Pay attention to it! It could be bruxism.

July 13, 2026

Today I'd like to share a little about my day. As some of you know, yesterday I had another fairly intense wave with anxiety, inner restlessness, racing thoughts, and a lot of discomfort. I've been tapering off duloxetine for 7 years, and my current taper has been going on for about 3.5 years. I'm really grateful that I found this community because I've been struggling with recurring waves for the past six months, even after having an 8-week window. I slept very poorly last night, and this morning I still felt awful. I was incredibly sensitive, and every social interaction felt exhausting. I tried my best to stay calm and hoped nothing too stressful would come my way. Around midday, I noticed a lot of pressure in the back of my head, along with episodes of dizziness and sudden surges of anxiety. I also realized that my bruxism (teeth clenching/grinding)—which I'm convinced became much worse during tapering—had flared up significantly. So throughout the day, I consciously kept reminding myself to relax my jaw while I was working, and I massaged my jaw muscles whenever I could. During 2024 and 2025, I had Botox injections every 3–4 months to relax my masseter and temporalis muscles because my bruxism had become so severe. Looking back, I've realized that my bruxism can trigger or worsen many of my symptoms, including dizziness, neck tension, derealization, and brain fog. My last Botox treatment was about 8 months ago (thankfully, because it's expensive!), but I'm planning to have another treatment next week. I don't believe that bruxism is the root cause of my symptoms—the withdrawal is. However, in my personal experience, when my jaw tension becomes severe, Botox, along with frequent massage of the masseter and temporalis muscles, has helped reduce some of the symptoms. One thing I've noticed is that my waves seem to alternate between physical symptoms and emotional symptoms. If you're tapering, it may be worth paying attention to whether bruxism is playing a role. I don't think it's talked about enough, and it might be contributing more than you realize. I'm not giving medical advice—I'm simply sharing my own experience in the hope that it might help someone else. I've learned that sometimes one symptom can hide beneath the surface and end up triggering several others. Has anyone else experienced something similar? Or do you have any questions about my experience managing bruxism—with or without Botox? I'd love to hear from you. Until then, I'm going to enjoy the small window I'm in right now. 🫶

Cymbalta — 20mg(12mg) — 17 Jahre — holding -with clinician - 90 mg – 2021: First tapering attempt.
60 mg – 2023: Second tapering attempt.
With a doctor's supervision—but unfortunately, a doctor who doesn't know how to properly taper off an antidepressant.

4 Replies

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CatinaJul 13

Community AnchorEffexor

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm really glad you're having a small window. Those windows are glimmers of hope! 🔆

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 16.64 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Mom2gnjJul 14

NavigatorSeroquel · active

My bruxism has gotten worse since I started my taper, especially once I got around 100 mg and below. I think it does get a little better once my system settles after a drop but it is still there. I had it before tapering but not nearly as pronounced. I already wear a mouth guard. I have wondered about botox. Were the injections painful - I have heard masseter botox injections can hurt. I have also heard they can cause bone loss. But I am getting pretty sick of the bruxism so I may try botox anyway. I haven’t noticed the bruxism tied to any of the other symptoms you mentioned but it does give me headaches sometime.

Seroquel — 81.25 mg — 11 — actively tapering | with clinician

DuloxiJul 14

Community AnchorCymbalta · holding

Hello Mom2gnj, I wear a thick night guard as well. Unfortunately, it only has a limited effect—it mainly keeps the jaw in a neutral position and protects the teeth from wear. I was skeptical about Botox at first too, but so far I've only had positive experiences. I see an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who offers the treatment. The injections are very tolerable—just a few tiny pinches in the cheek and temple. I've had virtually no side effects, and the effect starts very quickly. I wouldn't worry too much about muscle wasting or anything like that. I haven't experienced any problems. Botox isn't a cure-all, and it's possible that its effectiveness may decrease over time with future treatments. But for me, it has usually provided significant relief. My doctor will even do a touch-up after four weeks if the initial treatment wasn't effective enough. I'm sure you won't need it forever, but as temporary relief while tapering—if your bruxism becomes severe—it can definitely be helpful. I also notice a mild antidepressant effect afterward, probably because relaxing the muscles—which are so closely connected to the nervous system—helps my whole body calm down. That's just my personal experience. I would also recommend regularly checking throughout the day that you're keeping your jaw relaxed instead of clenching it. If possible, try to avoid chewing hard foods over the long term. Massaging the masseter and temporalis muscles can also help. Massage from top to bottom and continue toward the neck, just below the ear, because that's where a lot of the fascial tension tends to spread. Applying heat in the evening has also helped reduce the effects of nighttime bruxism, when we have little control over what our jaw is doing. Sometimes that tension can spread throughout the entire body. I've even had full-body pain because of it. The hips can also play an important role. Tension is often stored in the hips and thighs, and targeted exercises to release those areas can sometimes reduce tension all the way up into the neck. I also recommend learning a bit about the body's fascial muscle chains. During withdrawal from psychiatric medications, I think they can play a role. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. Until then, take care. We'll get through this together. 🫶

Mom2gnjJul 14

NavigatorSeroquel · active

@Duloxi84 thank you so much for all of that helpful info ❤️❤️

Seroquel — 81.25 mg — 11 — actively tapering | with clinician

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