Parkinson's and Sleep Problems

Does Parkinson's cause sleep disturbances?
Sleep disturbances are not uncommon in Parkinson's. Patients with Parkinson's may experience difficulty falling sleep at the night time after going to bed or have multiple awakenings during the night with difficulty falling back to sleep again. Poor night time sleep not only causes excessive daytime sleepiness but also affects the day time functioning.

On the other hand if you have Parkinson's, a good night's sleep can help you better cope with your symptoms. Some patients may notice improvements of their symptoms for a period of time after waking.

What causes sleeping problems?

Besides Parkinson's, following conditions may cause sleep problems,

1. Sleep disorder (eg. Sleep apnea)
2. Depression
3. Excessive daytime sleepiness
4. Anxiety disorder
5. Overuse of caffeine or nicotine

Some of the medications

Selegiline, a medication used for Parkinson's may act as a stimulant and cause difficulty falling sleep if taken in the evening, so the last dose of this medication should be taken in early afternoon.

How can I determine the cause of my sleep problem?
In order to find the exact cause of your sleep problem, you may need to observe your sleeping routine closely. One thing you should pay close attention to is the time at which you fall asleep. Do you fall asleep while in company with other people, watching television, before or during your mid-day meal, riding in the car or when reading?

Another aspect of your sleep routine to note down is the quantity and quality of your sleep at night. This includes the time at which you go to bed and wake up in the morning, the duration of time it takes for you to fall sleep, and the amount of sleep you get, whether you take something in order to fall sleep and how many times you wake up during the night. In particular, note the number of times you wake up to urinate. Discuss this information with your physician so he/she can give you advice to help you.

Principles of sleep hygiene:

• Regulate the sleep wake cycle
• Go to bed and wake regularly at a fixed time even on the weekends
• Regulate the amount of sleep obtained each night
• Exercise daily and regularly but not in the late evening.
• Sleep in a quiet environment.
• Avoid alcohol
• Avoid caffeinated beverages in the evenings.
• Do something relaxing before the bedtime

One of the other factors that may help you sleep better is a healthy diet along with a healthy weight. Don't go to sleep hungry or after a full meal and don't take fluids before going to bed so that bathroom trips at night are avoided.

What sleeping strategies can I use?
Take a short nap daily in the afternoon but make sure this nap is not longer than an hour or else it may interfere with your night time sleep.

Make sure your bedroom is quiet and comfortable. Use your bed for sleeping and avoid reading while in bed. Use a firm mattress and a soft pillow as it can be adjusted easily. You should wear comfortable and loose clothing. Sleep on your side. You should consider sleeping on a separate bed if sharing a bed with your partner prevents you from getting a good night's sleep.

This information should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your physician.

Copyrights © 2008 World Parkinson's Program