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!..

[stacey555]

I had this for almost a year and noone understood what I was talking about. When I try to describe it to my doctors they act like Im crazy.  I do think it is an adreniline rush, but  I think it has something to do with your cortisol dropping to low and your adrenals compensating.   It is really scary and if anyone knows what is happening and you could pass the info along that would be great.

[treeman]

Hi .    I don't know if this is the same as I was getting but when it happens I feel it my stomach area like a strong electrical charge that keeps me from falling asleep.

[stacey555]

Yes almost like when your on a rollercoaster??

[urdacrazy1]

I can tell you that I just experienced what you've described just last night. It was horrible. I was sitting just fine and suddenly I felt a surge of pressure or something go through my arms up into like the back of my head. As it decreased, it almost felt like my energy was going away with it. It only lasted a few seconds but it left me kind of dizzy and scared.
Then when I went to bed I felt it again. Like, a surge, pressure and like you said almost like someone was choking me. My heart started racing and I felt like I could scream. When it finally subsided I was left extremely shakey. Like my whole body would tighten up and I would literally tremble every few second. If I tried to relax my muscles I wouldn't tremble but if I tense them up I would. CRAZIEST feeling. I think I've experienced it before. Well to answer your beta blocker question, I take them when I'm having bad anxiety. I took it last night and after about an hour I was back to "normal" and able to fall asleep. Can anybody else tell me if they've experienced what I or should I say WE have? It was so scarey. So is that what they call an adrenaline rush?

[urdacrazy1]

By the way, I'm not on any other medication.

[femalesnoo]

I have gad this on and off for years. Just a t the point of sleep I feel a surge starting in my chest and it runs right up through my head, sometimes into my arms and my eyes roll up in my head. It really does feel like I'm about to die, but I haven't yet so will just have to live with it!
by femalesnoo

[arnoldzoo5]

It's 1:10am and I'm still up.  Just got through having another attack.  About six months ago I had a hysterectomy.  I've not been the same sense!  It has sent my body realing.  I've had terrible panic attacks, ER visists, bad reactions to almost all medications and every test known to man.  Everything has come back Anxiety.  I was put on Zoloft and Ativan.  At first these attacks were the heart racing, dizziness, take an Ativan then fall asleep...then in a couple minutes my body would be pulled out of sleep grasping for breath.  Then I experienced migraine headaches, muscle cramping.  Put on Lexapro and came off Zoloft.  Then had visual disturbance, dizziness, depression and more migraines.  Now I am off Lexapro and only on Ativan.  I tried to come off Ativan slowly over 5 weeks and my body is freaking out.  I have pain in the atteries/veins in my neck and ankles.  I have heart flutters and strong vein beating/popping.  I hate it.  I'm scared all the time because I just know there is something more goin on.  Is is my thyroid?  Test keep coming back okay.  Is it my hormones? Hormone levels are just slightly low.  Is it my heart?  Heart doctor says NO.  What is it and how do I get rid of it so that I can go back to feeling like my old self again? HELP!!!
Nancy

[LaneyJane]

I have been suffering from anxiety and depression for over 20 years.  This "surge" thing always happens to me when I go for long periods of time during the day without food.  If I am busy and forget to eat for most of the day and even have a large supper, I will still have these "surges" of adrenaline.  It is one the main reasons I have so much trouble dieting.  I would suggest that if you have just one attack, to get up and eat a snack.  That almost always helps me.  I really believe it has something to do with your calorie intake for the day, or if you are dieting, maybe you are not getting enough calories each and every day.

[JM71]

I have this too!

Right as I'm about to fall asleep, I get an adrenaline surge that makes me feel suddenly really wide awake. Then I try and relax and start to fall asleep again and suddenly WHAM it happens again. It feels like it happens at the very moment I am drifting off to sleep. To the point where I have half lost consciousness and my body sort of 'freaks out' and wakes me up. Like it is afraid to sleep. I stay very relaxed, and try to not let it bother me.

The best way that I can describe it is like the feeling of being embarrased. My face feels warm, and my head and chest tingles. It lasts for about 20-30 seconds and then subsides. Sometimes my heart beats a little fast, but only if it scares me. I have gotten to the point where it happens to me and I just take it in stride. I don't panic or get worried. It is really frustrating though, and will happen over and over so that I don't get good sleep. I have stayed up a full 24 hours because of it before.

It doesn't happen every night, it usually comes in episodes where it will happen for one night, or sometimes a number of nights in a row.

I personally think it is a nervous system imbalance. For some reason my body mistakes that moment of sleep as if it were stressful.

Lots of things can cause your nervous system to get out of balance. If you have problems with anxiety, panic attacks, fatigue, or other symptoms, it could be your nervous system.

Things you can do to help keep your nervous system balanced:

1. Exercise regularly.
2. Eat well balanced meals. Don't eat too much sugar.
3. Stay away from caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants.
4. Drink plenty of water.

I can't say for sure that this is our problem. If anyone else has any ideas, please do share.

[kyval]

i experienced this about 6 months ago, way before my anxiety kicked in, i was drinking alot of caffeine, same as always but alot, so i stopped, and those episodes stopped as well, i wish i had an answer that easy for my anxiety..
best wishes..

[KirstinMc]

The sudden jolt you experience whilst going to sleep sounds very much like anxiety and then when your body starts to relax you get a jolt. I get this alot and completely understand. Also you might try getting a warm (not hot) bath and have a cup of camomille tea 30 mins before bed.

[beenalongtime4me]

you are the only person i have found that has discribed the fluttering inside your head. i get this nearly every night just as i am on the verge of falling asleep. i also get like fluttering in my chest and it rises up my throat into my ears. it is the feel you get when somebody winds down only one window in the car while you are driving. i also have a feeling as though there is something stuck in my throat and pressure there, sometimes i feel i cant get oxygen into my lungs.