Posted by Noa on October 21, 2000, at 14:16:23
In reply to Re: Electrical shocks/sleep paralysis?, posted by laural on October 21, 2000, at 8:32:09
It is not sleep paralysis, which is a different sleep problem.
It is myoclonus, which is sudden jerking of muscles, either isolated muscles or groups of muscles, and sometimes you feel like you are falling.
I think a certain amount of myoclonus is normal when falling asleep (perhaps that is why the word "falling" is used to describe sleep onset?).
For me, any of the meds that increase serotonin cause me myoclonus to varying degrees. With paxil, which at low doses did not cause much myoclonus, at higher doses causes odd sudden muscle twitches and jerks when at rest, esp. just before sleep but also when lying on the couch watching tv or reading.
Sometimes, my arm would just shoot straight up in the air! Other times, random muscles, which I could not possible flex at will, would twich. Sometimes, it was a whole body jerk and a sudden panic feeling--of falling, and then my heart would race.Effexor causes this for me too, but to a lesser degree. The pdoc assured me there is no danger from the myoclonus, but he added Serzone to the effexor, and this quiets this effect pretty much completely for me.
poster:Noa
thread:46916
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001012/msgs/46987.html