Body twitching

The other night I was lying in bed and couldn't sleep again...I felt rather anxious but I had nothing to take. All of a sudden my body began twitching and jerking sporadically. Sometimes it was my arm or leg, other times my entire body would violently twitch. This continued for some time until in desperation I took 100mg of my daily sulpuride to calm me down. Since then I got myself some oxazepam to take when I'm anxious, and the twitches have stopped, but every now and again I still have a little twitch here and there, especially if I'm just lying down watching TV. I haven't been able to reach my doctor for a few days (I think he might be on holiday or something) but I did some internet research and it says the twitching could be caused by anxiety. It tends to happen at night when I'm trying to sleep, and not really in the day.
Does anyone have any more information on this? I recently went on Paxil but I take my dose in the morning so I don't see how it would cause twitching at night.

Hello, Lemongrab. Have you asked your psychiatrist about the twitching?

I will when I manage to get hold of him...he's not a psychiatrist, just a GP. I can't afford a psychiatrist as I have no medical aid and no job at the moment.

Hello Lemongrab,

One of the side effects of sulpiride is abnormal muscle movement. http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pa...e&preparation=

Please let your doctor know as it could be a side effect or indeed it could be an indication of a different physical issue.

Hey pegasus. I doubt it's the sulpuride as I have been taking it for a long time and the twitches also stopped after I took it that night...

Dear OP,

Sometimes it takes a while for side effects to occur.
Pegasus is correct to contact your primary care doctor.
These muscle spasms can become permanent!
If you are having muscle spasms, take the time to notice what kind they are by describing them.
For example, where they are, how long they last, are they short and quick or do they last for more than a few seconds. See the difference between a spasm and twitching. Some may be neurological / a pinched nerve / side effect to meds.
Take care of yourself
Happiedasiy

Asking if anxiety causes involuntary muscle contractions, perhaps. To have it definitively ruled in as anxiety, your medical team would,need to run tests, etc, to find answers.

A neurological exam, I'd personally prefer before saying oh it's just anxiety or just medicine side effect.

Hope your doctors get answers for this.


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There are a ton of possible reasons for the twitching, you really need to get to the doctor and possibly to a neurologist. It could be nothing (muscles spasm after physical activity for example), but it's best to get it looked at quickly in case it is something more serious. Early intervention if key to a lot of things.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I had another episode last night and it was quite scary. I am seeing my doctor tomorrow and hopefully we can get to the bottom of this.

Doc says it's a side effect of the Paxil. We have reduced my dose to 10mg a day and I am taking 1mg of slow release alprazolam a day until the anxiety eases off. I recently moved town so the stress of moving and changing climate and lifestyle has also played a role. Once I am done with my pack of Paxil we'll resume 20mg a day and see if the twitching resumes or if it was just a passing thing.

Risperidone did this to me.