TMJ is a small joint as compared to the other joints, but it can cause a lot of pain if not treated at time. Many times the symptoms of the TMJ disorder go away without taking any medicines, but other times it can affect your life activities.
What are the symptoms of TMJ disorder?
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Pain and tenderness in the jaw
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Clicking and popping sound from jaw
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Popping sounds in ears
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Pain in the temple area, or
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Locking of the jaw joint
Many times TMJ can be treated at home by using home remedies as it responds well to them. But if you are not getting relief from home remedies then you might need medication.
Home Remedies: You can use ice packs, mouth guard and over the counter medicines that can be quite helpful in the treatment of TMJ but if you are not getting relief from them then your should consult your dentist.
OTC: If pain occurred due to TMJ is not vanishing then you doctor can prescribe you OTC or over the counter medicine. If you already tried them he/she can increase the dose of the prescribed medicines.
Acetaminophen: It can be taken to temporarily reduce the jaw pain but it does not help to reduce swelling or any other inflammation. The popular brand of Acetaminophen is Tylenol.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): It is able to temporarily reduce jaw pain and inflammation in TMJ. One of the popular examples of NSAID is ibuprofen.
Prescription Medications for TMJ Disorders: Muscle relaxants are helpful in relieving any discomfort and jaw pain caused by TMD. Your jaw and face muscles are relaxed as well as they help to reduce muscle contractions. Your doctor will prescribe you these medicines for a few days or weeks as they are strong medications. One of the best examples of muscle relaxant that is used in TMD treatment is diazepam.
Tricyclic anti-depressants: These medicines can help you to get relief from the pain caused by TMD. There must not be any history of depression of taking these medicines. These medicines influence the body’s way of interpreting pain. Amitriptyline is an example of Tricyclic anti-depressant that is used in the treatment of TMJ disorder.
Corticosteroids: For significant jaw pain and inflammation your doctor can prescribe you corticosteroids. These are the least used medicines that are used to treat TMJ disorder. For temporary pain relief, your doctor will inject the medicine into your TMJ joint.
Botulinum toxin or Botox: Sometimes Botox is used as a pain relief medicine caused by TMJ disorder. It may help to chew if a small dose of Botox is used into the jaw muscle. However, this treatment is yet not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
These are a few medicines that one can take if suffering from the TMJ disorder. It is advised that before taking any medicine you must consult a doctor.
All the above medicines are used to treat TMJ disorder but for different symptoms, so make a visit to your doctor before you take these medicines. Your doctor will prescribe you the right amount of dose.
Which Medications for TMJ Disorders are effective?
It depends on your TMJ symptoms and how severe your TMJ pain is. Make an appointment with your doctor to know more about your TMJ joint disorder and its treatment. Your doctor will tell you about the right medication and treatments.
However no medication can treat TMJ, these are helpful in jaw pain relief and comfort. All the medicines are used to treat pain and inflammation so it’s always advisable to consult a doctor.
For more help managing your TMJ disorder, contact the trusted team Advanced Dental Implant and TMJ Center . You can visit their website or call them at (662) 655 -4868 to ask questions or to schedule an appointment.
