Lower lip twitches. Reasons for an adult, what to do

Essential tremor is a fairly common hereditary disease of the central nervous system that can occur in children, but mainly develops in older people. The only manifestation of this disease is trembling. Tremors with essential tremor have different localization, severity, prevalence, characteristics and age of onset. Tremors of the head, hands, and tongue are most often observed. Lip tremor is slightly less common in adults.

Causes of lower lip twitching and additional symptoms

The lower lip can twitch constantly, or only in moments of strong emotional excitement. Tremor of this part of the face occurs under the influence of physiological or pathological reasons. In the latter case, we are talking about diseases of the body that disrupt the innervation of muscle tissue in the lower lip area. Physiological factors are considered less dangerous because they disappear on their own without the use of medications.

Brain tumors

Foreign neoplasms in the structure of the brain can cause disruption of the innervation of the facial muscles, which leads to a reflex twitching of the lower lip. Similar symptoms are caused by benign and oncological tumors of various types.

In this case, the patient has the following additional symptoms:

dizziness;
periodic loss of consciousness;
nausea;
darkening of the eyes;
decreased visual acuity;
attacks of severe headache;
memory impairment;
poor coordination of movements;
spasms of the lower extremities;
epilepsy attacks.

As the foreign tumor increases in size, the frequency of involuntary twitching of the lower lip increases. The risk of paresis of individual segments of the facial muscles, as well as disruption of the innervation of other parts of the body, increases.

Atherosclerosis

The lower lip twitches (the causes of tremor are determined by a neurologist) in patients with focal lesions of the central nervous system. The development of cerebral atherosclerosis leads to gradual damage to its tissues. The areas of the central nervous system responsible for the synchronous functioning of the facial muscles cease to perform their functions, as they do not receive adequate blood supply.

Twitching of the lower lip, provoked by cerebral atherosclerosis, is accompanied by the following additional symptoms:

headache;
absentmindedness;
asthenia;
memory impairment, when the patient remembers all the events of past years, but is not able to remember new amounts of information;
noise in ears;
insomnia at night and sleepiness during the day;
dizziness;
sudden mood swings;
increased tendency to depression;
change in speech diction;
unsteadiness of gait;
facial asymmetry.

The main danger of cerebral atherosclerosis is that its manifestation begins with periodic twitching of the lip and ends with partial paralysis of the body and loss of cognitive functions. A person is deprived of basic skills for independently servicing household needs.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an acute bacterial disease caused by a pathogenic microorganism of the genus Leptospira. The anicteric form of this disease is manifested by inflammatory damage to internal organs, as well as the lining of the brain.

An infected person may experience involuntary twitching of the lower lip, which is accompanied by the following additional symptoms:

high body temperature, which is kept within 38-39 degrees;
physical weakness and fatigue;
dizziness;
increased liver volume;
impaired coordination of movements;
hypertonicity of skeletal muscles, when the patient is unable to straighten his leg at the knee, or independently turn his neck to the side;
attacks of severe headache;
increased irritability of the nervous system in response to bright lights or loud sounds;
hypersensitivity of the skin;
oliguria.

Leptospirosis is dangerous because it can cause a reflex twitching of the lower lip, which ends in partial paresis or irreversible paralysis of the facial muscles. The causative agents of this disease enter the human body through damaged areas of the skin.

Consequences of brain injuries

Previous traumatic brain injury is one of the most common causes of involuntary twitching of the lower lip. Blows to the head, falls from great heights, and car accidents cause local hemorrhages in the structure of the central nervous system. Violation of the stable functioning of certain parts of the brain leads to pathological innervation of the facial muscles in the lower lip area.

The impact of this causative factor may be accompanied by the following additional symptoms:

periodic loss of consciousness;
dizziness;
nausea;
impaired coordination of movements;
spasms of the lower extremities;
epileptic seizures;
impairment of vision or hearing;
headache;
speech disorders;
increased intracranial pressure.

The frequency of involuntary twitching of the lower lip depends on the severity of the previous traumatic brain injury. Taking antiepileptic, nootropic drugs, and vitamin therapy improve the functions of damaged areas of the central nervous system.

Stressful situations

The lower lip twitches (the causes of spasm of the facial muscles are increased excitement of the peripheral nerves) in men and women who live daily under conditions of chronic stress. Psycho-emotional stress leads to neurological disorders that can cause rhythmic twitching of this part of the face.

The harmful effects of stress cause the following additional signs of a painful state of the body:

increased irritability;
fast fatiguability;
loss of appetite;
insomnia;
absent-mindedness;
inattention;
sudden mood swings;
depression;
apathy;
tearfulness;
sudden attacks of anger, rage;
headache.

When the next stressful situation occurs, the pathological symptoms worsen in terms of reflex twitching of the lower lip. In this case, the person does not feel or notice that he has a facial tic.

Facial neuritis

Inflammation of the peripheral nerves responsible for the mobility of the facial muscles can lead to involuntary twitching of the lower lip. The occurrence of this causative factor is due to hypothermia of the body, prolonged exposure to drafts, infection with infectious microorganisms that damage nerve endings.

Facial neuritis

Neuritis of the facial nerve, which caused a tic of the lower lip, is characterized by the following symptoms:

pain in the area of the right or left ear;
active salivation;
loss of taste;
hearing loss;
facial asymmetry, which increases during conversation;
smoothing the skin in the nasolabial fold area;
drooping of one corner of the mouth;
an attempt to bare teeth results in the mouth being pulled towards healthy facial nerves.

In the presence of this disease, a person feels an uncontrollable twitching of the lower lip, and also experiences difficulties with facial expressions. For example, he cannot close his eyes completely, wrinkle his forehead or smile.

Diagnostics

Determining the cause of numbness is the responsibility of a neurologist. Due to the possible connection between upper lip sensitivity disorders and dental pathologies, a dentist is often involved in the examination. Sometimes a consultation with an allergist or endocrinologist is required. The diagnostic program includes the following methods:

General inspection
. The doctor evaluates the patient’s appearance and the condition of the tissue at the site of the lesion. Identifies signs of inflammation, traumatic injury, skin rashes, and other symptoms indicating the cause of numbness.
Dental examination
. Provides for the study of teeth and soft tissues of the oral cavity to detect caries, pulpitis, gingivitis, periodontitis, and other dental diseases.
Neurological examination
. Includes sensory and movement testing. The specialist asks the patient to close his eyes, stretch out his lips, bare his teeth, and stick out his tongue. Tests reflexes and muscle strength of the limbs.
X-ray of the tooth.
Informative for dental diseases, allows you to detect inflammatory processes, osteomyelitis, tumor lesions. According to indications, it is supplemented with other hardware diagnostic methods.
Tomographic techniques.
Effective for multiple sclerosis, stroke and cerebral circulation disorders. They help determine the location, volume and nature of the lesion, and choose the optimal treatment tactics.
Lab tests
. Necessary to confirm pernicious anemia, hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus. To clarify the type of allergen that caused the development of Quincke's edema, allergy tests are performed.

Electroneuromyography

Causes depending on gender

The lower lip twitches (the causes of spasms of the facial muscles are determined using MRI diagnostics) in men and women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Women

Twitching of the lower lip occurs in women who suffer from endocrine diseases.

Lower lip twitches

An imbalance of hormones leads to dysfunction of the central and peripheral nervous system, and also causes reflex spasms of the facial muscles.

Men

Nervous tics in men can be triggered by previous injuries to the facial muscles, hypothermia, or psycho-emotional stress. In workers in workshops with hazardous production, functional disorders of the facial muscles are a consequence of chronic intoxication of the body.

What measures need to be taken

The appearance of tics signals that immediate consultation with a neurologist or psychotherapist is necessary.

If your lips are shaking after strong emotions, you need to calm down and give it a rest. Walking, relaxing baths, swimming, yoga, and soothing teas are helpful. Sedatives, as well as products containing calcium and magnesium, also help calm the nervous system.

Good to know! A significant effect can be achieved through meditation and self-hypnosis. Sit comfortably, focus on your breathing, slow it down, and fix your gaze on your face. Try to figuratively imagine something that will calm you down.

Diagnosis methods

The presence of a facial tic is determined by a neurologist during a visual examination of the patient. To determine the reasons that caused twitching of the lower lip, instrumental and laboratory examination methods are used. The table below lists the main diagnostic methods that are used for patients with this symptom.

Examination method	Purpose and average cost
MRI of the brain	Using this diagnostic method, the general condition of the central nervous system and the blood vessels that supply it are determined. MRI allows you to detect foci of inflammation and tumor growths in the structure of the brain. The price of this examination is from 2900 rubles.
Venous blood analysis	Laboratory testing of a patient’s venous blood is necessary to obtain data on possible infection of the body with a viral or bacterial infection, the pathogens of which disrupt the functioning of the nervous system. The average cost of this diagnostic is from 510 rubles.
CT scan of the brain	During a CT scan of the brain, photographs are taken of the structural areas of the patient’s central nervous system in several planes. This examination method is comparable to radiography, but is carried out on the basis of computer technology. Price for CT scan of the brain is from RUB 3,500.

MRI of the head.
What is normal? Depending on the clinical symptoms present in a particular patient, a neurologist may prescribe other additional diagnostic methods. For example, conducting an electroencephalogram or neuropsychiatric examination.

Taking antidepressants: justified or not?

The minimum duration of a course of antidepressants is three months. Many patients are forced to take this type of medication for years, as negative symptoms return after discontinuation. However, often it is antidepressants that help a person live a full life, forget about anxiety, fears, panic attacks, and facial tics.

The most popular prescription antidepressants today are:

"Prozac";

"Paxil";

"Trittiko";

Zoloft.

Often a mild tranquilizer is also prescribed in parallel - for example, Atarax. This scheme helps to quickly reduce the patient’s psycho-emotional stress.

Tactics and treatment regimens

The organization of the therapeutic process depends on the causative factors that caused uncontrolled twitching of the lower lip. The treatment regimen is formed by the doctor based on the results of laboratory and instrumental examination of the patient.

Nervous tic of the lower lip

Treatment of nervous tics of the lower lip involves the use of the following therapeutic methods:

creation of an individual zone of psycho-emotional comfort;
a course of taking medications from the pharmacological group of nootropic drugs to improve the functions of the central nervous system and peripheral nerve endings (Glycine, Piracetam, Mildronate);
communication with a psychotherapist who will help get rid of the psychological causes of tics;
maintaining a balance between physical, psycho-emotional stress and proper rest;
exclusion of stressful situations.

Therapy for a nervous tic of the lower lip is a long process that lasts from 1 to 6 months. To achieve a positive result, the patient must use all of the above treatment methods.

Chronic fatigue syndrome

The lower lip twitches (the causes of facial tremor are associated with dysfunction of the central nervous system) in men and women whose bodies are depleted by chronic fatigue syndrome.

Treatment of this disease requires compliance with the following rules:

take a course of therapeutic massage of all parts of the musculoskeletal system;
sleep at least 6-8 hours a day;
avoid overworking the body;
during operation every 60 minutes. take breaks lasting 10-15 minutes;
during the year, rest at least 2 times for 2 weeks;
visit the pool at least once every 7 days;
on weekends, provide the body with proper rest without doing household chores or part-time work;
maintain a daily routine;
eat high-quality and biologically healthy foods rich in nutrients (fish, rabbit meat, veal, cereals, fruits, dairy products).

Chronic fatigue syndrome is dangerous not only due to the occurrence of nervous tics of the lower lip, but also to a critical decrease in the immune system. The human body becomes vulnerable to most viral and bacterial infections.

Emotional disorders

Patients with emotional personality disorders experience unstable mood, increased impulsivity, imbalance, and low levels of self-control.

To treat such mental conditions, the following normothymic and antipsychotic drugs are used:

Risperidone

lithium-based medicines;
Lamotrigine;
Carbamazepine;
Asenapine;
Clozapine;
Risperidone;
Sulpiride.

The disadvantage of therapy with the above drugs is the large number of side effects that these drugs cause.

The dosage regimen for antipsychotic and normotimic medications is determined individually by the doctor, depending on the psycho-emotional state of the patient. A psychiatrist must be involved in the treatment process.

Disorders of facial innervation

Disorders of facial innervation can be caused by diseases of the central nervous system or previous traumatic brain injuries.

In this case, the following treatment regimen is used:

massage of areas of facial tissue where peripheral nerves responsible for muscle functions pass;
injection of potent anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, if the innervation disorder is caused by inflammatory damage to the nerve endings);
taking antibacterial drugs by patients whose central nervous system disease is caused by infectious microorganisms;
performing a neurosurgical operation to restore normal functioning of brain centers.

Patients with impaired facial innervation caused by a brain tumor are prescribed a course of treatment with chemicals and cytostatic agents. If there are direct medical indications, the extraneous tumor is removed.

Facial nerve neurosis

Treatment for facial nerve neurosis is carried out in the day hospital of the neurological department of the hospital.

In this case, the following treatment tactics are used:

injection of hormonal drugs with anti-inflammatory properties;
massage of muscle tissue in the area of which the peripheral nerve passes;
physiotherapy of the facial area and physical therapy.
Read also: Burnout: how to get out of a state in which you have no strength for anything. Guide

For patients with vasoneural conflict of the facial nerve in the area of the cerebellopontine ganglion, neurosurgical surgery is indicated. At all stages of treatment of this neurosis, the patient is required to comply with prevention standards. The patient should not allow the body to become hypothermic, drink alcohol, and should also avoid stressful situations.

Migraine

Treatment of migraine, which has caused a tic of the lower lip, is carried out using drugs with analgesic properties.

In this case, the neurologist prescribes the following medications:

Ibuprofen;
Indomethacin;
Sumatriptan;

Sumatriptan - a triptan for headaches and migraines
Paracetamol;
Eletriptan.

In most cases, migraine is just one symptom of an existing disease of the central or peripheral nervous system. Therefore, the task of the attending physician is not only to normalize the patient’s well-being, but also to eliminate the main factors that provoked uncontrolled twitching of the lower lip and migraine attacks.

Mild sedatives

Often, to get rid of facial tics, neurologists prescribe the following sedatives:

"Novopassit";
"Travisil";
"Afobazole";
"Berocca".

The average duration of treatment is about two months. Some patients note that facial nervous tics disappear within the first week of treatment.

What can you do at home?

At home, therapy for nervous tics of the lower lip is carried out using herbal remedies with a sedative effect, as well as taking sedatives.

Herbal soothing mixture

To independently get rid of uncontrolled twitching of the lower lip, which is neurological in nature, use the herbal medicine Soothing Collection No. 2.

This medicine contains the following substances of plant origin:

roots and rhizomes of valerian - 15%;
peppermint foliage - 15%;
hop fruits - 20%;
motherwort - 40%;
licorice root - 10%.

Calming collection No. 2 has sedative as well as antispasmodic properties. This herbal medicine removes hypertonicity of the facial muscles and eliminates signs of nervous tics of the lower lip. Calming collection No. 2 is taken orally in the form of a water infusion 2 times a day. The dosage regimen is determined by the doctor. The average duration of therapy with this herbal medicine is from 2 to 4 weeks.

Calming collection No. 2 has the following contraindications for use:

state of pregnancy and breastfeeding of a newborn baby;
individual sensitivity of the body to the constituent components of the herbal preparation;
The patient's age is under 12 years.

Long-term therapy with this medication may lead to a decrease in the speed of psychomotor reactions. This fact must be taken into account by patients who drive a vehicle or are involved in work with increased danger. The price of Calming Collection No. 2 in pharmacies is about 60 rubles.

Mild sedatives

To eliminate nervous tics of the lower lip, sedatives can be used that do not suppress the functions of the central nervous system and also do not cause drug dependence.

Valerian extract

The sedative phyto-drug Valerian extract is available in the form of yellow tablets in a dosage of 20 mg. This drug is taken in a standard dosage of 1 tablet. 3 times a day. In patients who have an individual tendency to hypotension, there may be a decrease in performance, a feeling of physical weakness, and lethargy.

Valerian during breastfeeding

The average duration of therapy ranges from 14 days to 1 month. Valerian extract is contraindicated in children under 12 years of age, pregnant women and breastfeeding women. The average cost of this medication is 21 rubles. for 50 tablets.

Peony evasive tincture

Peony evasive tincture is a plant-based sedative and antispasmodic drug. 1 liter of this medication contains 50 g of peony rhizomes infused in ethanol with a concentration of 40%. Peony evasive tincture is taken 40 drops 3 times a day with a therapeutic course duration of 1 month.

The drug should be shaken thoroughly before use. Peony evasive tincture is contraindicated in children under 12 years of age, patients with an allergic reaction to this plant, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers. The average cost of a herbal medicine is 35 rubles. for 1 bottle with a capacity of 25 ml.

Twitching of the lower lip that is not under a person's control is a sign of a neurological disorder. This type of facial tic is constantly present, or it disturbs the patient periodically during moments of psycho-emotional stress. The causes of involuntary lip twitching are chronic diseases of the central nervous system, consequences of traumatic brain injuries, infectious diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, and stressful situations.

Treatment of facial tics requires eliminating the pathological factors that provoke the neurological disorder. The patient receives injection therapy with anti-inflammatory drugs, takes sedatives and antispasmodics. To consolidate the positive effect, the patient is prescribed consultations with a psychotherapist.

When does tremors become dangerous?

Infant tremor is observed for the first time at 2 months of a child’s life. Sometimes the phenomena disappear at 4 months. In premature babies, chin trembling can be observed up to 1 year. If the symptoms do not go away for up to 6 months, are accompanied by the appearance of perspiration on the skin, increasing intensity and too violent a reaction to external stimuli, this is already a deviation. Spontaneous movements and convulsions can be dangerous.

Parents should be wary if the chin shakes for more than 30 seconds while crying. Simultaneous trembling of the legs, arms and head is also considered abnormal. The manifestation of these symptoms may indicate the presence of a pathology, but there is no need to panic. In infancy, such conditions can be treated easily and without consequences.

A child under 1 year of age needs regular examinations by a neurologist. Don't miss scheduled consultations. They are usually prescribed at the ages of 1 and 3 months, at six months and upon reaching 1 year. During these important periods, specialists evaluate the baby’s motor activity, his emotional state, muscle tone, reflexes, and the functioning of his senses. If deviations are detected, the necessary treatment is prescribed.

Numb lips due to diabetes

For patients with diabetes, it is important to control blood glucose levels and avoid sudden increases or decreases in sugar. Lips may become numb due to hypoglycemia - a decrease in glucose levels below 2.8 mmol/l. This happens when you take too high a dose of insulin or violate your diet or skip meals.

In addition to numbness of the lips, the patient experiences severe weakness, tremors in the limbs, rapid heartbeat, and excessive sweating. In severe cases, hypoglycemia leads to loss of consciousness and coma. To eliminate this dangerous condition, you need to eat something sweet with quickly doubling carbohydrates. If the patient is unconscious, intravenous glucose and glucagon injection are required.