Medications used by around 8 million people in the UK can cause a frightening amount of sleep disturbance, researchers have discovered.
Researchers from Saudi Arabia have shown that people taking certain types of antidepressants have an increased risk of experiencing hypnic jerks — the sensation of a sudden jolt before falling asleep.
This phenomenon is caused by involuntary muscle contractions during the transitional phase from wakefulness to sleep.
Although usually harmless, experts warn that these worries can lead to insomnia and worsening of major depression.
A neurologist has conducted an experiment that suggests psychiatric medications may alter chemicals in the brain, causing hypnic jerks.
In the study, Professor Alghamdi analysed the sleep patterns of a middle-aged man who was taking escitalopram — a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which is among the most prescribed in Britain.
The patient complained of a feeling of sudden falling at night, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, and excessive fear of not being able to fall back asleep.
To treat this phenomenon, Professor Alghamdi asked the patient to stop using escitalopram.
After this small change, the patient's condition improved significantly and the nighttime jerking movements disappeared.
The depressive symptoms, for which he was being treated, also disappeared.
“Severe disturbances during sleep can cause chronic sleep deprivation, which can lead to depression as a result of neurochemical changes in the brain,” explained Prof. Alghamdi.
Another study, published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, confirmed similar results.
A 31-year-old woman who started taking escitalopram began experiencing involuntary head movements during sleep.
These sudden spasms significantly disrupted the quality of sleep.
After stopping escitalopram and starting fluoxetine (another SSRI), she reported significant reductions in the frequency and intensity of involuntary movements at night.
These findings highlight the importance of physicians being aware of this potential and often overlooked side effect of SSRIs.
“Involuntary movements during sleep can disrupt sleep, cause anxiety, and negatively impact patients' quality of life,” said study co-author Dr. Simran Sandhu.
"These movements, although harmless, can be very disturbing, especially after starting SSRI treatment or after increasing the dose."
Scientists have offered several theories for this usually harmless phenomenon, including the influence of stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine or physical exercise as possible triggers for these movements.
Some experts believe that hypnic jerks occur because the brain misinterprets the transition from wakefulness to sleep and sends signals to wake the body.
Although they can be jarring, these movements are harmless, affecting around 70 per cent of adults in Britain and rarely indicate any serious health problems.
According to the latest figures, around 8.7 million people in England use antidepressants — around one in seven people — and this number is increasing every year.
Experts emphasize that patients should not stop taking medications without first consulting with the doctor who is treating them.
“Close monitoring of patients, especially when starting SSRIs or having their dose increased, is essential,” Dr. Sandhu emphasized.
“Promoting healthy sleep practices, such as a regular bedtime and relaxation techniques, can also help improve sleep quality and reduce these concerns.” /Express newspaper/
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