28-Year-Old’s Painful Struggle with Sertraline-Induced Nerve Disorder

A 28-year-old woman now faces life with a severe nerve disorder after using medication to manage her anxiety. The woman, identified as Biyu, moved from Romania to Spain and shared her story with Newsweek.

“I was prescribed sertraline for my anxiety, which was a real struggle for me,” Biyu told Newsweek. “In two months, I developed a neurological movement disorder that changed my life.”

Starting with a 25 mg dose in July, Biyu noticed something unusual immediately. Initially, she experienced “brain zaps,” followed by random neck and head spasms. As the dose increased to 50 mg, her condition worsened. Her neck and head began pulling to the left, making neutral positioning difficult. Attempts to turn her head caused severe spasms and coordination issues.

These symptoms came with intense neck pain, shoulder pain, and vertigo affecting her balance. Despite this, Biyu continued the medication until the symptoms became unbearable, leading her to seek medical advice. She then received a diagnosis of cervical dystonia.

“Cervical dystonia involves painful neck muscle spasms that twist the head,” according to the Mayo Clinic. While incurable, some treatments may alleviate symptoms.

A representative from Viatris, the company behind sertraline under the brand name Besitran, mentioned that while effective, sertraline has known side effects. The Spanish government’s website includes involuntary muscle movements and spasms as known adverse effects. Viatris emphasizes the importance of communicating safety information and proper medication use.

Pfizer, the original developer of sertraline, lists dystonia as a rare but possible side effect. Biyu, unaware of dystonia before, expressed shock at the potential for such a disorder from her prescribed medication. Initially assured by her doctor of no side effects, she now manages pain with medication and faces potential lifelong Botox treatments. Unfortunately, her insurance will not cover these costly treatments.

Biyu voiced her frustration: “There’s a lack of awareness about these treatments’ necessity. Botox is viewed as cosmetic, not medical.” Newsweek couldn’t reach her insurer for confirmation.

For Biyu, a musician and singer, the disorder’s impact on her singing and confidence is distressing. Breathing issues while singing and noticeable spasms significantly affect her daily life. Sharing her experience online, she’s realized others face similar issues.

“Reading others’ stories highlights the importance of discussing these adverse effects and raising awareness of conditions like dystonia,” Biyu said.

She stresses she is not advising against seeking medical help for anxiety but advocates for patient awareness of all potential side effects, even rare ones, to make informed health decisions.