Tiagabine may reduce bruxism and associated temporomandibular joint pain.
Tiagabine is an anticonvulsant gamma-aminobutyric acid reuptake inhibitor commonly used as an add-on treatment of refractory partial seizures in persons over 12 years old. Four of the 5 cases reported here indicate that tiagabine might also be remarkably effective in suppressing nocturnal bruxism, trismus, and consequent morning pain in the teeth, masticatory musculature, jaw, and temporomandibular joint areas. Tiagabine has a benign adverse-effect profile, is easily tolerated, and retains effectiveness over time. Bed partners of these patients report that grinding noises have stopped; therefore, the tiagabine effect is probably not simply antinociceptive. The doses used to suppress nocturnal bruxism at bedtime (4-8 mg) are lower than those used to treat seizures.
Kast
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RE
Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington 05401, USA. rekast@email.com
D000328:Adult; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009557:Nipecotic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020186:Sleep Bruxism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000078308:Tiagabine; D014313:Trismus / Q000188:drug therapy
D018755:GABA Agonists; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; D009557:Nipecotic Acids; D000078308:Tiagabine