Brain shock sensations when trying to fall asleep

[GuamBaybe]

I'm having this problem with my brain that right before I fall asleep I get this weird sensation in my brain that wakes me up again right when I'm falling asleep. The feeling I get is either a falling sensation (not the kind you dream of falling off a cliff or tripping over something then waking up), a "shock" to my brain or like my brain is preventing me from sleeping on purpose. I hope I'm describing it okay.... but it's very frustration because my body is SOOOOO tired but my brain will not let me sleep due to these brain twitches that prevent me from fully falling asleep. Has anyone else had this? If so, does anyone have any answers of what this is? or what i can get tested for or talk to my doctor about? I've gotten an MRI and an MRA done and everything was normal.... I use to have hypochondria before and I've been told by my doctor it MIGHT be due to anxiety but I don't like when doctors say "might be..." I would rather them tell me they don't know so I can ask another doctor...... please help someone!!! :(:(:(:(

[vic305]

Hi,

It is now 2016 and it seems people are still going through this. It's so sad that there's not yet a comprehensive answer. Well I am going through this for the past month and half and trying my best not to go crazy. Right when I'm slipping into sleep, I get a rush sensation to my brain that jolts me awake. The brain rush doesn't exactly feel like electric shock but rather a rush or pure anxiety that feels like a shock. It happens about 4 - 8 times at night before I give up on sleep for the next few hours. It also happens when in the day time when I'm trying to nap so I don't nap at all. Sometimes when I'm really sleepy at night, it seems to not happen and I fall right to sleep, but usually it happens.

At one point I realized that laying on my back on or my side (left or right) would help me fall asleep without the rush to my head, but it only worked for maybe 2-3 days before it stopped working. I remember feeling so happy like I had found a trick to fix this problem and feeling so sad when it stopped working.

I wonder if this anxiety-rush/shock when trying to fall asleep might be due to the meds I'm on and am trying to get off. I'm currently on Gabapentin 600 mg three times a day, as well as 60 mg Nifedipine in the morning. I was recently on Seroquel a few months ago for just two months before I thought it was the thing causing the anxiety attacks and stopped it but to my surprise the anxiety attacks continued so now I think it's the Gabapentin because Gabapentin has anxiety side effects. I also found out that Nifedipine may cause anxiety too. If so, that's so ****** up that I'm basically addicted to two medications that lists anxiety as side effects and I'm having very bad anxiety most days.

I highly suspect the Seroquel to have done something to my brain that is causing the Gabapentin to continuously do this to my body even after I stopped the Seroquel. I'm hoping that it will stop eventually but reading of other people's situation that it happened for years it greatly disheartening.

[Waqaavic]

When I sleep I feel brain zaps sensation in my head that keeps me awake . Started 2 weeks back . Doctor prescribe lexotanil for 4 days . I didn't take the med right away, some days I sleep like a baby without any med but some days when I feel the zap I take this lexotanil 3mg . It is an anti anxiety sleeping pill but as soon as I take it the zap goes away like magic and I sleep for like 7 to 8 hours . I am not taking em regularly just whenever I cant sleep . Heard electrolytes or fish oil works in this . But keeping yourself hydrated works the best I think k .. anyways if anyone wants to share any success story or wants to share this with me  do email me . Iam all ears as this experience can be terrifying and annoying . Heard these zaps go away eventually ..  

[sir2009]

I have a consistent sleep pattern usually 9-10 PM to 7 AM. It just happened recently like two weeks ago for about two days. I went to sleep at 9:30 PM and woke up at 2:00 AM. I could not go back to sleep at all because every time I would fall unconscious or into light dream mode (my dreams coming into affect) a jolt or electric sensation wakes me up followed by a weird surge of energy in my brain and throughout my body. It would happen all night long when I close my eyes to sleep. It went away two days later and I don't know how it went away. Now it came back three days ago and I'm still suffering from it. I got less than two hours of sleep last night. I went to the doctor and he recommended Melatonin and I took one pill (5 mg) and it did not help. Feels like the weird sensation overpowered the pill because I felt the pill taking over but the sensation would still find a way to wake me back up. Anybody can relate to this?

[cubix]

The brain shock feeling is called Brain Zaps. You have to accept them let them be there:) For me i had them for 3 months but i don't feelit that often since they are starting to fade away.:)

[tribefan064]

Yes Marikkan, I can't believe you said that, but that is EXACTLY what has been happening to me!! Like I'm going thru a doorway and hitting the top of my head. I am glad that I am not the only one experiencing this.....I thought I was going crazy! I have found that this sort of thing usually happens most often when I am extremely tired and in need of sleep, or if I have had a very busy day.

[Corey2013]

I get this every.single.night. and it's annoying. Sort of "scares" you awake?  It doesn't hurt but it can still be scary not knowing what's going on with your body. You're not alone in this