Sleep paralysis

Hi evey~

I'm so sorry this is bothering you again. I sure can see why it would be terrifying. I'd never heard about it until now so I looked up a definition and posted some of it below, including a link, for anyone else who wants to learn about it.

One thing that caught my eye in your post is the common factor of your episodes of sleep paralysis and taking antidepressants....medications that work on the brain. I took lexapro many years ago but as most antidepressants do, it's effectiveness wears off and I had to switch. I do about every 3-4 years. Anyway, I didn't have problems with it but have with other similar medications that target receptors in the brain. I tried Lyrica and one dose was enough for me. The side effects were awful. (yes, there's a point to all of this...lol )

Anyway, when I was reading more about Lyrica I came across how it works in the body/brain. Here's a bit from Wikipedia that might be interesting to you...

On the page that talks about Lyrica....."Its therapeutic effect appears after 1 week of use and is similar in effectiveness to lorazepam, alprazolam and venlafaxine...."

Venlafaxine is Effexor and it happens to be the antidepressant I'm currently taking. For me it only takes a very small dose to get the desired effects but no matter how much someone needs, this medication is an antidepressant. So what they are basically saying is Lyrica works similarly to an antidepressant. If an antidepressant caused you to have the episodes of sleep paralysis then you might be right about the Lyrica being a possibility

One other tidbit I read is that Lyrica actually works with your neurological system. Isn't it the nervous system that is active when you would have sleep paralysis? Just one more item to throw into the pot.

Please do remember that none of us are physicians and I don't work in the medical field. We never give medical advise on Healing Well, but we share what we have learned and what we've experienced. It's your responsibility to take the information and make an appropriate decision for you. One thing to remember is do not stop taking the Lyrica immediately. You have to slowly back off of your dosage otherwise you can have some serious withdrawal. Either call or go see your doctor for the proper way to stop this med if that's what you choose. Either way I hope something here is helpful to you. You've educated me on the topic as I researched it.

Thanks for the great topic!
Chutz


www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-paralysis

Sleep Paralysis

Have you ever felt like you were awake but unable to move? You might have even felt afraid but could not call for help? This condition is called sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis may leave you feeling frightened, especially if you also see or hear things that aren't really there. Sleep paralysis may happen only once, or you may have it frequently -- even several times a night.
The good news: sleep paralysis is not considered a dangerous health problem.

Is Sleep Paralysis a Symptom of a Serious Problem?
Sleep researchers conclude that, in most cases, sleep paralysis is simply a sign that your body is not moving smoothly through the stages of sleep. Rarely is sleep paralysis linked to deep underlying psychiatric problems

What Is Sleep Paralysis?
Sleep paralysis is a feeling of being conscious but unable to move. It occurs when a person passes between stages of wakefulness and sleep. During these transitions, you may be unable to move or speak for a few seconds up to a few minutes. Some people may also feel pressure or a sense of choking. Sleep paralysis may accompany other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is an overpowering need to sleep caused by a problem with the brain's ability to regulate sleep.

It happens to me occasionally, but I'm not taking any medications that trigger it. It usually happens when I take a nap during the day as opposed to sleeping at night. It can be quite frightening. I have crazy visual hallucinations (like someone is in the room with me) when it happens to me.

I've read to try to speak or move any part of your body (finger, foot, blinking, etc.), and it will help you to wake up. I've also read to try to regulate your breathing or to try to cough to break out of it. I usually try the "speaking" tactic. It comes out as a weird moan, but it usually does help my brain wake up.

As hard as it may be, if you are aware enough, try to tell yourself that it is just sleep paralysis, and it will pass.

Hugs - Austen

I used to have what I called "night terrors." That was in the 80s before the age of the internet so I had no idea what was happening.  It wasn't just the sleep paralysis, but I thought that someone was in the room with me, sometimes meaning to hurt me or sometimes trying to rob me; I knew what was going on but I just couldn't move. It was terrifying! It always happened during the day when I took a nap.  I started locking my bedroom door when I took a nap and it stopped.  I had a lot of sleeping problems during that time and insomnia so bad I couldn't sleep at night.  I wasn't on any medication then and I was just starting to have the fibro symptoms.

Then I went through a period when I didn't have the night terrors and then suddenly again in the 2000s I started having them again.  I dreampt all kinds of things:  I believed my family was trying to wake me up, that people were at my house for my birthday party and I couldn't wake up, that everyone was here to get me to go bowling and I couldn't move, and that my grandchildren were in the room talking to me and not noticing anything was out of the ordinary.  I didn't have them if I was in my bedroom with the door locked. 

I think it was a safety issue with me.  If I felt safe, it didn't happen.  In the late 80s, we had just moved to a new town and I didn't know anyone and we didn't live in the best part of town.  In the 2000s, we lived 30 miles out of town and I was out here alone. 

I don't have those anymore even being on medication.  I do have 2 dogs who can bark and wake me up if anyone comes close to the house.  So I can lay down on the couch now and take a nap.

I know how terrifying it is, so I hope it gets better for you.