Lexapro (or other SSRIs) and muscle twitching?

Hi R.O.F.and welcome!

Sorry to hear that you are dealing with this annoying symptom.:/

I get random twitches from anxiety...

...and yes, I have read from our members that meds can be a cause.

So it could be a combination of factors contributing to your discomfort.

In our Resources we have some great relaxation coping skills. Progressive muscle relaxation is one that could help you. Take a look and see if that it any of the other material look so helpful to you.

if you need me to post the link directly just let me know, and I'll gladly do so.:)

Best wishes...and post anytime for anxiety support.

Scaredy Cat

Hi

Yes this could be a side effect of the medication I have taken various ssri's and all of them have caused muscle twitching and anxiety can be an other cause. If it is really worrying you go and see your doctor to give yourself piece of mind.

Hibee

I'm on 15 mg of lexapro and I have had muscle twitches on and off since starting the medication. I believe they are side effects of the lex.

Hi, I recently posted about this as well. What’s super concerning to me is that the twitches are primarily in my left pectoral. Super scary. I sit here and check my pulse and it seems to be going at the same rate as the twitch.

I recently went back on lexapro after being off for about 8 months or so. I’m on just 10mg by now. I still get twitches in other part of my body like arms and legs as well, but mainly the left pec. Or at least those are the ones that I really notice. Last night it threw me into full panic mode because it was going on and off every few seconds for like 10 minutes straight. I’m really hoping this is from the lexapro and not something serious. My psychiatrist said he doesn’t think it’s from the lexapro and I don’t remember this the first time I went on a few years ago.

I feel your pain 😢

Michael85 is on two Anxiety forum threads (“Lexipro (or other SSRI’s) and Muscle Twitching” and “Left pectoral muscle twitches”).

I’ve had muscle twitching also and did not connect it to medicine for 5 years. But the twitching was connected to a medicine I was taking (Mirtazapine anti-depressant).

Net says Mirtazapine is an SSRI which “stands for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. SSRI antidepressants are a type of antidepressant that work by increasing levels of serotonin within the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is often referred to as the `feel good hormone'”.

So when the question arises, does (“Lexipro (or other SSRI’s) [cause] Muscle Twitching” I found the answer to be, yes, Lexipro and other SSRI’s can cause muscle twitching.
This is of interest to me because I take an SSRI (Mirtazapine) and I have muscle twitching.

I have taken that medicine for five years. For the first 3 years (taking 15 mg.), I made no connection between taking the Mirtazapine at 12 midinight, and by toes starting to twitch 30-45 minutes later, plus my appetite increasing to where I had to get up and have a snack.

Due to circumstances, the connection dawned on me and my psychiatrist reduced the med to 7.5 from 15 mg and I thought all was taken care of.

For the last 2 years on 7.5 mg, I would have occasional toe twitching but it has increased, followed by getting up and having another snack. So I get to bed at 12 midnight, and at 5 a.m. I have yet to get to sleep.

Two days ago for the first time, I connected all of that, so I took my Mirtazapine not at midnight, but 5 hours earlier at 7 p.m., hoping the side effects would wear off at midnight, and they did and I slept from 12 midnight to 8 a.m..

about the SSRI Lexapro (treats anxiety and depression net says), Webmd.com says under rare side effects:

A Feeling Of Restlessness With Inability To Sit Still
Muscle Tremors
Cramps

And under “Side Effects, 5th paragraph:
“twitching muscles”.

By clicking on “twitching muscles” in the 5th paragraph of Side Effects, it said:
"Twitches. Unlike tics, the majority of muscle twitches are isolated occurrences, not repeated actions. Muscle twitches are also known as myoclonic jerks. They are entirely involuntary and cannot be controlled or suppressed."

So I would say SSRI’s can cause twitching muscles.

You also said, “Recently, and even before going back on the Lexapro (after being off of that for 8 months), I’ve had the annoying and worrisome twitches and spasm in my left breast muscle.”

Trying to figure out what to do after finding out the SSRI’s can cause muscle twitching I’m finding to also be a problem. I’m trying to take my Mirtazapine 5 hours early. But the twitching toes starts only about an hour or two after taking the medicine, so I maybe I can take it 2 hours before bedtime.

Anyway, that’s the situation as I see it.

Thank you all my doc had me stop the lexapro for a week to see if the twitching stops and figure out if it’s the meds or not.