Posted by blueberry on January 1, 2006, at 14:04:26
In reply to What happens while you sleep that makes you scared, posted by 4WD on December 31, 2005, at 22:28:53
I can relate. I had that problem with prozac. After much trial and error, thinking about it, and putting the clues together over months, I finally figured out what it was...norepinephrine activity during sleep. Prozac causes norepinephrine release, probably one reason it is so stimulating, but with its long half life it doesn't shut down at night. I would wake up in fear. Since then, I have discovered that the amino acids L-phenylalanine, dl-phenylalanine, and tyrosine all do the same thing to me. For me, it's norepinephrine causing the fear.
My doctor is testing my cortisol/DHEA levels too. It's a 4 sample saliva test over a day, not very expensive. If cortisol levels are fluctuating improperly, especially if they are not right when you wake up, it can cause you to wake up in fear. Unfortunatley, most people with mood problems and incomplete responses or bad responses to medications are known to have cortisol problems. I don't know why doctors hardly ever look at the adrenal connection with our mood disorders. It is intricately linked to everything going on. Easy to fix though once it is pinpointed.
Just some things to think about.
poster:blueberry
thread:593859
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051231/msgs/593977.html