Jerking movements- Is this due to benzodiazepines??

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I had had this a few times over the past year.

November-December 2016 - whole body jerking occursnce when attempting to relax to go to sleep. I had this but I went away until January. Then it hopped again got a week or so.

Finished clonazepam completely in April 2017

End of May through beginning of June the jerky returned. It is more specifically a feeling of build tension in body that is release by the jerking.

WHAT Is this.?

Up all night  with tension then jerking.  Doctors don't know what it is..'psychiatrists. Primary care or neurologist.

 

Any suggestions 

[[ma...]]

Hello RC9

 

Sorry your experiencing jerking movements...the nerves to the muscles are hyper excitable and that causes all these strange symptoms. It will settle down with a bit more time.

 

This is from  The Ashton Manual. 

 

Muscle symptoms. Benzodiazepines are efficient muscle relaxants and are used clinically for spastic conditions ranging from spinal cord disease or injury to the excruciating muscle spasms of tetanus or rabies. It is therefore not surprising that their discontinuation after long-term use is associated with a rebound increase in muscle tension. This rebound accounts for many of the symptoms observed in benzodiazepine withdrawal. Muscle stiffness affecting the limbs, back, neck and jaw are commonly reported, and the constant muscle tension probably accounts for the muscle pains which have a similar distribution. Headaches are usually of the "tension headache" type, due to contraction of muscles at the back of the neck, scalp and forehead - often described as a "tight band around the head". Pain in the jaw and teeth is probably due to involuntary jaw clenching, which often occurs unconsciously during sleep.

 

At the same time, the nerves to the muscles are hyperexcitable, leading to tremor, tics, jerks, spasm and twitching, and jumping at the smallest stimulus. All this constant activity contributes to a feeling of fatigue and weakness ("jelly-legs"). In addition, the muscles, especially the small muscles of the eye, are not well co-ordinated, which may lead to blurred or double vision or even eyelid spasms (blepharospasm).

 

None of these symptoms is harmful, and they need not be a cause of worry once they are understood. The muscle pain and stiffness is actually little different from what is regarded as normal after an unaccustomed bout of exercise, and would be positively expected, even by a well-trained athlete, after running a marathon.

 

There are many measures that will alleviate these symptoms, such as muscle stretching exercises as taught in most gyms, moderate exercise, hot baths, massage and general relaxation exercises. Such measures may give only temporary relief at first, but if practised regularly can speed the recovery of normal muscle tone - which will eventually occur spontaneously.

 

Hang in there, it will get better

 

Magrita

 

[[Re...]]

That was incredibly helpful magrita, thank you for sharing!

[[Ma...]]

I have this too. It's my most persistent and pernicious physical symptom. I think it had to do with a healing CNS and anxiety. It sure is frustrating at night. Best to you--we will get better.