Sleepwalking and prolonged partial sleep paralysis in a case of obstructive sleep apnea.
Sudheer Tale, Akash Kumar, Lokesh Kumar Saini, Soibam Pahel Meitei, Ravi Gupta
Sleep science (Sao Paulo, Brazil) 2021 DOI: 10.5935/1984-0063.20200053 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 42-year-old man with sleepwalking and sleep paralysis |
| Intervention | Clonazepam |
| Dose | 0.5 mg at bedtime |
| Keywords | Obstructive sleep apnea Parasomnias Sleep paralysis Sleepwalking Somnambulism |
| Key findings | Clonazepam 0.5 mg at bedtime improved sleepwalking and sleep paralysis symptoms in a patient with moderate OSA, even without CPAP adherence. |
Abstract
Observation of episodes of sleepwalking and prolonged partial sleep paralysis in the same patient is a rare condition. We present a case of 42 years gentleman who presented with recurrent episodes of sleepwalking and prolonged incomplete sleep paralysis. He was on tablet divalproate 1000mg/day and tablet olanzapine 5mg/day in view of a psychotic episode that occurred 4 years ago. Polysomnography suggested presence of moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with intrusion of alpha waves in sleep. Considering only one psychotic episode with no other risk factors, these medications were gradually tapered and discontinued. Symptoms improved after tablet clonazepam 0.5mg at bedtime even while he was not compliant to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).