What is it? All parasomnias are unwanted physical events that occur after you fall asleep, while you sleep or when you are waking up. This specific condition is triggered by a drug or substance, or by another medical condition.
All parasomnias are unwanted physical events that occur after you fall asleep, while you sleep or when you are waking up. This specific condition is triggered by a drug or substance, or by another medical condition.
Who gets it? Only people who use drugs or substances or who have a medical condition get this problem. This problem may occur as a side-effect to a medication. In this case, the parasomnia is an “adverse reaction” to the drug. Healthy people who do not take drugs or substances do not get this problem. Medical problems that cause this sleep disorder include the following: Parkinson disease Dementia with Lewy bodies Narcolepsy Diseases (tumors) of the mid brain
Only people who use drugs or substances or who have a medical condition get this problem. This problem may occur as a side-effect to a medication. In this case, the parasomnia is an “adverse reaction” to the drug. Healthy people who do not take drugs or substances do not get this problem. Medical problems that cause this sleep disorder include the following:
How do I know if I have it? Talk with your doctor if you have any unusual behaviors that occur during sleep. Ask your doctor if the problem could be related to a chronic medical condition. Tell your doctor about any drugs or medicines that you take. If a prescription drug seems to cause the problem, then talk to the doctor who prescribed it for you.
Talk with your doctor if you have any unusual behaviors that occur during sleep. Ask your doctor if the problem could be related to a chronic medical condition. Tell your doctor about any drugs or medicines that you take. If a prescription drug seems to cause the problem, then talk to the doctor who prescribed it for you.
Do I need to see a sleep specialist? If the parasomnia is caused by a drug or substance, then ask your doctor if you can stop taking the drug or substance. You do not need to see a sleep doctor if the parasomnia goes away after you stop taking the drug or substance. If the parasomnia is related to another medical condition, then a sleep specialist can help you. He or she is trained to properly treat the parasomnia. This will allow you to sleep as well as possible. The sleep doctor will also keep track of your treatment progress.
If the parasomnia is caused by a drug or substance, then ask your doctor if you can stop taking the drug or substance. You do not need to see a sleep doctor if the parasomnia goes away after you stop taking the drug or substance. If the parasomnia is related to another medical condition, then a sleep specialist can help you. He or she is trained to properly treat the parasomnia. This will allow you to sleep as well as possible. The sleep doctor will also keep track of your treatment progress.
What will the doctor need to know? The doctor needs a complete and honest history of all the drugs and substances that you take. He or she also needs to know your full medical history.
The doctor needs a complete and honest history of all the drugs and substances that you take. He or she also needs to know your full medical history.
Will I need to take any tests? If the problem ends after you stop taking a drug or substance, then no testing is required. If it persists with another medical problem, then an overnight sleep study may help you. A sleep study can help your doctor find the cause of the sleep disorder. Sometimes seizures can be mistaken for a parasomnia. In this case the doctor would prescribe the wrong medication for the sleep problem. A sleep study can prevent this from happening. It can help your doctor find the best medical treatment for your sleep problem.
If the problem ends after you stop taking a drug or substance, then no testing is required. If it persists with another medical problem, then an overnight sleep study may help you. A sleep study can help your doctor find the cause of the sleep disorder. Sometimes seizures can be mistaken for a parasomnia. In this case the doctor would prescribe the wrong medication for the sleep problem. A sleep study can prevent this from happening. It can help your doctor find the best medical treatment for your sleep problem.
How is it treated? Your doctor may change your prescription if your medication is the cause of your sleep problem. There may be an alternate medication that is better for you to use. If you abuse drugs or substances, then you may need to get help so you can quit. Groups such as Alcoholic’s Anonymous can help you. Treating the medical condition may help the sleep problem. This treatment depends on which medical condition you have. Some people have a parasomnia called RBD. It causes them to act out their dreams. This can be dangerous both for the patient and the people around them. Certain anti-depressant medications can decrease or eliminate dream sleep. They can help suppress RBD. Taking an anti-depressant for a sleep problem does not mean that you are depressed. By David A. Kristo, MD Updated on March 24, 2006
Your doctor may change your prescription if your medication is the cause of your sleep problem. There may be an alternate medication that is better for you to use.
If you abuse drugs or substances, then you may need to get help so you can quit. Groups such as Alcoholic’s Anonymous can help you.
Treating the medical condition may help the sleep problem. This treatment depends on which medical condition you have.
Some people have a parasomnia called RBD. It causes them to act out their dreams. This can be dangerous both for the patient and the people around them. Certain anti-depressant medications can decrease or eliminate dream sleep. They can help suppress RBD. Taking an anti-depressant for a sleep problem does not mean that you are depressed. By David A. Kristo, MD Updated on March 24, 2006
