An unsettling introduction to my husband’s Parkinson’s night terrors

First came the screams, then the imaginary fistfights

Jamie Askari avatar

by Jamie Askari |

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I’ve never been much of a morning person. I’m usually pretty moody and cranky when I wake up early. Once our kids were old enough to sleep in on the weekends, I’d often enjoy an extended slumber under my own warm covers.

Ironically, I’m not much of a night person, either. I prefer to be in my pajamas by dinnertime and in bed before the 11 o’clock news begins.

My husband, Arman, was always the opposite of me in terms of our sleep schedules and preferences. He spent the first few years of our marriage finishing his medical residency and fellowship, so he didn’t sleep very often. On his nights off from the hospital, he’d usually moonlight at a different hospital to help us make ends meet.

After Arman was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease in 2009, his sleep patterns changed entirely. As I’ve discussed in many other columns, his body was overcome with fatigue, a battle that was nearly impossible to win.

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In addition to the severe exhaustion he was experiencing, strange things started happening at night while he was asleep, or supposed to be sleeping. About once or twice a month, out of the blue, he would SCREAM at the top of his lungs in the middle of the night. It wasn’t a quick scream, either. It was a blood-curdling, house-quaking, wake-up-the-neighbors kind of scream that lasted until I could shake him hard enough to awaken him.

The kids would come running down the hall to make sure we were still alive. Every time, I’d assure them that we were OK, and that it was Dad’s Parkinson’s screaming, not him. Then I’d tuck all three children back into bed and quietly lie awake next to Arman as I waited for the next scream.

While I wish screaming was the only outrageous thing to disturb our slumber, it wasn’t. He also seems to physically act out his dreams. (Actually, they seem more like nightmares.) I’ll be enjoying a cozy and restful sleep when, suddenly, Arman will fistfight the air above him. He’ll kick, punch, and practically fall off the bed in pursuit of the bad guys in his dreams. These action-filled nights don’t usually include screaming, which is a definite plus. (It’s a glass-half-full situation.)

In the six years since Arman underwent deep brain stimulation surgery, both the nighttime screaming and the fighting have significantly diminished. My hunch is that because of the deep brain stimulator, he’s taking less oral Parkinson’s medication, which allows his mind and body to have a more restful night’s sleep. Of course, I have nothing to prove my theory.

I have no real answers regarding why his Parkinson’s night terrors happen less frequently now, but I’m not complaining!

Do you or a loved one experience Parkinson’s night terrors or other peculiar symptoms? Please share in the comments below. 


Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.

Comments

Jeff Hill avatar

Jeff Hill

Yes, I am prone to shouting in my sleep several time a month. I also deliver serious lectures and training sessions in my sleep. My wife says it's hilarious. Fortunately I'm not very physical in my sleep (for now). I'm taking c/l orally and have not had DBS.

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Jamie Askari avatar

Jamie Askari

Hi Jeff, that is very funny, at leas she gets a good laugh and education! Thanks for reading!!

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Maureen avatar

Maureen

Go to the National Institutes of Health or Mayo Clinic and read up on REM Sleep Disorder. I too was screaming out in my sleep and falling out of bed. I was also having nighttime “visitors” that I recognized as hallucinations. Since I started taking clonazepam at bedtime all of my symptoms have stopped. Hope you find some peace and quiet.

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Jamie Askari avatar

Jamie Askari

Hi Maureen! That is wonderful that you found a solution! Thank you for the suggestions, I will investigate.

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Debbie Hill avatar

Debbie Hill

My husband has the night terrors too. It’s called REM Sleep Behavior Disorder. The terrors and acting out have been significantly reduced using a combination of Melatonin 10mg and Relaxium. He takes both every night.

Prior to discovering the Melatonin/Relaxium combination, my husband would scream and kick and hit me in his sleep. Once, I woke up to him on his knees in bed, punching me in my ribs. He is not normally a violent person and he would never engage in domestic violence. Also, my husband would sometimes throw himself out of bed and on one occasion, he dislocated his shoulder when he landed on the floor.

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Jamie Askari avatar

Jamie Askari

Hi Debbie! I am so glad that he has found a way to combat this issue. That must've been quite upsetting for you both. Thanks so much for reading!

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Barry Schenof avatar

Barry Schenof

REM Sleep. Behavior Disorder is a prodrome of Parkinson's disease and several other neurodegenerative conditions. After reporting my dream enactments a year and a half ago, I was diagnosed with probable Parkinsonism. A year later, the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease was made. For the past year and a half, I have bee take g 6 mg Melatonin about 15 minutes before bedtime and the yelling out and the arm and leg movements have been eliminated. I do not take Clonozepan and was not directed to do so by my neurologist. I understand it was once the first line of treatment for RBD and now melatonin may have taken its place, but your doctor will have to determine what is best for you.

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Jamie Askari avatar

Jamie Askari

Hi Barry! I am happy to hear that you have found a solution, what a relief!! Thanks for reading!

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Jane Rimmer avatar

Jane Rimmer

My husband has active dreams. Usually involving talking, kicking, punching. Once he dreamed he was fighting someone in a stairway and threw himself out of bed, cracking his head on a nightstand and requiring a trip to the emergency room. Once he grabbed my arm and I thought he was going to break it. I yelled at him to let me go. He did, and said that he dreamed he was collecting firewood and snapping it over his knee. I am lucky that my yelling awakened him. His neurologist, a specialist in Parkinson's, had me attend a visit for a discussion on protecting myself from his active dreams. 1) Do not touch him. He may think you're who he is fighting. 2) Get out of the bed, beyond his reach. 3) Call his name, and ask him questions that require logical thought. Not "What were you dreaming about?" That can keep them in the dream state. Ask their birthday, occupation, day of the week, etc
Some nights I take my book and go to the living room to read & hopefully get some sleep.

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Jamie Askari avatar

Jamie Askari

Hi Jane! It sounds like you have had a rough experience with these active dreams. Those are fantastic suggestions for all, I will use them next time! Thanks for reading!

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Alan MacKenzie avatar

Alan MacKenzie

Hi Jamie and other followers of this astute posting. I've experienced REM-SBD symptoms since I first noticed I suffered with sleep aponea back in 2008. I was later diagnosed with PD in 2019. I've been taking c/l since the neurologist announced I had it. And like Arman (bless his soul) I've been told I've preached sermons, screamed vile obscenities at someone (who knows who I was offending) at the top of my lungs, and flailed my arms and legs around as if slaying imaginary dragons in order to protect my loved ones. It happens so often these days that the family has gotten used to hearing me bellow in the middle of the night. My antics can wake the dead almost, and it has prompted my spouse to sleep in separate beds from me. I find this affliction extremely frustrating as I can't get it to diminish! Unlike Arman, I can't have DBS surgery. Wish I could. But I'm pleased to hear that it has helped him (and you) to sleep more sound at night these days. We need good doctors who understand PD and the more wretched parts of the symptoms experienced by PwP. Stay well Arman!!

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Jamie Askari avatar

Jamie Askari

Hi Alan! It sounds like you have had quite a battle (literally) with the night terrors. I am sorry that you have not been able to remedy it. I noted many suggestions in the comments that others have made which may be of help to you. I will pass along your sentiments, stay well too! Thanks for reading.

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Donald Firesmith avatar

Donald Firesmith

You're describing REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), which is one of the precursor symptoms of Parkinson's that often precede PD by months or even years. I have had it for several years and was diagnosed with mild PD only about a month ago. Scientific American had a great article on it about a year ago, and reading that article put me on a path to understand other precursor symptoms I had such as constipation. It is caused by the misfolding of the alpha-synuclein protein molecule, which is apparently what causes PD as well as Lewy Body Dementia and Multiple System Atrophy. Two standard treatments for RBD are melatonin (5mg seems to be the standard dose and helps, but I find that 10mg is more effective). Another standard treatment is clonazepam, but the last thing I want is to be on a benzodiazepine. I strongly recommend reading the Scientific American article.

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Jamie Askari avatar

Jamie Askari

Hi Donald! Thanks for the reading suggestion, very helpful to me and other readers as well. I appreciate you reading!

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Billy Dodson avatar

Billy Dodson

I have had Parkinson’s for about 20 years. I get those dreams, I called them adventure dreams. I take Melatonin to control them.

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Jamie Askari avatar

Jamie Askari

Hi Billy! Glad that you have found a remedy for the adventure dreams! Thanks for reading.

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Sandy Budzik avatar

Sandy Budzik

About 5 years ago, before Parkinson's was even on our radar, my husband would have violent dreams with physical running in bed and arm swings (he hit me in face with one) and even falling out of bed. Not one to ever see a Dr., I asked my GP what it could possibly indicate. He immediately predicted that within 5 years he would be diagnosed with PD. Now I realize it was REM sleep disorder, a precursor or early indicator of PD. In 2023, my husband was diagnosed with PD. Was there something we could have done for him then--should I have pressed doc to do something??? I'm not sure there was anything to do but I still wonder...

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Jamie Askari avatar

Jamie Askari

Hi Sandy! Thanks for sharing. So very interesting that the PD was predicted. I appreciate you reading!

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Suellyn MILLER-Wright avatar

Suellyn MILLER-Wright

Reading these comments on dealing with this PD behavior and noting what has helped has been very enlightening to me! Thanks

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Jamie Askari avatar

Jamie Askari

Hi Suellyn,
I am happy that reading the comments has helped you! I appreciate you reading my column!

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