Random sleep paralysis after starting Subs, what's the deal?

[xburtonchic]

I've never had issues with it before in my life, and then maybe a month after I started taking Suboxone I started getting it at least once a week. It stopped after a while and then only happened maybe once a month. But anyway I jumped off Subs recently (I'm on day 4), and this afternoon when I was taking a nap I had probably the scariest sleep paralysis episode I've ever had.

Like, it's hard to describe. I was sleeping, but I started to regain consciousness and felt what was like an electrical current through my entire body as well as a constant buzzing noise in my head. I always heard that you shouldn't freak out during an episode of SP and just kind of give into it, so I tried doing that... and then the electrical current in my body got WAY too intense. I couldn't handle it. So I tried bringing myself out of it again and just dealt with it until it stopped. Right after it stopped, I felt really tired, like to the point where I COULD NOT stay awake if I wanted to. Right when I closed my eyes, I felt the buzzing again and knew another SP episode was coming on, so I tried to wake myself up before it could take over completely. Didn't work. Each time I woke up, I changed positions several times (first on my back, then on my side) and each time I couldn't help but fall asleep, and each time the SP took over the SECOND I closed my eyes. Whenever I would open my eyes during it, I had double vision. I was completely conscious during every single one of these episodes (maybe four total) and could hear everything going on around me like my parents talking and what not. I heard something walk up to the side of the couch, but wasn't able to turn my head to see what it was. I just know it scared the crap out of me. The worst part is that I felt like I couldn't breathe. I know your muscles are more or less paralyzed during an episode, and the lungs are a muscle, so I assume that's what it was. But I seriously thought I was going to suffocate, because the last one lasted at least ten minutes. I also briefly wondered if I was having seizures (because of the weird electricity current and the buzzing in my head.)

Anyway, I had four of these episodes in total, until finally after the last ten minute one let up I forced myself to get off of the couch immediately so I wouldn't fall asleep again. I have no idea why this happened. Like I said, I never had ANY sort of SP episode before I started Suboxone. And the ones I'd had prior to this one were different; I was always asleep... I've never been fully conscious during an episode before. I'm wondering why my SP seems to have gotten worse lately? I mean, I'm off the Suboxone... so if that's what's causing it, shouldn't it have gone away by now?

Has anyone else had this problem after Suboxone or any other sort of drug use? I mean like, where you've never had SP before you started on a certain drug? And is there any way to prevent SP, because it is the single most frightening thing a person can experience, I think. Thanks!

 

[theseeker]

For me- opiates cause incredible sleep paralysis and the more I take, the worse it gets. This cicumstance limits my opiate intake considerably. Ever since I cut down my usage of opiates, this problem has gotten much better. I know how terrifying it is. I was constantly waking up feeling like I couldn't breath with my heart punding out of my chest. It's really hard to get a nights rest when that shit happens.

How big a jump off subs did you make? Like 1mg to nothing? How are you feeling during the day?

 

[Wolfmans_BrothEr]

I remember my last day of drug use I woke up with my first case of sleep paralysis and it was one of the scariest things to ever happen. It felt as if I was moving, but I wasn't...it took my a good 5 minutes before I had to like roll myself out of bed

I don't know what causes it or anything, but I remember coming across a thread dedicated to sleep paralysis a few weeks ago. I don't remember what forum and I cant find it, but maybe one of the mods can

If you want to avoid it just don't sleep, it's not like we NEED to sleep or anything

 

[xburtonchic]

I jumped off at .5... I've still heard of people going through hell at that dose, but I don't really get it. I was assuming the worst since my Vicodin withdrawals were absolute hell, I wanted to die, I was throwing chairs and screaming, I tried to get in my car and drive to skid row to find heroin... etc...

But the worst I feel from the SUb withdrawals is a little bit of lethargy and a weird feeling in my head. Like there's a balloon in there or butterflies or something, it's really hard to describe. Other than that... meh. I feel fine during the day. I was even able to go out Friday night. I hope I'm not being overconfident here, but meh... these withdrawals are nothing... I almost feel better now that I did on my last month or so of Sub.

Oh and I didn't have any SP last night, which was good. I did have one nightmare after another though, but that's kind of the norm for me. I woke up once or twice feeling anxious, but was able to go back to sleep. And I woke up at 4 am even though I usually wake up WAY later than that.