What was this strange phenomenon?
February 10, 2012 1:40 PM Subscribe
Weird thing that happened last night as I was going to sleep.
Last night, as I was drifting off to sleep, I had an extremely bizarre experience. It's difficult to explain, but I'll do my best to be clear.
It started off as sort of a silent burst of static in my brain...meaning that I couldn't hear it with my ears, but I "knew" it was static. Underneath the static was a male voice sounding panicky saying something about "Andrew" needing help. He said some other things, but I don't really remember them. It didn't seem directed at me, like he didn't say my name or anything like that. The static stopped when I (with a great deal of effort) opened my eyes.
I fell asleep fine after about 10 minutes of WTF-ness.
So, Mefi, what was this? Relevant info: I am on Topamax for migraines, and recently started on Lamictal (9 days ago) for possible bipolar II/cyclothymia. I'm a 33-year-old female who has never had any sleep disturbances before.
Last night, as I was drifting off to sleep, I had an extremely bizarre experience. It's difficult to explain, but I'll do my best to be clear.
It started off as sort of a silent burst of static in my brain...meaning that I couldn't hear it with my ears, but I "knew" it was static. Underneath the static was a male voice sounding panicky saying something about "Andrew" needing help. He said some other things, but I don't really remember them. It didn't seem directed at me, like he didn't say my name or anything like that. The static stopped when I (with a great deal of effort) opened my eyes.
I fell asleep fine after about 10 minutes of WTF-ness.
So, Mefi, what was this? Relevant info: I am on Topamax for migraines, and recently started on Lamictal (9 days ago) for possible bipolar II/cyclothymia. I'm a 33-year-old female who has never had any sleep disturbances before.
Best answer: It sounds like a hypnagogic hallucination. Some cursory google searching says that hypnagogia may be a common side effect of Lamictal, although many people experience occasional bouts naturally.
(Sometimes I have an experience where, just as I'm starting to fall asleep, I hear a loud tone or banging sound, like someone is slamming a door. I've confirmed with people around me that "I'm just dreaming it.")
posted by muddgirl at 1:45 PM on February 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
(Sometimes I have an experience where, just as I'm starting to fall asleep, I hear a loud tone or banging sound, like someone is slamming a door. I've confirmed with people around me that "I'm just dreaming it.")
posted by muddgirl at 1:45 PM on February 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
It was just an auditory hallucination or you were actually half asleep and dreaming. Hypnagogia is the term. People often experience it in the form of sleep paralysis. I would tell your doctor.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 1:47 PM on February 10, 2012
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 1:47 PM on February 10, 2012
I'm on lamictal for anxiety and some weird shit has happened when I fall asleep/ wake up. Call the doctor; if he/she is not available, call the pharmacist to see if you should stop taking it. DO NOT stop taking it on your own.
posted by desjardins at 1:49 PM on February 10, 2012
posted by desjardins at 1:49 PM on February 10, 2012
27 year old male on no medications and with no (diagnosed) mental disorders. I've experienced hypnagogic hallucinations with some regularity for as long as I can remember. They're common, but I'd still mention it to your doctor since you're on a new med.
Personally, I've experienced hallucinations of the exact flavor you describe. Somebody yelling, not directed at me, sounding alarmed. Even knowing what's happening, it can be pretty alarming.
posted by cmoj at 1:49 PM on February 10, 2012
Personally, I've experienced hallucinations of the exact flavor you describe. Somebody yelling, not directed at me, sounding alarmed. Even knowing what's happening, it can be pretty alarming.
posted by cmoj at 1:49 PM on February 10, 2012
Response by poster: Gahh, I *knew* about hypnagogia and it didn't even occur to me! I just read up on Wikipedia and it sounds exactly right. Thanks, all!
For maximum irony, that crappy White Noise movie was on today while I was eating my lunch.
posted by altopower at 1:54 PM on February 10, 2012
For maximum irony, that crappy White Noise movie was on today while I was eating my lunch.
posted by altopower at 1:54 PM on February 10, 2012
I am 32 and female, and have also experienced auditory hallucinations upon falling asleep many times. Sometimes it's so loud it jolts me awake, but it's nothing to be concerned about.
posted by MsMartian at 1:55 PM on February 10, 2012
posted by MsMartian at 1:55 PM on February 10, 2012
I would have agreed that it's nothing to be concerned about, if you hadn't just gone on an anti-convulsant so recently - please do mention it to your doctor.
posted by muddgirl at 2:08 PM on February 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by muddgirl at 2:08 PM on February 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I agree that I need to tell the doctor, in terms of having it documented. However, I guess I'm not grokking what the major concern would be with this. The drug's working, this is a side effect I can live with. Is there something I'm missing (obviously there is)?
posted by altopower at 2:12 PM on February 10, 2012
posted by altopower at 2:12 PM on February 10, 2012
I don't know if there's a major concern, either, which is why I would talk to my doctor. It's probably normal.
posted by muddgirl at 2:16 PM on February 10, 2012
posted by muddgirl at 2:16 PM on February 10, 2012
It might or might not be normal and it might or might not be fixable -- I take Lamictal for my epilepsy and I've never had that particular side effect -- but it's certainly something you want to tell your doc. One of the joys of the current boom in neuropharmacology is that you often don't have to live with side effects if you don't want to.
posted by The Bellman at 3:08 PM on February 10, 2012
posted by The Bellman at 3:08 PM on February 10, 2012
Mention it to your doc, if only to hear your doc agree it's a normal side effect.
The doc might appreciate knowing you've experienced this, if only to be able to tell another patient who experienced the same thing "It's a common side effect that I've seen in other patients and it's nothing to worry about."
posted by erst at 3:53 PM on February 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
The doc might appreciate knowing you've experienced this, if only to be able to tell another patient who experienced the same thing "It's a common side effect that I've seen in other patients and it's nothing to worry about."
posted by erst at 3:53 PM on February 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Can I just say - thanks for asking this question. I've experienced all forms of hypnagogia but never knew there was a name for it.
I don't take Lamictal, but I do take topiramate....though I'm pretty sure I had the hypnagogia before that. I agree with the others - tell your doctor, but probably not a big deal unless it's occurring so frequently that it's disrupting your sleep.
posted by Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth at 5:14 PM on February 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I don't take Lamictal, but I do take topiramate....though I'm pretty sure I had the hypnagogia before that. I agree with the others - tell your doctor, but probably not a big deal unless it's occurring so frequently that it's disrupting your sleep.
posted by Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth at 5:14 PM on February 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I get this too. Usually it's my sister calling my name the way she would when I'd oversleep in High School. She lives in a different state, there's no way she's actually in my room.
posted by TooFewShoes at 6:47 PM on February 10, 2012
posted by TooFewShoes at 6:47 PM on February 10, 2012
Hypnagogic hallucinations are the worst. I get them when I try to sleep after drinking too much coffee. They are why I am on Metafilter right now instead of safely in bed.
posted by Scientist at 11:35 PM on February 10, 2012
posted by Scientist at 11:35 PM on February 10, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by griphus at 1:43 PM on February 10, 2012 [6 favorites]