Many people experience hypnic jerks while falling asleep. It’s a twitching or jolting sensation. It may even wake you up from early stages of sleep.
In this video, learn why you might jolt awake when falling asleep and if it’s something to be concerned about, according to Preeti Parikh, MD, Executive Medical Director at GoodRx.
Preeti Parikh, MD is the Executive Medical Director at GoodRx and served as the Chief Medical Officer of HealthiNation.
References
Nemours TeensHealth. (n.d.). Why does my body jerk before I fall asleep?
Sathe, H., et al. (2015). Hypnic jerks possibly induced by escitalopram. Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice.
Summer, J. (2023). Hypnic jerks: Why you twitch when you sleep. Sleep Foundation.
Why trust our experts?
Written by:
Lauren Smith, MALauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Reviewed by:
Sanjai Sinha, MDSanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.
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