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What Causes Severe Muscle Spasms While On Sedatives?
Question: Hi I was way over prescribed by an NP for up to 5-8 sedatives for over 3 years. She was also my shrink so I trusted her. 6 months ago I had what I call the perfect storm. My memory went completely away, total confusion plus extreme body/muscle pain. I finally figured out to quit taking ALL of them. My memory is back and no confusion. I am still suffering from way too much muscle pain throughout my whole body. It's been going on for 6 months. I can hardly walk. What is the compound in sedatives that can cause the side effect of muscle pain? Now times that by 6 different sedatives. Is there too much of a certain mineral or not enough in my muscles? This is getting very sad for me. no end in site
Brief Answer:
Could be due to benzodiazepine withdrawal
Detailed Answer:
Hi thanks for the query
I can understand your concern. You haven't mentioned which sedative drugs you were taking, but commonly benzodiazepines are used for sedation. Prolonged use of different sedatives and also withdrawal of these drugs are known to result in sore muscles, muscle aches and spasms.
Clonazepam, Alprazolam or Lorazepam etc are known to result in similar sequelae.
If the pain is unbearable then medicines like Gabapentine or Pregabalin can be used. These medicines will control the unbearable muscle aches and will help in easing the withdrawal. You can discuss with a doctor for these drugs.
Thanks Take care
Could be due to benzodiazepine withdrawal
Detailed Answer:
Hi thanks for the query
I can understand your concern. You haven't mentioned which sedative drugs you were taking, but commonly benzodiazepines are used for sedation. Prolonged use of different sedatives and also withdrawal of these drugs are known to result in sore muscles, muscle aches and spasms.
Clonazepam, Alprazolam or Lorazepam etc are known to result in similar sequelae.
If the pain is unbearable then medicines like Gabapentine or Pregabalin can be used. These medicines will control the unbearable muscle aches and will help in easing the withdrawal. You can discuss with a doctor for these drugs.
Thanks Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
here is the list of all the sedatives I was taking.
lamotrigine tab 150 mg 2x's per day. lorazepam 0.5 mg per day. clonazepam 2 mg 1 daily. duloxetine hcl cap 60 mg 1 per day. quetiapine fumarate 25 mg 2 per day. trazodone 50 mg 1 per day. prazosin cap 2 mg 3 x's per day.
It's been over 6 months since I completely stopped taking any of this stuff. All my side effects are gone except for the muscle pain. It's still really bad. I cannot move at all. I don't think I'm still going through withdrawals because the pain has not improved at all while all other symptoms have gone away and it's been 6 months.
Would you happen to know what the ingredient is in these sedatives that causes the bad side effect of muscle pain? Could it be a lack of some mineral? Or even too much of something?
The common bad side effect in ALL these sedatives is muscle pain. Now times it by 6-7. Absolutely no improvement in body pain over the last 6 months.
I'm just trying to find out what is the chemical that is causing this common symptom.
Would blood work help or god forbid a muscle biopsy? There has to be something that is common to all these medicine's to cause this this awful side effect.
Hi, well I just goggled the heck out of all these question's I've asked you. Could all this chronic muscle pain be cased by my abruptly stopping everything at once?
Some of the info I found suggested that I taper off instead and that will help a little with this bad muscle pain reaction. I do want to be off everything but if instead I taper off, will help lower this intense pain and then I keep lowering until the muscle pain is manageable, then I will stop all meds completely.
FYI, I do have an appointment next week with my pain Dr. and I very much want to also ask him this thoughts and concerns.
lamotrigine tab 150 mg 2x's per day. lorazepam 0.5 mg per day. clonazepam 2 mg 1 daily. duloxetine hcl cap 60 mg 1 per day. quetiapine fumarate 25 mg 2 per day. trazodone 50 mg 1 per day. prazosin cap 2 mg 3 x's per day.
It's been over 6 months since I completely stopped taking any of this stuff. All my side effects are gone except for the muscle pain. It's still really bad. I cannot move at all. I don't think I'm still going through withdrawals because the pain has not improved at all while all other symptoms have gone away and it's been 6 months.
Would you happen to know what the ingredient is in these sedatives that causes the bad side effect of muscle pain? Could it be a lack of some mineral? Or even too much of something?
The common bad side effect in ALL these sedatives is muscle pain. Now times it by 6-7. Absolutely no improvement in body pain over the last 6 months.
I'm just trying to find out what is the chemical that is causing this common symptom.
Would blood work help or god forbid a muscle biopsy? There has to be something that is common to all these medicine's to cause this this awful side effect.
Hi, well I just goggled the heck out of all these question's I've asked you. Could all this chronic muscle pain be cased by my abruptly stopping everything at once?
Some of the info I found suggested that I taper off instead and that will help a little with this bad muscle pain reaction. I do want to be off everything but if instead I taper off, will help lower this intense pain and then I keep lowering until the muscle pain is manageable, then I will stop all meds completely.
FYI, I do have an appointment next week with my pain Dr. and I very much want to also ask him this thoughts and concerns.
Brief Answer:
Benzodiazepines could result in similar problems
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Out of these drugs Lamotrigine is a mood stabiliser and usually not associated with withdrawal for such long duration. Duloxetine and Trazodone both are antidepressants and are serotonergic drugs. These are also safe. Quetiapine also at this dose is safe. Lorazepam and Clonazepam both are benzodiazepines and can result in muscle aches. Even protracted withdrawal can last for long duration.
Altered Magnesium and Calcium levels can result in muscle soreness. You can get levels checked to rule out any issue. Magnesium and Calcium supplements can help in reducing the pain.
Yes the doses should be tapered instead of stopping cold turkey. But that causes acute withdrawal. I don't find the cause of your symptoms is abrupt stopping of drugs.
Thanks
Benzodiazepines could result in similar problems
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Out of these drugs Lamotrigine is a mood stabiliser and usually not associated with withdrawal for such long duration. Duloxetine and Trazodone both are antidepressants and are serotonergic drugs. These are also safe. Quetiapine also at this dose is safe. Lorazepam and Clonazepam both are benzodiazepines and can result in muscle aches. Even protracted withdrawal can last for long duration.
Altered Magnesium and Calcium levels can result in muscle soreness. You can get levels checked to rule out any issue. Magnesium and Calcium supplements can help in reducing the pain.
Yes the doses should be tapered instead of stopping cold turkey. But that causes acute withdrawal. I don't find the cause of your symptoms is abrupt stopping of drugs.
Thanks
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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