Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

880
Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
880
CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines01:14

CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines

1.7K
CNS depressants include drugs from the category of barbiturates and benzodiazepines. They are valuable medications for managing anxiety disorders and insomnia. Barbiturates, once used to induce and maintain sleep, have been replaced mainly by benzodiazepines due to barbiturate's toxicity, tolerance, and overdose risks. They interact with GABAA receptors, leading to sedation at low doses and potentially coma and death at higher doses. Phenobarbital, a long-acting barbiturate, possesses...
1.7K
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects01:21

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects

1.1K
Skeletal muscle relaxants are widely used for muscle paralysis and relieving pain following any muscle injury or stiffness. However, depending on the drug type, they can have adverse effects that range from mild to severe. Usually, nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers have minimal side effects. For example, drugs like d-tubocurarine, cisatracurium, and rocuronium cause hypotension, whereas drugs like baclofen, when stopped abruptly, can lead to the recurrence of spastic conditions.
Unlike...
1.1K
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

2.5K
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
2.5K
Narcolepsy01:07

Narcolepsy

787
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.
787
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines01:19

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines

1.3K
Benzodiazepines have both sedative and hypnotic properties. They include compounds such as diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax). Structurally, their cores are similar, consisting of the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring, but they share a common mechanism of action in the central nervous system (CNS).
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. They bind to the GABAA receptor, increasing its affinity for GABA, which opens chloride...
1.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Effectiveness of WHO mhGAP-IG in identification and management of depression by primary level non-specialist health workers - protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial from India.

BMC public health·2026
Same author

Asynchronous Electronic Screening for Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among Veterans in Primary Care: A Cluster Randomized Quality Improvement Trial.

JAMA internal medicine·2026
Same author

Effectiveness of a training programme on frontline workers' skills and competencies in promoting safe and stable nurturing relationships: A quasi-experimental study from rural central India.

The Indian journal of medical research·2026
Same author

Understanding the value of virtual care technologies: development of a framework in the veterans health administration.

Frontiers in digital health·2026
Same author

Evaluating a community-based care package delivered by trained nurses to improve preconception and maternal-child health: protocol of a stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial.

BMJ public health·2026
Same author

Authors' Response, "Reply to the comments on Reporting guidelines for Case Reports In Mental health and Psychiatry (CRIMP)".

Indian journal of psychiatry·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture
09:06

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Published on: December 22, 2016

10.2K

Hypnic jerks possibly induced by escitalopram.

Harshal Sathe1, Sagar Karia1, Avinash Desousa1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice
|July 14, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Hypnic jerks, or sleep starts, are common involuntary muscle twitches during sleep onset. This case study highlights a potential link between escitalopram use and increased hypnic jerks, successfully managed with clonazepam.

Keywords:
Escitalopramhypnic jerksselective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

More Related Videos

Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale
07:35

Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale

Published on: July 8, 2025

1.8K
Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI
14:55

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI

Published on: April 18, 2011

14.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture
09:06

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Published on: December 22, 2016

10.2K
Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale
07:35

Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale

Published on: July 8, 2025

1.8K
Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI
14:55

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI

Published on: April 18, 2011

14.3K

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Hypnic jerks (sleep starts) are common, benign, involuntary muscle contractions occurring as individuals fall asleep.
  • Factors such as caffeine, stress, and fatigue can exacerbate hypnic jerk frequency.

Observation:

  • A female patient experienced an increase in hypnic jerks coinciding with the initiation of escitalopram treatment.
  • Escitalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly prescribed for depression and anxiety disorders.

Findings:

  • The patient's hypnic jerks were directly associated with escitalopram use.
  • Treatment with clonazepam effectively reduced the frequency and intensity of the hypnic jerks.

Implications:

  • This case suggests a potential adverse effect of SSRIs, specifically escitalopram, on sleep quality by increasing hypnic jerks.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the neurobiological mechanisms linking SSRIs and hypnic jerks.
  • Clonazepam may be a viable therapeutic option for managing SSRI-induced hypnic jerks.