Dominic Stone
Muscle twitching can be caused by a variety of factors, including fatigue, dehydration, injury, and disease. Certain medications can also cause muscle twitching as a side effect. This is known as drug-induced myopathy or, in the case of unintended facial movements, tardive dyskinesia. The range of drugs that can cause muscle twitching is broad and includes antidepressants, epilepsy drugs, asthma medications, and antipsychotics. If you experience muscle twitching after starting a new medication or changing your dose, it is important to consult a doctor.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscle twitching cause | Tiredness, injury, infection, disease, alcoholism, medication, kidney issues, nerve damage, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, dehydration, overuse, strain, low blood potassium, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), epilepsy, psychosis, antidepressants, antipsychotics, caffeine, cancer medicines, seizure medicines, asthma medicines, immune-suppressing medicines, myopathies, myalgia |
| Muscle twitching treatment | Strength training, water, potassium, medication adjustment, muscle relaxants, pain medication, physical therapy, massage, rest |
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What You'll Learn
Antidepressants, epilepsy and psychosis drugs can cause twitching
Muscle twitching can be caused by various factors, including certain medications. While twitching can be harmless, persistent or frequent twitching may indicate an underlying condition that requires medical attention.
Antidepressants are one category of drugs that can cause muscle twitching. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a commonly prescribed type of antidepressant that can lead to serotonin syndrome when combined with other serotonin-boosting substances or medications. Serotonin syndrome occurs when serotonin levels in the brain become excessively high, resulting in symptoms such as muscle twitching, confusion, agitation, sweating, shivering, and diarrhoea. If left untreated, it can lead to severe symptoms, including high fever, seizures, irregular heartbeat, and loss of consciousness. Therefore, it is crucial to seek medical advice if you experience any of these symptoms while taking SSRIs or other antidepressants.
Epilepsy drugs can also induce muscle twitching. Myoclonic seizures, a type of seizure associated with epilepsy, are characterised by sudden, brief jerking spasms of a muscle or muscle group. These seizures can occur in bouts, with the person remaining conscious throughout. Infantile spasms, a severe form of epilepsy, can cause myoclonic seizures in the neck, shoulders, upper arms, and face. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and progressive myoclonic epilepsy are additional epilepsy syndromes that include myoclonic seizures. While epilepsy drugs can contribute to muscle twitching, the underlying condition of epilepsy itself can also be a factor.
Additionally, antipsychotic medications used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders can have muscle twitching as a side effect. These drugs are associated with a range of movement disorders, including Parkinsonism, which shares features with Parkinson's disease, such as limb stiffness and tremors. The development of Parkinsonian symptoms is dose-dependent and may affect 20 to 40 percent of patients within days of starting antipsychotic treatment. While these movement disorders can be distressing and disabling, they may subside with continued medication use as tolerance develops.
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Muscle relaxants can be prescribed to reduce muscle spasms
Muscle relaxants are prescription medications that can be used to treat muscle spasms and spasticity. They work by regulating muscle contraction to reduce pain and discomfort caused by muscle spasms and stiffness. Muscle spasms can be caused by too much muscle strain and can lead to pain and other conditions such as lower back pain, neck pain, and fibromyalgia.
Muscle relaxants are generally safe and well-tolerated when used short-term and as prescribed. They are often used in addition to rest and physical therapy to help relieve muscle spasms. Centrally acting SMRs, for example, cause a sedative effect or prevent nerves from sending pain signals to the brain. However, they should only be used for up to 2 or 3 weeks as the safety of longer-term use is not yet known.
Muscle relaxants such as carisoprodol and diazepam can be habit-forming and may cause side effects such as drowsiness, fatigue, muscle weakness, and problems with balance and memory. It is important to take these medications exactly as prescribed by a doctor and not to stop taking them suddenly, especially after long-term use. While taking muscle relaxants, it is advisable to avoid activities that require mental alertness or coordination, such as driving or operating heavy machinery.
Antispasmodic skeletal muscle relaxants are often prescribed for musculoskeletal and myofascial pain, especially lower back pain, and muscle spasms. However, due to their adverse side effects, including addiction potential, they are not the first-line therapy for treating pain or spasms. Antispastic medications are effective in treating spasticity, but high doses can lead to unwanted side effects.
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Tardive dyskinesia is a side effect of antipsychotic medication
Muscle twitching can be caused by various factors, including fatigue, injury, kidney issues, nerve damage, and certain medications. While muscle twitching can be harmless, persistent or severe twitching may indicate an underlying condition that requires medical attention.
One condition that can cause muscle twitching is tardive dyskinesia (TD), a movement disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive body movements. TD is a well-known side effect of antipsychotic medication, affecting 16-50% of patients taking these drugs. Antipsychotics work by blocking dopamine, a chemical in the brain that helps control muscle movement. While TD typically occurs after long-term use of antipsychotics, it can also develop soon after starting the medication.
The primary symptom of TD is involuntary facial movements, including jerky, stiff, and uncontrollable movements of the mouth, lips, tongue, and face. In some cases, TD can also cause involuntary movements of the arms, legs, fingers, and toes. These movements can range from slight tremors to uncontrollable movements of the entire body. TD usually develops gradually, and symptoms may appear while taking antipsychotics or even months or years after stopping the medication.
Older antipsychotics, also known as first-generation antipsychotics or typical neuroleptics, are more likely to cause TD than newer, second-generation antipsychotics. Clozapine, a type of antipsychotic, has been found to reverse TD symptoms, although it can also cause TD at a lower incidence than other atypical antipsychotics.
If you experience any involuntary movements while taking antipsychotic medication, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible. A psychiatrist may use a screening test called the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) to help identify symptoms of TD. While TD was once considered untreatable, new medications have been approved to manage the condition effectively.
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Drug-induced myopathies can cause muscle pain and weakness
Muscle twitching can be caused by various factors, including fatigue, injury, disease, or certain medications. While twitching can be harmless, it may also indicate an underlying condition, such as nerve damage, kidney issues, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Drug-induced myopathies are a common cause of muscle pain and weakness. Myopathies are a group of disorders that primarily affect the skeletal muscle structure, metabolism, or function. They can interfere with daily life activities, causing symptoms such as myalgia (muscle pain), cramps, muscle weakness, exercise intolerance, or even more severe conditions like rhabdomyolysis and
The range of drugs that can induce myopathies is extensive and constantly expanding with the introduction of new medications. Some of the drugs known to cause muscle side effects include hypolipemic drugs, beta-blockers, amiodarone, colchicine, glucocorticosteroids, antimalarials, cyclosporine, zidovudine, and checkpoint inhibitors. These drugs are commonly used in the treatment of malignancies or other conditions.
Additionally, certain medications can cause tardive dyskinesia, a side effect characterized by involuntary muscle movements, typically in the face. These jerky and uncontrollable movements are caused by the blocking of dopamine, a chemical that helps control muscle movement. Antipsychotic drugs, particularly older neuroleptics, are the most common cause of tardive dyskinesia, and symptoms may appear during or even years after stopping the medication.
If you experience muscle twitching or pain after starting a new medication or changing your dose, it is important to consult your doctor. They can advise on the appropriate course of action and help manage any side effects.
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Tremors can be a response to certain medications
Medications that cause muscle twitching and spasms include antidepressants, epilepsy drugs, and psychosis drugs. Some epilepsy and psychosis drugs may cause eyelid twitching. Muscle twitching and spasms can also be caused by diuretics, which are often prescribed for those with high blood pressure or heart disease. Diuretics cause muscle spasms by lowering potassium levels in the body.
Tardive dyskinesia is a side effect of certain medications that cause involuntary muscle movements, usually in the face. These movements are jerky and stiff and cannot be controlled. Tardive dyskinesia is often a side effect of antipsychotic drugs, which work to block dopamine, a chemical in the brain that helps control muscle movement.
Drug-induced myopathies are a common cause of muscle pain, and the range of drugs that can cause muscle side effects is constantly expanding. Recognition of this condition is important early in its course to determine when to discontinue therapy and prevent irreversible muscle damage.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, certain medications can cause muscle twitching. This is known as tardive dyskinesia, a side effect of some antipsychotic medications that block dopamine, a chemical in the brain that helps control muscle movement. Other medications that can cause muscle twitching include antidepressants, epilepsy drugs, and asthma medicines.
If you experience muscle twitching after starting a new medication or changing your dose, it is important to contact your doctor or healthcare provider. They may recommend adjusting the dosage, switching to a different medication, or prescribing an additional medicine to help control the twitching. Do not stop taking any medication without first consulting your doctor.
Yes, in some cases, physical therapy or massage can be effective in treating muscle twitching and chronic muscle pain. Muscle relaxers are also an option, but they are typically recommended for short-term use and should be prescribed by a doctor. Over-the-counter pain medications can also help with muscle pain.
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