Avoid MSG
★★★★★
Eliminate Benadryl for Hypnic Jerks
★★★★★
I was suffering from regular sleep-maintenance insomnia, and after a few days of using benadryl as a result I started getting these jerks, sometimes when falling asleep for the first time, sometimes all night long leaving no sleep at all. I stopped taking benadryl for a week to take it easy on my liver and I noticed the twitches were lessened. Then the other night I woke up with a bad runny nose and used benadryl to clear it up, well, I started having the twitches again really bad 20 minutes after taking it, I assume it had not been fully detoxed from my system yet.
If you try this please give it some time to work. I found I was still getting twitches after a week but their severity had lessened significantly (to the point where I could actually fall asleep). I still suffer from sleep maintenance insomnia but the twitches are getting less and less with absense of diphenhydramine.
(Texas)
06/24/2022
Holding Breath
★★★★★
Hypnic Jerk Remedies
(Las Vegas, Nevada)
03/25/2012
You could be having some adrenal fatigue which releases high levels of cortisol at night. This will often give you the jerking/twitching at night just as your about to fall asleep. It is often caused by high stress levels over a long period of time. Consider taking adaptogenic herbs, ashwaganda, rhodiola, or astragulus, they lower cortisol levels, check with your health care provider on this. Consider an even less invasive approach like EFT emotional freedom techniques or other energy healing modalites which reduces stress levels.
(Manila, Philippines)
07/14/2012
Hi Maria. I too have this hypnik jerks for several mos. Now. I read from a diff web site that someone just like you was prescribed of the same medicine and since then experienced jerks. He recommended mixing 1/2 teaspoon baking soda to a half glass of water and take it minutes before going to sleep. I tried it just tonight but it didnt work for me. I just thought that bec you too had the same cause for your jerks, it might work for you too. As for me, I'll try Steve's suggestion. I have hypothyroidism and they said that it can cause high cortisol. I'll try to take some adaptogens. Hope thiz works.
(Manila, Philippines)
07/21/2012
Hi Maria. I did what Steve suggested and after 1wk I was able t o sleep without experiencing any jerks. I chose to take ashwagandha. It was not an instant cure. But on my first few days of taking it I still wake up of the jerks but able to go back to sleep. I would also suggest that you have your thyroid checked. I have hypothyroidism and as a result of many yrs of not treating it I had magnesium deficiency, low ferritin and adrenal fatigue. Bec of this I started taking ferrous sulfate and lots of magnesium. The last I tried was an adaptogen called ashwagandha. I dont know if its a coincidence but this is also the first day that I change my thyro med from levothyroxine to natural thyroid called thyroid-s. Hope this helps you. Thanks also Steve. You dont know how much you have helped. May God bless you.
Hypnic Jerk Remedies
Hypnic Jerk Remedies
I would love to hear Ted's opinion on these hypnic jerks.
I have struggled with these for several years and they truly ruin my sleep completely. I know that alkalizing the body helps a lot. The things is, it always gets much much worse after I work out. The harder I work out the worse they get. It makes me wonder if the body cannot clear lactic acid, or wheter it's some kind of electrolyte imbalance.
I usually can keep these jerks under control by massive doses of Natural Calm magnesium. However, it gets really expensive and I usually must take doses so high that I get a loose stool the following day.
I am just about to try Ted's alkalizing baking soda/apple cider vinegar formula although I am not sure exactly what the best ratio would be for this.
I used to have perfect sleep and insomnia like once per year. A doctor once gave me a few pills of Xanax for minor anxiety attacks daytime (if I had known then about this poison... ) and after about 5 pills this nightmare began and has stayed with me for 8 years now....
Please, if possible, create this as a new topic as I know it will help many many people around the world.
Many thanks,
Maria
(Woodridge, Queensland, Australia)
01/20/2012
(San Francisco, Ca, Usa)
01/19/2012
Hi Maria, Have you tried a Magnesium Chloride or Epsom Salts bath before bedtime?
Or you might be able to get away with soaking your feet the way I do, as follows-
What I do when in a hurry to get to bed is put about 1/4 cup into a plastic dishpan, then stand in it as I shower, or if I'm already out of the shower I add a small amount of water (inch or so) to the pan with the Magnesium and stand in it as I brush my teeth before bed; I do not have hypnic jerk but I think it might be worth a try for you. Magnesium is the Great Relaxer..
OTOH something very like what you describe used to happen with me years ago, and it was actually a Bladder spasm. It was happening because I was "holding" urine too long and my body was desperately trying to clue me in. I hadn't even realized I was doing it... Just too much to do, and no time to stop.
I hope this helps,
Linda
(London, Uk)
01/24/2012
Hi Linda, thanks, I have tried magnesium chloride by Natural Calm. It truly helps but in order for it to help I need to take about 4-5 times the RDA. It's way to much for my stomach to tolerate too, although I prefer good sleep. I am just wondering if there is anybody who has found a permanent cure to these jerks/jolts.
Magnesium
★★★★★
Potassium
★★★★★
Potassium. Get it from coconut water, bananas, spuds (all varieties), some tomato juices, and most vegetables. Do not waste your time or money on potassium supplements, they are typically a very, very low dose, not to mention unnatural and potentially dangerous. Also your high dose of magnesium supplementation is hard on the digestive pipes and unbalances (or displaces) some other minerals. It's always best to supplement with food whenever possible (not talking about disgusting "energy" drinks). Ya gotta eat anyway, right? Discover which REAL foods are high in minerals (mostly fresh produce and carnivorous fare) and eat well. Sweet dreams.
