Mental jolts/shocks while trying to fall asleep

Shaftebury · Post by **Shaftebury** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:51 pm

Has anyone experienced these? I just started getting them after my GP put me on some antidepressants.

Shaftebury · Post by **Shaftebury** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:07 pm

I forgot to add, my GP says that EVERYONE gets these mental jolts and I shouldnt be concerned, despite the fact they make me feel like I am having a heart attack or my head is about to explode because of the zap.

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:44 pm

Here's another doc who thinks they can be normal:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/neuro/messages/31231.html

Check the listed side effects associated with your antidepressant if you haven't already. I believe you can also call the pharmaceutical manufacturer's toll free number and ask about potential side effects.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:26 pm

Shaftebury wrote:Has anyone experienced these? I just started getting them after my GP put me on some antidepressants.

one or two Hypnic jerks are considered normal, but if they continue followed by a racing heart and gasping for breathe they are no longer hypnic jerks but your fight or flight response kicking in to arouse you back awake due to not breathing. Hypnotic jerks are mainly felt with the leg kick/jerk being the most notable movement detected as we transition from a wake to sleep state.

while the medication may contribute to that syndrome so can sleep onset events, mainly forgetting to breathe and/or shallow breathing.

I lived with that for many years telling every doctor I seen and all they could do was look at me like deer in the headlights, they had no clue.

it was not until I went on CPAP for OSA did it finally subside where I could finally get to sleep. Don't know what it was, but for me it was much worse when attempting to fall asleep on my right side, that jerk would hit me right in the heart at the aortic arch is what it felt like. If I turned to my left side I didn't get that sensation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnic_jerk

Captain_Midnight · Post by **Captain_Midnight** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:31 pm

I get these only occasionally, just before falling asleep.

For some odd reason, I kind of enjoy it.

kharyssa · Post by **kharyssa** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:14 pm

When i first started on anti-depressants in 2000, I got those jolts for about 6 weeks. Mine were accompanied by a sudden recollection of some memory. They are a normal part of adjusting to the meds, but if they get too intense or troublesome don't be afraid to go back to talk doc and talk about adjustment.

Hang in there!!

rubberchimp · Post by **rubberchimp** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:25 pm

Yeah, I get the hypnic/hypnogogic jerks. Usually happens when I'm just drifting off to sleep. I'll start to feel like I'm falling and then jolt awake. Kinda interesting and amusing, but annoying if I'm actually wanting to sleep. Doesn't usually make my heart race, but jolts me to alertness.

Asked my doc and she instantly knew what it was and described it to me. Mystery solved.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:21 am

I might add my Jack Russell Terror also gets them,
he also farts, makes your eyes water and drives you right out of the room it does

Country4ever · Post by **Country4ever** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:44 am

I have heard of alot of people trying to come off SSRIs getting these
"lightning bolt" shocks in their heads. I hadn't heard of getting them while just starting the med but I'm sure its possible.
Just one more reason I don't want to be on them........but if the depression is bad enough, I guess it would be worth it...??

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:51 am

Is this different from the muscular jerks/twitching right before "falling" asleep? I always thought that was what was meant by "falling asleep", becuase for me it feels like I'm falling and I get that simlar reflex reaction.

Or maybe y'all are talking about something totally different and I'm just weird

roster · Post by **roster** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:32 am

Shaftebury wrote:Has anyone experienced these? I just started getting them after my GP put me on some antidepressants.

Why take antidepressants? According to one of my sleep docs, more than 50% of the patients showing up at her sleep lab for the first time are taking antidepressants with no good results. What they really needed was a sleep study and a good cpap therapy.

Lee2263 · Post by **Lee2263** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:46 am

rooster wrote:
Shaftebury wrote:Has anyone experienced these? I just started getting them after my GP put me on some antidepressants.
Why take antidepressants? According to one of my sleep docs, more than 50% of the patients showing up at her sleep lab for the first time are taking antidepressants with no good results. What they really needed was a sleep study and a good cpap therapy.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:51 am

rooster wrote:
Shaftebury wrote:Has anyone experienced these? I just started getting them after my GP put me on some antidepressants.
Why take antidepressants? According to one of my sleep docs, more than 50% of the patients showing up at her sleep lab for the first time are taking antidepressants with no good results. What they really needed was a sleep study and a good cpap therapy.

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:14 am

Also, there's a condition called Exploding Head Syndrome:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/explod ... me/AN00929

Not to confuse the above with a band called Talking Heads that figuratively exploded onto the music scene back in the eighties... Those were the talking, singing, dancing, and exploding heads.

We have no clue what their sleep architecture might have been despite all that activity.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:22 am

Where is my beautiful wife? Where is my large automobile?

Oh sorry, my head exploded for a minute...
Babs

Mental jolts/shocks while trying to fall asleep

Mental jolts/shocks while trying to fall asleep

Re: Mental jolts/shocks while trying to fall asleep

every once and a while

yep

Re: Mental jolts/shocks while trying to fall asleep

Re: Mental jolts/shocks while trying to fall asleep

Re: Mental jolts/shocks while trying to fall asleep

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