Sleep Paralysis

    
      Re: Sleep Paralysis
    


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Posted by CCF Neuro MD# on March 21, 1998 at 16:50:11:

In Reply to: Sleep Paralysis posted by Mike on March 19, 1998 at 16:54:15:

: This is the term my doctor gave it.  He didn't say it was seizure related, but I'm not sure.
  "Sleep Paralysis" (what he called it) is pretty much where you wake up and can't move, literally.  The first time it happened, it freaked me out, but it's at the point now where I'm used to it.  My theory on it, is that when it happens, my "motor" part of the brain is still "asleep" and the "sensory", "awake".  I can't get out of it, unless I go back to sleep and wake up again, which isn't easy, you're essentially paralyed!  I have had seizures in my sleep before, but he said that it's not related.
  Anyone else been through this?
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Sleep paralysis is a condition (sometimes familial ) when the muscle
paralysis which is a feature of the REM stage of sleep is carried over
into the semiwaking state, it is usually brief, lasting minutes and may be
terminated by an outsise stimulus souch as noise or touch.
While very frightening they are harmless and no adverse sequelae have ever
been reported, respiratory function is not affected.
These attacks can be a feature of the sleep disorder narcolopsy, but are not
associated with epilepsy.
If thes eattacks are frequent and so frightening as to be disabling the can be treated with
drugs such as clomipramine or the tricyclic antidepressants