Recently, I had a dream of being pursued by a lion, and as I quickly attempted an escape, I jumped out of bed and slammed my ear and head on the adjacent night stand. The result was a bloody ear and a knot on my head. In another incident I dreamed I was fighting someone and "in reality" started punching my wife. I woke up to her screams and realized I was fighting her! These "acting out" dreams have been going on for a few years and usually involves thrashing and yelling, of which I have no memory off. As a result, my wife is very apprehensive sleeping in the same bed, and I often find her in our guest bedroom trying to escape my attacks. I have no problem sleeping and usually have no recollection of the events my wife describes to me. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions (aside from wearing a straight-jacket to bed) on preventing physically acting out my dreams?
Injuries from "acting out" dreams - Cure Parkinson's
Injuries from "acting out" dreams
This may interest you :
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...
Here is a relevant quote from this interesting human study :
' With melatonin, RBD symptom severity gradually improved over the first 4 weeks of treatment (Ikelos-RS: 6.1 vs. 2.5; CGI Severity: 5.7 vs. 3.2) and remained stably improved (mean follow-up 4.2 ± 3.1years; range: 0.6-21.7years). Initial response was slowed to up to 3 months with melatonin-suppressing (betablockers) or REM sleep spoiling co-medication (antidepressants) and failed with inadequately timed melatonin intake. When melatonin was discontinued after 6 months, symptoms remained stably improved (mean follow-up after discontinuation of 4.9 ± 2.5years; range: 0.6-9.2). When administered only 1-3 months, RBD symptoms gradually returned. Without any melatonin, RBD symptoms persisted and did not wear off over time. Clock-timed, low-dose, long-term melatonin treatment in patients with iRBD appears to be associated with the improvement of symptoms. The outlasting improvement over years questions a pure symptomatic effect. Clock-time dependency challenges existing prescription guidelines for melatonin. '
Art
At the very least you should have separate beds. Bolt_upright (Dave) has posted extensively on his successful efforts to improve his RBD.
Yes, we have separate Twin XL beds about 3 feet apart. And I keep our cat out of the bedroom at night now (since I tried to honk him like a horn on a steering wheel [he did make a sound, so I guess it kind of worked]).
Juliegrace is also correct: I have not fallen out of bed for at least 2 years. Any events I have are very mild and seem to be getting further apart. Maybe once a month now. I hope I don't jinx myself.
Magnesium taken at night can sometimes make your dreams more vivid. I have had success taking it earlier and it's helped a few others.
Do you have a bolster pillow laying around, put it in the middle or something similar.
Very common and persistent in REM sleep disorder, you need to work with your neurologist and or psychiatrist (they really are different specialties) quickly, and do not delay, do not discount or fail to take very seriously! If it doesn't scare you yet, it means you have not yet developed the appropriate level of respect for it, you had better get scared fast until your respect is up to speed, because you risk serious injury to you and your wife and there are all sorts of consequences that come from that, that can happen very quickly. Very important to quickly take seriously. I see you are or were a chemist so I expect you still have the capability of hearing what I just told you and taking professional level note.
I know how that feels. In my case it helps me a great deal to take 0.5 g of Clonasepan before going to bed. Hang in there buddy
Yeah...my wife and I went through this and now we sleep on separate twin beds.(still in the same room)I'm a big guy with a powerful punch so we had to do this.
hi Dean,
I am sorry to hear this. My Hwp has the same issue. He has fallen out of bed a few tomes, punched the head board, gone head first into the head board,, punches, & kicks - yes even me at times. We have tried a multitude of things. He takes Mg at night- more to help with restless legs- this seems to help with that. He has tried it in the AM but prefers the night. He takes Melatonin- has been up to 10-12 mg with both immediate & extended release. The dr offered Clonazepam which he says will stop the dreams but my husband is hesitant to start this - at least for right now. He has found luck with taking RSO ( Rick Simpson oil) - type of oral marijuana..at bed time. I will say as far as the dreams this has been a game changer! WAY less in terms of frequency & severity of dreams since starting this. Most nights he just talks in his sleep, once or twice and very little movement with the RSO on board. It has been tricky finding the right dosage & strain that works- some work better depending on the Terpine make up. I don’t know if this is an option for you/ depending on where you live. We live in New Jersey & it is legal here.
I wish you luck!
hi, I joined this community on behalf of my mum.
Can I just ask is the vivid dreams a result of the condition, or the medication (levodopa)
Many thanks
Rob
the condition
It is a condition that is associated with PD, sometimes a precursor. I am 15 years in and have never had it. I seldom dream at all. If you research it you will find it is not present in the majority of PWP. Not something to worry about unless she has already had issues with it.
I was yelling in my sleep and having vivid dreams. My neurologist prescribed Clonazepam and it works to stop the movements too. It made me super sleepy the first month but now is just relaxing before bed.
In addition to melatonin, which several other people have already recommended, I have found the following to be helpful in controlling violent RBD episodes:
1. Avoid alcohol.
Your mileage may vary, but this has been the most important change for me. I used to have RBD episodes all the time, some of them quite serious, and one resulting in a concussion. After a particularly bad incident that followed a football game at which I had a few too many beers, I read around and found studies indicating that alcohol consumption increases the likelihood of an RBD episode. After that I tracked it, and at least for me even a single glass of wine with dinner can trigger one. I have had very few episodes since I eliminated alcohol and no serious ones. The worst that happens now (knock wood) is just talking in my sleep and the occasional kick.
2. Avoid spicy food, especially at dinner.
3. Avoid overeating, especially at dinner.
4. Use a weighted blanket.
I'm kind of repeating, but the MOST IMPORTANT THING is the safety of your partner. If you have punched your wife already, now is the time to sleep separately.
The thing about taking a chance something bad will happen, is that sometimes something bad happens. Good luck.
Hi Bolt,
Recently I have been participating in boxing. Unfortunately for my wife my jabs and hooks are improving. Maybe separate beds is the answer.
Sorry to be that guy, but separate beds "are" the answer 
Or you could sleep on the floor.
Or restrained in a sleeping bag.
Twin beds work pretty well. I got these frames on Amazon. 18 Inch Twin XL No Box Spring Needed Tall Heavy Duty Metal Platform Bed Frame for Heavy People, Easy Assembly, Noise Free, Black amazon.com/gp/product/B0BRC...
And you need these too: Adjustable Non Slip Mattress Gaskets for Bed Frame or Box Spring, Heavy Duty & Wide Applicability Mattress Retainer Bar, Mattress Holder in Place Gripper, Keep Mattress from Sliding Gripper (6 Pcs) amazon.com/gp/product/B0B28...
We have had them for 10 months and they are holding up well so far.
We were lucky that our king was already made of two twin XLs. We did that so they were easier to move if I need to move the bed.
We bought twin xl motion beds from Costco - it was the best price I found, and you can return them if they don't work for you.
Vitamin B1!! A while back my husband was forgetting to take it and when he had a couple of nights with nightmares and thrashing around in his sleep, I checked with him to see if he was taking the B1. So he started again and from that very night, slept like a baby.
And as hmm777 says, avoid alcohol (as this depletes the brain of B1)
All the best!
Thanks Jennyjenny2. I'll give it a shot.
I hope that something as simple as B1 HCL can help you. If you’re not already taking it, it might take a little while to build up in your body for results.
Good luck!
RBDs were one of my PD husband’s first symptoms prior to diagnosis. We put pillows between us on a King bed but the night he turned into a panther and was on all 4’s growling and lashing out at me with tremendous force was the capper for me. I had to jump out of bed and yell at him since touching him would only make it worse. He began low dose Clonazepam which immediately stopped the RBD. Melatonin helped the sleep but not the RBD. Lorazepam and Mg did not help. We still use a pillow wall for mild arm thrashing which is worse when he has more pain or is under stress.
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