Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Health
  4. / Sleep

by lizvelrene on August 1st, 2006

lizvelrene

Question

Help answer this question below.

I twitch when I'm falling asleep, and also when I'm lightly sleeping. Sometimes I spasm violently. I also snore. Is it related? I take a few medications but I'm not sure when this started (before or after). What's going on?

Share:
Other

Answers. 8 helpful answers below.

  • by lynnenorth on September 22nd, 2006

    lynnenorth

    Asker's Pick

    Selected by the asker, lizvelrene. (What's this?)

    The twitch when you're falling asleep or in a light sleep is called "hypnic myoclonia". It isn't necessarily related to snoring at all. Snoring occurs because of flaccid tissue in the soft palate, which can be caused or exacerbated by any number of things. Hypnic myoclonia specifically has to do with how the brain behaves in light, Stage 1 sleep.

    The first stage of sleep and a "level" of sleep which we may return to a few times a night is called Stage 1. It's defined as a light sleep that we can drift in and out of; the senses of vision and hearing aren't fully disconnected from external stimuli the way they are in deeper stages of sleep, but the neuronal firing pattern resembles that of when we're dreaming, and people woken up from this stage often remember visual images and dream fragments.

    In full REM sleep (during real dreaming), there is a sort of short-circuit in the brain* which activates to keep us from getting up and acting out our dreams physically; essentially this safety switch tells the brain that it can talk to its sensory interpretation modules, but it isn't allowed to talk to its motor control modules. (When this short-circuit doesn't kick in properly we can get sleepwalking. Alternatively, when we start to wake up but the circuit doesn't disengage, we get the kind of nightmare known as "sleep paralysis", where you are at least semi-aware of your real physical surroundings, often mixed with visual and/or auditory hallucinations which "feel" real, but you absolutely cannot move. This may be where a lot of "alien abduction" experiences come from.)

    Back to hypnic myoclonia, though. In the first few minutes of Stage 1 sleep, the brain is starting to take on the aspects of synchronised neuronal firing typical of dreaming, but that protective short-circuit hasn't kicked in yet. This sometimes results in the pattern of firing in your brain triggering a synchronous burst in the motor neurons, and you get a "startle twitch".

    That twitch is generally absolutely nothing to worry about. It's only when you continue that kind of startle jerk after you are in full, Stage 2, 3, or 4 deep sleep that you know that something is going wrong.

    Can medication affect this? Possible; any medication which affects sleep patterns has the potential to affect it, because it has the potential to affect how your brain is acting during sleep. Unless it seems to be accompanied by other sleep disturbances, though, like night terrors or sleepwalking, or the startle is leaving you with sore muscles or a bitten tongue or suchlike, or it's simply really bothering your ability to sleep, then it probably honestly isn't worth worrying about.

    --------------------------------
    * This circuit is composed of inhibitory GABAergic neurons in the thalamus which interfere with motoneuron firing patterns, if you wanted to know that, and motoneurons are also kept hyperpolarised to keep them from firing properly. However, messages for minor twitches in the peripheral muscles can still sneak through.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by CaptainHarley adores his life penguin on September 10th, 2009

    CaptainHarley adores his life penguin

    It sounds as if you might have "sleep apnea." I recommend a visit to your doctor.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Anonymous on August 1st, 2006

    Anonymous

    When i was younger, going to sleep involved a series of body twitching and jerking. i was generally uptight and going to sleep was not welcomed. i would go through a body part list and tell each part to go to sleep. sound crazy? yeah, i know. but, it worked for me. i would start with my head and work down to my feet. usually, i would be asleep before i reached my toes.

    I always thought this my nervous system fighting going to sleep. i do not have this problem now. i am 62 and all is well. your age, occupation, and lifestyle may be playing a part in your twitching and jerking

    Mine went away and i feel confident that yours will, too.

    • Like
    • Report

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • by robinhug on August 1st, 2006

    robinhug

    It really depends on what you mean by twitching. If it is your whole body jumps awake right around the time you dose off? Then that is caused by your brain because when you fall asleep your brain thinks you are dieing and jerks your body back to life basically. (This might sound strange but it is true, and it is common and nothing to worry about..)

    Now if it is just little jerks or like spasms of 1 limb or foot so on so forth. It is different. It could be caused by certain meds, ( anti depressants, pain pills and probably a lot more.) Also other conditions. I have a back and neck problem that causes my limbs to jerk. I have to assume it is nerve damage. I did not notice it till my husband brought it up. Then I noticed it a lot.

    It is not related to snoring as far as I know but if it is limb twitching and not your body jerking awake, you may want to bring it up to your Dr. Not trying to worry you but this is also a symptom of more serious conditions such as MS.

    • Like
    • Report

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by Qmasta on September 10th, 2009

    Qmasta

    just curious, how do you know?

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by G money on January 10th, 2008

    G money

    y'all are idiots

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by G money on January 10th, 2008

    G money

    fools

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by james_80 on February 14th, 2010

    james_80

    it could be a number of things that go unnoticed by people. You could have been walking around the house in your socks and absorbed chemicals or pesticides and unknowingly transferred them to the inner parts of your shoes. Then you could be getting a daily dose of this stuff via absorption through your feet. Another idea could be that your body reacts to certain fabric such as polyester. After my injury with diet pills, I can't wear or have polyester touching my skin or I'll get chest pains or full body twitches. Another idea could be your medication you are taking or perhaps you are taking too much caffeine. You will have to do a process of elimination and keep a record of how you feel with each change.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading I twitch when I'm falling asleep, and also when I'm lightly sleeping. Sometimes I spasm violently. I also snore. Is it related? I take a few medications but I'm not sure when this started (before or after). What's going on?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

Hypnic myoclonia
Body twitching when falling asleep
Twitching when falling asleep
Twitching before falling asleep
Twitching as you fall asleep

Answerbag

a Demand Media company