hypnic jerk; hypnagogic jerk; sleep start; sleep twitch; night start

Etiology

• anxiety,
• caffeine
• stress
• strenuous activities in the evening
• irregular sleep schedules
• idiopathic (most common)

Clinical manifestations

• involuntary twitch which occurs just as a person is beginning to fall asleep
• often causing subject to awaken suddenly for a moment
• movement resembles startle response
• may be associated with a feeling of falling
• tachycardia
• tachypnea
• sweating

Differential diagnosis

• epileptic myoclonus
• periodic limb movement disorder

Management

• sleep hygiene

More general terms

• sleep disorder
• movement disorder