Night starts are typically experienced just as you drift off, somewhere between wakefulness and sleep.
You may suddenly have a sensation that you are falling, then awake suddenly. You may also experience muscle contraction, called myoclonic twitch, which can pull you back to wakefulness from the lightest stages of sleep. These events may be called hypnic or hypnagogic jerks.
There is no clear cause for the events, and the occurrence is not fully understood. In general, they seldom recur after falling back to sleep.
Night starts are common. Still, if your night starts are especially severe, they can be distressing and frightening. It may be comforting to know that the condition generally requires no treatment.
Is It Something Else?
Other conditions with slightly different symptoms may also involve the legs and disrupt sleep. These include restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movements of sleep, nocturnal myoclonus, and nocturnal leg cramps. They may need further evaluation and treatment.
What Should I Do About My Night Starts?
As night starts are of a limited nature, they are not typically treated. They do not represent a serious medical problem.
Some experts suggest that avoiding caffeine may reduce night starts. Also, if the condition causes severe distress, your doctor may prescribe you diazepam (to be taken at bedtime).
Again, in a vast majority of cases, the condition is harmless and no treatment is necessary.
Source:
Sheon, R. “Nocturnal leg cramps, night starts, and nocturnal myoclonus.” UpToDate. Accessed November 2, 2009.
