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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Adrenaline rushes keeping me awake
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Adrenaline rushes keeping me awake
by SenseiRebel, May 12, 2007 12:00AM
I'm getting adrenaline rushes that occur from my stomach to my throat as I start to fall asleep. It feels like the shock you get from suddenly dropping down a roller coaster too fast. The first time it happened I almost wanted to go to the ER.. I hadn't slept for almost 2 days and the rushes just kept coming and wouldn't let me sleep. It's a story, but I think it has to do with Zoloft withdrawal, and switching to 5-htp (a natural serotonin herb). I've been taking amitriptyline (a tricyclic antidepressant) which usually calms me down enough to sleep. Also since this started, I've been having panic attacks similar to the adrenaline rushes, only the panic attacks are continuous for an hr or so with a smaller feeling of an adrenaline rush coming.
My doc didn't seem to think much of it. He knows I have a history of psychological problems. If this was sleep apnea, would a sedating drug like amitriptyline help it, or is this all a psychological problem so that's why amitriptyline helps ? I figure if I'm not getting enough oxygen I would be woken up a lot if I was having adrenaline rushes, but I sleep with only one or two interruptions when on amitriptyline. Could all this be related to withdrawal from Zoloft ?
My doc didn't seem to think much of it. He knows I have a history of psychological problems. If this was sleep apnea, would a sedating drug like amitriptyline help it, or is this all a psychological problem so that's why amitriptyline helps ? I figure if I'm not getting enough oxygen I would be woken up a lot if I was having adrenaline rushes, but I sleep with only one or two interruptions when on amitriptyline. Could all this be related to withdrawal from Zoloft ?
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., May 15, 2007 12:00AM
, May 15, 2007 12:00AM
Yes, this could be from withdrawal, and added to the withdrawal is an anxious awareness, which in itself, can keep you from sleeping since you have to be vigilant to deal with your fears of not breathing. You should have a good talk with your prescribing doctor if he or she is therapist, or see a therapist to get out of this cycle.
