One of the most common sleeping disorders, and one of the milder ones, is an involuntary muscle spasm or jolt which occurs just as we are falling asleep – a sleep start. This condition is known as a hypnic jerk or hypnagogic jerk. It is a reaction very like the “startle” response and can be accompanied by a falling sensation. It can feel like an electric shock just before dropping off.
Something around 10% of the population will experience hypnic jerks on a regular basis and 60% to 70% at some point in their lives. They often happen if we fall asleep in an uncomfortable position, are sleep deprived or over tired or are having a stressful or anxious time. A hypnic jerk is a type of myoclonic twitch and is similar to a hiccup. It’s considered to be a benign condition.
Not enough research has been done on the subject to give a definitive answer on why they occur but there are a number of theories.
One is that it is just a part of falling asleep in some people. As part of a number of stages from changing brain waves, slowing heartbeat and breathing, the bodies muscular systems transition into their “sleep” state accompanied by the jerk.
Another theory is that as the muscles relax our brain is tricked into thinking that it is falling, drowning or somehow in danger. The jerk is an attempt to turn oneself upright or catch something leading to safety.
Most people experience the hypnic jerk once or twice a night and often don’t even know they are undergoing the reaction. A more severe case can severely affect the sufferers or a bed partners sleep inviolves the twitching every 30 seconds throughout the night. This sleeping disorder is known as periodic limb movements (nocturnal myoclonus).
Generally hypnic jerk requires no treatment and is a normal part of sleep every so often. No “cure” has been developed. A return to normal sleeping patterns, retiring to bed before overtiredness or treatment for the underlying stress and anxiety will often reduce the occurrences another suggestion is to avoid caffeine and spend some time before attempting to fall asleep engaged in relaxation.
If the jolt is causing you more than a mild surpise or is preventing you from getting regular sleep than see you doctor.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
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Amazing to read this! I experience a single hypnic jerk every night without fail. The effect is a welcome instant 'dumping' of concerns of the day, allowing true relaxation ready for sleep.
ReplyDeleteMy wife, for many months demonstrated nocturnal myoclonus EXACTLY as described, other than it included a contraction and painful (for me)scraping of the toenail every 30 seconds. Not 27. Not 33, but oddly a regular 30! The unerring regularity made it difficult to accept as an involuntary act! -We remain married. Adequate rest and reduced anxiety have lessened severity of my hypnic jerk and my wife's nocturnal myoclonus has indeed ceased.
I to jerk every 30 seconds but my son whose 3 does to I don't really get why is it genetic?
ReplyDeleteThis is happening to me more than a few times a night, and at least 4-5 nights a week. Ive gone to bed at 9pm and find myself still awake at 6am, finally so exhausted i fall asleep with an hour or two of rest before having to work a full work day. Two to four hours a night is not enough to properly function. This is one of the most frustrating things ive ever dealt with. Does anyone have any advice or tips on specifically what they did to help this problem?
ReplyDeleteI believe that my hypnic jerk is caused by my efforts in the past to stay awake at night even though I had been very sleepy. This habit is picked up by my brain, so that it always wakes me up whenever I'm falling asleep. I think the cure is to force myself to sleep regularly, and lose the anxiety over being unable to sleep. A little sedative might help to start regular sleep schedule. Just be careful in choosing the right,non-addictive sedative.
ReplyDeleteI fell asleep in the arms of my boyfriend and he told me I jerked in my sleep. He was quite worried. When he fell asleep and I was awake, it happened to him. I am very confused about it, but it may of been because we were in an uncomfortable position.
ReplyDeleteI thought, and still think to some extent that I am experiencing nocturnal seizures. Usually I have between 60-100 a month. In May this year I was put on tegretol 800mg which took my 'fits' down to 15/20 a month. This month my neurologist thought they might be sleep starts and I have been put on Clonazepam along side the tegretol. This month I have had just 3 'fits'. I am not sure if I am experiencing seizures or sleep starts.
ReplyDeleteyours mirror mine exactly - up to 100 a month, then on 800 tegretol and fits down to 15/20, then clonazepam 4mg at night and 0.5 am. noon and tea time - fits down to two a month!
DeleteI have spent 3 months of hell. My hypnic jolts/jerks were down to a diazepam withdrawal I did too quickly (after 16 years on the drug). At one time I was having hundreds a night and was unable to fall into unconsciousness at all. Had to have sleeping pills. I am now back on the drug to try to stop the jolts then I will reduce very slowly.
ReplyDeleteI am convinced Zantac has something to do with this as if changing the chemistry of the brain, I stopped taking it for a year and all is well.
ReplyDeleteWell not that this is a GOOD thing, but this is a refreshing forum to find. I have been suffering with these "jerks" for over a year now. They started one night out of nowhere. I had quit smoking 6 months before, but other than that, nothing else had changed. I still have them today. About a month into them, because I was not sleeping at all, my doctor finally, after going thru the sleeping pill list, prescribed me xanax, 1 mg for sleep. The first night I took it I slept for 9 hours straight, no jerks, no interruptions, great dreams! Unfortunately, now I have been taking the xanax for 14 months every night. If I don't take it, I don't sleep. Or if I try to cut my dose, I jerk and get maybe 2 or 3 hours of sleep at best. I worry I've created a monster with this drug. I only take .75 mg a night for sleep, but I've been doing it EVERY night for over a year. My naturepath told me, "Every prescription like that should have and EN DATE, otherwise its causing harm!" I don't know. Any suggestions??? Please feel free to email me any suggestions at Sunstrikn1@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI had this over 3-4 years following a sustained time of stress at work and a house move. I believe there's a connection to MS in that sufferers can progress to MS later in some cases. Like most brain disorders, it's bound to be genetic, and also will be affected by any mind altering drug such as prozac, temazepan etc. The jerk experience is a wonderful experience like a massive high-and so I suggest it's a chemical release of endorphine? Or some other chemical. It seems to encompass the entire body and is sometimes like a flash of light. So very quick, not worried as it's the brain shutting down after a busy day. Try to marvel at the amazing complexity of the brain.
ReplyDeleteI have had this all my life and happens most nights, but only once. I fall asleep properly after the jolt. Annoys my husband as he gets disturbed by it.
ReplyDelete