly from a lower activity level due to the depression,  stress and anxiety.

[ILADVOCATE]

Extra pyramidal side effects (temporary movement disorders) are very common side effects of antipsychotics. There are different types. Akathesia can present itself as a feeling of inner restlessness. Dystonia can present itself as direct muscle tension..
These can be treated with a side effect pill within a psychiatrist's clinical discretion. It would be worthwhile to discuss this concern with your psychiatrist and ask what the cause might be and if this is a potential cause and if so how it could be treated.

[Crystal413]

Your not alone. This happened to me when I took Geodon. I don't know how long it's been going on but I would let your doc know and see what he says. I also get Akathesia with some meds that is intolerable.