Nocturnal Myoclonus

myoclonus /my·oc·lo·nus/ (mi-ok´lo-nus) shocklike contractions of a muscle or a group of muscles.myoclon´ic

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essential myoclonus  myoclonus of unknown etiology, involving one or more muscles and elicited by excitement or an attempt at voluntary movement.

intention myoclonus  that occurring when voluntary muscle movement is initiated.

nocturnal myoclonus  nonpathological myoclonic jerks occurring as a person is falling asleep or is asleep.

palatal myoclonus  rapid rhythmic, up-and-down movement of one or both sides of the palate, often with ipsilateral synchronous clonic movements of the face, tongue, pharynx, and diaphragm muscles.

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nocturnal myoclonus

n.

Frequently repeated muscular jerks at the moment of dropping off to sleep.

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Nocturnal myoclonus

A disorder in which the patient is awakened repeatedly during the night by cramps or twitches in the calf muscles. Nocturnal myoclonus is sometimes called periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD).

Mentioned in: Sleep Disorders

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nocturnal myoclonus,

a sleep disorder that usually affects older adults and is marked by thrashing or kicking movements. The condition may be exacerbated by the use of tricyclic depressants used to induce sleep.

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Restless Legs Syndrome

A condition defined as a distressing need or urge to move the legs (or arms)—akathisia—usually accompanied by an uncomfortable deep-seated sensation in the legs that is brought on by rest—sitting or lying down, relieved by moving or walking, and worse at night or in the evening. RLS may be accompanied by involuntary limb movements while the patient is asleep
Management For nightly symptoms, dopaminergics are the agents of first choice, opiates second choice; for pain, gabapentin, opiates, dopaminergics, then sedative-hypnotics

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nocturnal myoclonus

1 Restless legs, see there; a condition of periodic lower-leg movements during sleep with associated daytime sleepiness, or complaints of insomnia See Sleep disorder 2 Sleep-related myoclonus, see there