Adrenaline rush when trying to fall asleep

[Sweetpea0290]

Hi, my partner has been having terrible trouble falling asleep, he complains of feeling a huge surge of adrenaline just as he is about to drift to sleep, this can continue for quite a while until he is so exhausted his body has no choice but to sleep.(this feeling is not associated with any physical twitching or jerking of muscles or limbs)
He has fairly recently stopped taking citalopram which was prescribed to alleviate anxiety which he was diagnosed with many years ago.
Could this problem he is experiencing when trying to sleep be SSRI discontinuation syndrome? If so, is there anything you could recommend to relieve this unpleasant symptom?

[JSGeare]

The answer is, "could be," and I'll be darned if I know what might bridge the gap into a normal sleep pattern. If the cessation was not with medical advice, I think it would be a great idea to get a medical opinion, which may well include what can help restore a comfortable sleep experience. Just remember, all the opinions you get here are ...just that ... opinions. So get a medical one.

[waspman1]

i've just came across your problem as i have been searching this symptom myself, i have anxiety but do not take medication, i have this feeling also, i would describe it as an adrenaline rush or the feeling that my body is seizing up, this does not happen every night but does happen quite frequently, i have just attributed it to anxiety, although i have not mentioned it to the doctor, but every other crazy symptom i have had has been attributed to anxiety

[Jennifer375]

That sounds REALLY uncomfortable. I have to agree with JSG,,, if his withdrawl from the medicine wasnt with a doctors advice and or was done abruptly without tapering... I would press him to immediatly go see his doctor. Its possible he has thrown some brain chemicals into 'shock' if you will (a sudden stopping makes this likely) and the symptoms he is now experincing should be checked out along with possibly some blood work just for precaution sake. *Best wishes and please do update!*

[Jennifer375]

just re-read my post and wanted to say , by "immediatly' I dont mean rush to an ER of course,, just that he really should get into see his doctor as soon as possible. Im sure if he cant sleep for any lenght of time he will decide to anyways, but just restarting the medicine may not help and seeing a professional is important in this situation.

[MomonElm]

I am up at a really late hour because of this very thing - trying to find out why this happens.  However, I don't take, and never have taken any medication beyond simple antibiotics.  Additionally, I don't have anxiety in the slightest.  I'm a very laidback person.  One thing I can add to this is that this happens right as I'm drifting off to sleep and I have the feeling like I'm physically falling and while I'm obviously not, my body reacts as if I am.  Also - it's never a part of any dream - I'm not dreaming yet.  It's right as I'm falling asleep.  The adrenaline rush is very real - and very lasting though.

[Pat1958]

It happened to me too and I have called my doctor for an answer.  I will let you know what he said.  I also have felt along with the adrenaline rush, almost like I can hear my blood rushing through my veins.  It was scary.
Pat

[ichthus]

I've had these types of symptoms on-and-off for 30 years.  Mine occur both as I'm lying down to sleep, and also when I awake, mid- or early morning.  Benadryl works well to get me to sleep without the surges, but I haven't found anything that helps at 3:00-6:00 in the morning yet...   They occur out of the blue - without my thinking or worrying about anything (other than the next surge), and usually don't stop on their own.  Two types of rushes:  (1) fluttering inside my head, then a warm flush over my head, (2.) adrenaline zap at the top of my sternum that radiates throughout my chest, upper arms, throat, jaw, head...  burning for 20-30 seconds, then dissipating to a mild discomfort.  Slight increase in heart rate...   Neither of these are heart related - - doctors think anxiety...  Been prescribed Paxil and various benzo's - - as well as Ambien...  The latter two leave me shaky, antsy, sleepy the next day....

[doeeyes]

Hello Posters,
I've felt much the same thing only mine tends to occur after exercise.  I avoid exercise for this very reason.  It's as if my adrenaline kicks in after exercise and doesn't wane until bedtime (sometimes late into the morning).  Often it feels like I might have a seizure at any moment (though I've never had one). I'm thinking of taking xanax for this.  This has been going on for a year now. It began after a 5 month stint of a heavy exercise regimen (which I never do) which I did to get over the depression I was having over a failed relationship. It usually (always?) happens at night. Can last for up to 2 hours after which I usually crash. Doctors have been unable to help thus far..it's absolute hell

[dmbfan07cb]

I don't get the adrenaline thing, I just feel like im dying, like i'm alipping away and I jerk myself awake.  i hate that.

[NightRush]

I have the same thing, repeatedly until I finially crash from complete exhaustion. I have had anxiety attacks years ago but I am not sure if this is related.  This started happening about 4 months ago and has been getting worse day by day.  I have started taking xanax to help fall asleep and it does give some relief from the symptoms by making them a lot milder and I seem to be able to fall asleep faster but it does not stop them completely.   Plus  I just hate having to take something on a nightly basis to fall asleep.  

I am really trying to link this to some cause other then anxiety, it just isn't the same.  I'm not thinking about anything when it happens and it is just as I am about to fall asleep.  I am thinking about getting my thyroid checked agian (my mother had hypothyroid) and this may be a symptom of the early stages... not sure though...  If anyone has any ideas please let me know..

[NightRush]

Any one else have these symptoms and take statins?

[RayRay8816]

Hey NightRush i have been experiencing the same symptoms..it started in the beginning of may.i actually was doing fine off my medication for 7 months and i was teaching myself to live off the medicine and go out for walks and enjoy life..but i noticed when i went to stores or was but under pressure or told to do so many things like go to the grocery store, i would get kinda lightheadness and dizzy but i thought nothing of it i was overwhelmed.

anyways, in the middle of march i had been taking diet pills...and it increased the rush of adrenaline, and i would just run around and do stuff constantly and feel good..but one day i awaoke and i noticed i feel anxiety and pressure and my heart was beating fast..i thought nothing of it but as the day went on and night time came my arms started going numbe my heart was pounding and i felt sick and i wasnt even thinking about anything that would prone me to an attack...it scared me it felt like i was having a stroke. ever since then my heart has been pounding and feel like a panic attack waiting to happen. i went to the dentist and i had a horrific experience and had to have my friend and the dental assistants talk me through numbing my gums "i hate big needels and that thing looked huge"!,but that was before my heart pounding and adrenaline rushes which i think caused it to happen like this cuz when i came out the dentist i must have been in such a tramatic situation cuz my heart was hurting.


i went to the doctor and he had check my thryoid,blood,urine,and even a ekg on my heart. everything came back good and NORMAL!  he prescribed me xanax which i have been taking and i felt so dizzy and light headed on it and i would even sometimes forget my place in a conversation and feel delayed. i stopped taking it for 2 days cuz i hated the feeling of feeling slow and plus my mom said it was a killer to come off and when u did it would feel like ur body couldnt function and u would start trembling...i know cause my mom was taking to the emergency room  after coming off of xanax.but on the 2nd night before i went to sleep my heart started pounding and i t felt like someone was choking me and i couldnt breath...all xanax does is calm ur nerves i wish  he would have given me a anxiety medication which he didnt and i found strange cuz that was my main purpose for visitng the doctor...i contuine to take xanax and feel a lil better but i feel so laggy and delayed. i hate it!..i heard that you could take a beta blocker which stop adrenaline rushes but i personally dont know.

IF ANYONE IS READIN THIS AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING DONT PASS THIS POST  PLEASE RESPOND IF YOU HAVE OVERCAME THE SAME ISSUE...and to all you other people who are experiencing this same situation i am deeply sorry cause this is just horrible i cant even freaking function!..