Are antidepressants really necessary?

[Scarlett]

I have had a problem with my voice since January and now I have "tightness" in my throat, jaw, temples and teeth. It gets worse the more I speak or sing. The dentist said I could have anti depressants for this to relax the muscles.
Has anyone else used anti depressants for this purpose, is it likely to work, and what are the side effects?!

[weeal]

ehm, I would never touch them with a bargepole, cant you get a prescription for muscle relaxants that arent labelled anti-depressants?

I had stuff years ago after the dentist dislocated my jaw, it was an expensive private prescription cos it was from a dentist. Not nice tho, it relaxes everything and you feel like a zombie.

[weeal]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_relaxant

[Eve]

Many medications have different uses and they are commonly used for chronic pain.

Some of my medication for meniere's is also used for schitzophrenia and I'm on a medicine also used as an antidepressant for long term chronic pain.

You could look the medicine up online (stick to more official sites) for it's uses and benefits.

[elle.b]

Are the anti depressants called Amitriptyline?? I have a condition that causes muscle tightness and was prescribed these. I was told that in small doses eg 10-20 mgs they have a muscle relaxant effect but in larger doses eg 100 mgs upwards they are used as an anti depressant. i took them for about 6 months,my condition improved so i stopped taking them with no ill effects whatsoever.

[Scarlett]

elle.b that's interesting- thanks. I'll ask my dentist what they were called and find out. What sort of muscle problems did you have?

[weeal]

I thought Amitriptyline had been banned, its one helluva serious drug.

[Eve]

I'm sure there were worries about it as they had me on it at one point and tried to get me on it again for my meniere's and I refused and went for a different drug.

[weeal]

Yeah, the side-effects of that particular one are not nice. I think I remember too that an MP's daughter had overdosed and died with this drug, and she hadnt taken many. Was back in 1987.

[elle.b]

crikey!! i didnt know any of that....i wonder if it was just the usage as an anti depressant that caused problems. i honestly never suffered any adverse reaction either whilst i was taking it or when i stopped. scarlett, it was something called guillian barre syndrome that i had its a condition that affects all the nerves in your body.It has loads of symptoms but the reason i was prescribed amitryptiline was that i couldnt move my neck or shoulders because of the pain and tightness and it really did work.Im almost totally recovered now the only problem i still have every so often is pain in my upper body it only happens every few months but can last for a few weeks.When it comes on my dr prescribes strong painkillers along with 20 mg of amitryptiline a day and within a few days its better.hope this helps.