Woman, 28, Takes Medication for Anxiety—Then Side Effect Changes Everything
Summary
A 28-year-old woman in Spain says she developed cervical dystonia after starting sertraline for anxiety and increasing her dose. She continues to have severe pain and may need repeated Botox injections, which she says her insurer will not cover.Key Facts
- Biyu said she began taking 25 milligrams of sertraline in July and noticed unusual sensations and spasms soon afterward.
- After her dose rose to 50 milligrams, she said her head and neck began pulling toward her left side.
- She reported neck and shoulder pain, vertigo, and difficulty coordinating her head and eye movements.
- Biyu said she was diagnosed with cervical dystonia after seeking medical advice about two months after starting the medication.
- Cervical dystonia causes involuntary tightening or spasms in the neck muscles and can twist or pull the head.
- Viatris said sertraline can cause adverse reactions and pointed to Spanish safety information listing involuntary muscle movements and spasms among possible side effects.
- Pfizer lists dystonia as a rare possible adverse reaction to sertraline, occurring in between one in 1,000 and one in 10,000 people.
- Biyu said medication helps manage her pain, but she has been advised to get repeated Botox injections and says her insurer will not cover them.
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