[Tinaleigh]

I have bipolar disorder and serious sleep issues that come along with that. Frequenty (not every night) I have extremly frightening hallucinations of large bugs and millions of little ones flying and crawling in my room. It is as if I am paralyzed. I can't move or scream. Often something similar will happen in the morning as well except it is a little girl talking to me in a less than pleasant way. When I talked to my psychiatrist about it she said that it could have been caused by Lunesta or that it was a new sleep disorder she had been reading about that involved hypnagogic hallucinations in the morning and evening but also with loss of limb function. Has anyone heard of this? Has anyone had the same problem with Lunesta?

Any input helps.
Thanks,
TinaLeigh

[leahcim]

I am mildly bipolar and have horrible insomnia. I take ambien which I understand can cause hallucinations. But I have never experienced anything like you describe.

On the other hand, my mother has no bipolar issue but does have chronic insomnia. She also takes ambien and many times I have watched her conduct an entire understandable conversation with varuous people while in I would say a half dream state in which I can wake her by simply saying 'Mom" in just above a normal tone. Then she will tell me that she was talking to my father (who passed away years ago) or her own father or a friend and she felt like she was awake.

I hope this answers some part of your question.

[Kastles]

I have never heard of that sleep disorder before but I will be sure to ask my psych & my Dr.s & see if they have.
Like leahcim said I have been told I have done many not so strange & strange things while on my medications, remembered & not. I once got a call from my daughter asking me to babysit my grandkids, agreed got up drove over babysat drove home woke up & didn't even know that i had done it
I also have been diagnosed w/ bipolar, severe sleep disorder etc. & one of the meds I take is Ambien so it could very well be the lunesta.
Talk to your Dr.s about switching meds or verifying this new sleep disorder & finding a better solution for it!
We all react differently to meds so I would definately consider along w/your Drs. opinions on trying a different med.
Good thoughts for good sleep & health your way.

[Perna]

Narcolepsy

This disorder, often arising in adolescence, is characterized by excessive sleepiness, sleep attacks, and sudden episodes of muscular weakness (cataplexy). Muscular weakness, or paralysis, while falling asleep, or waking up, and vivid visual or auditory experiences while falling asleep (hypnagogic hallucinations), or awakening (hypnapompic hallucinations) are also features of the disorder. Sleepiness is often improved for 2-3 hours at a time by short naps, and nighttime sleep is often interrupted by 1-2 hour awakenings.

This disorder is often unrecognized, or misdiagnosed, resulting in delay of diagnosis. Recent research has identified the cause in classic forms of narcolepsy as being due to destruction of a group of cells within the brain that produce a neurotransmitter (hypocretin/orexin) that regulates wakefulness and sleep. Viral, and autoimmune mechanisms for cell damage have been postulated. Sleep testing is generally needed for diagnosis.

Treatment includes proper sleep habits, strategically timed naps, and medications. The latter includes medications that can reduce the tendency for cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations, as well as medications used to improve wakefulness. Xyrem is an effective agent for reducing cataplexy and helps to consolidate sleep at night. The medication can improve daytime wakefulness, though the mechanism of action has not been definitively determined. A combination of REM-suppressing medications (ie. protriptyline, Effexor, Prozac) and stimulants (Provigil, methylphenidate, methamphetamine) has also been used to improve symptoms.

From: http://www.sleepneverfeltsogood.com/...disorders.html