What Causes Involuntary Body Tremors While Sleeping?

Posted on Tue, 28 Jul 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 28 Jul 2015 Answered on

Tue, 18 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have been taking tramadol 50mg as needed for IC pain. I have noticed lately that when im falling asleep my body jerks. Should this be a cause for concern regarding this medication?

Answered by Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Tramadol has affect on sleep

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Can you expand what is IC pain?

It is observed that Tramadol causes sleep disturbances in many. It does not help good sleep instead cause shallow drowsiness. It has a large effect on sleeping patterns and high doses may cause insomnia.

The body jerks may be because of these shallow sleep. This problem can be reversed once you stop taking Tramadol.

Hope this answers your query.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (14 minutes later)

I have interstitial cystitis. I was just concerned because i read that tramadol may cause seziures, and the jerking is mainly at night time, but i have noticed it a few times during the day, but not offen. Thats my main concern. I do not suffer from a seziure disorder. So you believe this isnt a sign of seziure?

Answered by Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Unlikely a seizure

Detailed Answer:
Only a few reported seizures with Tramadol.

The duration of those jerks are so short that it cannot be called a seizure. I would not be convinced about seizures at a low dose of 50mg. You can check with a Neurologist as well if you are too bothered about seizure.

Hope this answers, if you have pressing questions you may ask me else you may chose to close our discussion.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar