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Having Nerve Pain And Taking Gabapentin. Had Twitching All Over Body And Jerks During Sleep. Related?
Question: Hi, I've been having some nerve pain for the past 2 months and more , mu nuerologist put me on gabapentin for a month. I also had twitching at that time for which my nuero thought could be anxiety, stress or just begnin. I saw my GPA for anxiety/stress or depression she gave my lexapro but i couldnt handle it for more than two days, so i stopped it and did not tell her because i had to go to my home country for some visit.ive been twitching for the past 2 months and more. Now into my second month of Gabapentin Ive had some jerks during the night while Im falling asleep and also i think i have some during the day. Could this be a side effect considering i havent had this jerks for over a month.. Also i dont know i still keep twitching al over my body and some even cause my fingers to jerk.. Are all these related. I'm a little worried about this Jerks.
Brief Answer:
Gabapentin and jerks are unrelated
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
First of all, I would like to reassure you that the jerks are not related to gabapentin use.
Myoclonic jerks involving a part of body (usually hands, legs, trunk) are normally seen in many people while falling asleep, and while waking up. Occasionally, they can be seen at other times too.
If they are infrequent, or do not cause any harm such as falls, then, there is no need to worry. However, if they are frequent or severe, we need to do an EEG to exclude an epilepsy.
I hope it helps. Please get back if you have any more queries.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Gabapentin and jerks are unrelated
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
First of all, I would like to reassure you that the jerks are not related to gabapentin use.
Myoclonic jerks involving a part of body (usually hands, legs, trunk) are normally seen in many people while falling asleep, and while waking up. Occasionally, they can be seen at other times too.
If they are infrequent, or do not cause any harm such as falls, then, there is no need to worry. However, if they are frequent or severe, we need to do an EEG to exclude an epilepsy.
I hope it helps. Please get back if you have any more queries.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for your reply, I just wanted to confirm that nuerontin is not causing this issue. Is there a way to stop these jerks from progressing . I usually feel them when I am falling asleep but I do think I get it during the day as well. Is this a disorder by itself ? If its not an epilepsy will it go away ? How come people get this?
I'm sorry it's just that I feel not every normal person has it. Some answers to my stupid head
I'm sorry it's just that I feel not every normal person has it. Some answers to my stupid head
Brief Answer:
These jerks would go away or reduce.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for getting back, it is natural for you to have these doubts..
I agree with you that not everyone gets these type of jerks, but there are several normal people (without epilepsy who get these). These are related to discharges in the brain that occur during early sleep or arousal, and in EEG recordings, no epileptiform discharges are noted. So, as such, they have no adverse effect on the brain functions or health. However, as I mentioned earlier, sometimes, these jerks can be severe or violent and can throw a person out of bed causing injury. In those cases, medications such as clonazepam or sodium valproate can be used.
In most people without epilepsy, they go away or reduce in severity over time, with adequate sleep at nights.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
These jerks would go away or reduce.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for getting back, it is natural for you to have these doubts..
I agree with you that not everyone gets these type of jerks, but there are several normal people (without epilepsy who get these). These are related to discharges in the brain that occur during early sleep or arousal, and in EEG recordings, no epileptiform discharges are noted. So, as such, they have no adverse effect on the brain functions or health. However, as I mentioned earlier, sometimes, these jerks can be severe or violent and can throw a person out of bed causing injury. In those cases, medications such as clonazepam or sodium valproate can be used.
In most people without epilepsy, they go away or reduce in severity over time, with adequate sleep at nights.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank for your response, just a few more questions . Do people without epilepsy get it during the day also? Also , can there be something that is called small jerks , if so how would you describe it and how severe can they get ?
Can these jerks happen when a limb is in use? Like for example when I move the mouse I feel that I've moved a little too much. Or when I'm texting I feel that I moved it far to reach that letter I was going to type .
Also, I also have twitiching all over my body, I do get some involuntary finger movements are they because of twitching or jerks.
One last question hopefully, how bad is it to have these jerks ? What is suitable remedy. Is there an evolution of how bad it could get
Can these jerks happen when a limb is in use? Like for example when I move the mouse I feel that I've moved a little too much. Or when I'm texting I feel that I moved it far to reach that letter I was going to type .
Also, I also have twitiching all over my body, I do get some involuntary finger movements are they because of twitching or jerks.
One last question hopefully, how bad is it to have these jerks ? What is suitable remedy. Is there an evolution of how bad it could get
Brief Answer:
These symptoms could be benign fasciculations
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Myoclonic jerks as I discussed earlier occur mostly while falling asleep or getting up, and are uncommon when awake or not tired.
However, your current symptoms, especially muscle twitchings, extra finger movements while texting, etc, are most suggestive of a condition called as benign fasciculations syndrome (BFS).
As the name suggests, this also is a benign condition, and does not lead to any disability. It is quite common in my practice, and many patients get anxious as fasciculations occur in motor neuron disease too. But BFS does not lead to MND.
Usually no treatment is necessary and they stop on their own.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
These symptoms could be benign fasciculations
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Myoclonic jerks as I discussed earlier occur mostly while falling asleep or getting up, and are uncommon when awake or not tired.
However, your current symptoms, especially muscle twitchings, extra finger movements while texting, etc, are most suggestive of a condition called as benign fasciculations syndrome (BFS).
As the name suggests, this also is a benign condition, and does not lead to any disability. It is quite common in my practice, and many patients get anxious as fasciculations occur in motor neuron disease too. But BFS does not lead to MND.
Usually no treatment is necessary and they stop on their own.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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