[Nittrobug]

I have been taking Amrix for probably close to a year now 60mg a night. I had to stop taking it because it was tearing my mouth up at night while using my VPAP machine to the point my toothpaste was literally setting my mouth on fire when I brushed my teeth. Yes I used all the products that help with dry mouth but none of them helped.
So about a week ago my Dr. and I discussed using something else, good idea? WRONG! I don't know for sure if it is the combonation of quitting the Amrix and starting this new med that is the reason for what is happening or the sheer fact that I quit taking the Amrix. I can not spell the other drug but it is a muscle relaxer and supposed to be close to the Amrix but not with the dry mouth side effect, it has something much worse if it is the new medication and not getting off the Amrix, or as I have stated the combo of both getting off one and on the other, but this is what is happening and I am stopping all today.
The last week has been sheer hell when I go to bed. It started with just small things, waking up hearing voices that kind of thing but the last two days have turned into something you only hear about on TV. day before yesterday I went to sleep as normal, took my bedtime meds about an hour before I laid down, then when the time came I went to bed, put on my headgear turned my machine on and drifted off to sleep. About 3 or 4am I felt like something was tugging at me trying to pull me out of bed, like something was trying to pull me out of my body like. I felt this and I let it happen! Whatever it was I was feeling pulled me (in my head) off the bed and pinned me to the floor, I could not speak I could not move!
I was so scared it was unreal!
If you know me you would not think this at all, I have spent 15 yrs in the military seen all kinds of horrific scenes, I am about 6' tall and 260 I am chubby but not fat and I have a voice that shakes the walls when I want to be heard, so for me to be so scared I was completely and udderly paralized with fear is, well Just not me! when I finally did get to the point I could yell I was screaming my wifes name in my head. When she woke me up, she said what had woke her up was my thrashing around and wimpering like a baby and yes she haerd me call to her also but in a meek quiet voice! How can that be I was screaming?! She also said my arms were covered with goose bumps and my skin was cold to the touch and that as soon as I awoke I was back to sleep again and slept the rest of the night with nothing happening again.
Now comes last night. Same routine different night, took pills went to bed and around 2am she woke me up again as I was thrashing about and wimpering and like crying she said, I don't remember what was happening this time but I do remember this, I woke up as scared as I have never been like the night before but this time when I opened my eyes and looked towars the end of my bed there was a grayish full figure sitting on the end of my bed and as I made eye contact, or I should say as I looked at this whatever it was sitting at the end of my bed it turned into a gray mist and disappeared and again my wife said I was back asleep within seconds of my experience.
Now I am going to tell those of you that are reading this I have not done anything to open any "doors" to the paranormal, I am very aware if that kind of thing and I am not a hunter of the paranormal in any way shape or form just to get that out of the way.
I am a christian man and God fearing man and this does not make any sense to me why this could be happening to me other than the fact I stopped using one drug and began using another.
I know some muscle relaxants do cause hallucinations but this is taking it to the extreme level in my book and i wouldn't wish this on anyone. If anyone else out there has had the same happen to them please let me know and if so how long can i expect this to go on after stopping completely with both medications, which I am doing today as I have stated.

[mrsD]

That is a huge dose...

Information here:

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/amrix-side-effects.html

The typical dose of cyclobenazprine is 15mg a day.

I believe you should have been tapered off this drug carefully.

I'd get another medical opinion if I were you.

[zygopetalum]

I agree with Mrs. D that you probably should have been tapered off the Amrix. If your Dr intended the new drug to compensate it sure isn't working. Be careful stopping the new drug abruptly too, not knowing what it is I don't know if that will be a problem but it could. I think you need to call the Dr right away, go to the ER, talk to a nurse, or something. I have no idea if it is a dangerous reaction but it is sure something you shouldn't have to put up with. I was once given too much codeine and hallucinated the monster from the 'Alien' movie.
Zygo

[Saffy]

Wow, I feel for you here. I was on Amitryptilline and they used to cause sleep,paralysis, where I was having very lucid dreams and trying to wake up .. Shouting out, but my voice only came out in a whisper. Very frightening. Needless to say I stopped taking them. Hope your doc can sort something out for you.

[Dr. Smith]

Sleep paralysis, lucid dreaming, and similar phenomena can be frightening, but in actuality are almost always harmless. I've had both for so long I now view them as, depending on the particulars, unsettling, nuisance, and sometimes even interesting. I've found it's helped immensely to read up on them to understand what's happening, that it is harmless, and what to do (if anything really needs to be done) - it usually passes within moments, though it may seem longer while it's happening!

Google: sleep paralysis
Google: lucid dreaming
Google: hypnagogia

IME, the lucid dreaming can be helpful since you're aware that it's only a dream, and as such, cannot harm you.

I get it - it scared me too at first. I'm just saying that over time it's something that can be gotten used to and dismissed, even though it can still be a nuisance. It's the fear itself that's really most unsettling.

Lucid dreaming.... I've even learned to have some fun with that - or at least try to.

Doc