Locations
VCU Center for Sleep Medicine
Richmond, VA
About
Bio
I am the medical director for the sleep laboratory and the sleep medicine clinics at the VCU Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. I am trained in both adult and child neurology and I am board certified in both neurology and sleep medicine. I have had the pleasure of being on the clinical teaching faculty at VCU since 2001.
I was born in Canada but have lived in the United States since 1977. My undergraduate education and doctoral research in Biochemistry took place at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. I completed medical school in Indianapolis at the IU School of Medicine then moved to Charlottesville, VA for my internship in medicine followed by three years of an adult neurology residency. My final three years of pediatrics and child neurology fellowship training took place at the MCV Hospitals program in Richmond, VA.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Sleep Medicine
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
26 Answers
0 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
That depends ....: It is normal for babies to have 4-5 beats of provoked ankle clonus. Meaning, if you quickly stretch their heel cords you feel repetitive small jerks ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Increased arousals: The phone lights up with every text or email received potentially leading to increased awakenings and arousals. If it is on vibrate mode, that alone ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
In my opinion, no.: Estazolam or "prosom" is an fda approved hypnotic agent meaning it promotes sleep. It has a rather long half life so it is still likely to be having ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Sleep paralysis:: Occurs in rem-sleep when the output from the rem-on neurons, located within the pons, travels along a two-cell relay beginning in the locus ceruleus a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Needs sleep consult!: Insomnia has numerous causes, some easily addressed and others more complex. Know that for most people there are very effective solutions to both sho... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
More than likely yes: Wellbutrin has a very different set of characteristics and side effects when compared to effexor (venlafaxine). However, my first question would have... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
This is not uncommon: Sleep paralysis, or more correctly rem-sleep paralysis is a normal phenomenon. It occurs most commonly as people are just falling asleep or just waki... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Yes.: This is a normal phenomenon. The most common condition that can somewhat mimic this partial eye opening in sleep is bell's palsy. Unlike the normal ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Yes.: This is a commonly noted side effect. Typically is is transient. This side effect does not appear to be dangerous. Some patients describe a chang... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Phase delayed sleep: It would appear that you have fallen out of rhythm with your circadian system. This is very common in teens and college age people. There are severa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Yes.: Since guarana is also a source of caffeine the question really is does caffeine cause increased urination. Caffeine is a known diuretic - meaning i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
CBT-I can help: I cannot fully answer this question in 400 or fewer characters. What i can say is that the best long term improvements in sleep quality and later sle... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Too many answers !!!: Disturbed sleep in babies is incredibly common. This is clearly a question to address with your pediatrician or family practice doctor. It may simpl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Excessive sleepiness: Excessive sleepiness, es, is something all of us can experience if we are either acutely deprived of a significant amount of sleep or more commonly c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Sleep myoclonus: Small twitching or jerking of the limbs and body during sleep is a normal phenomenon. A larger jerk just as someone falls asleep is also quite normal... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Suggested only....: Actigraphy involves recording movements, large and small, of the limb on which the monitor is worn. Since rem sleep is usually devoid of or contains ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Same basic schedule: Just as you probably did before starting shift work, you likely had an hour or two of quieter time that prepared your body and mind for sleep. This m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Yes, but just one.: Alcohol is actually a reasonable sleep aid, if used sporadically. A small amount promotes some relaxation and at that time of day some sleepiness as ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Maybe yes, maybe no.: The full answer is complex and may require meeting with a sleep specialist. The short answer is that all drugs have adverse effects, some overt and o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Chosen well, it may.: You might not want the surgery though or you may not be an ideal candidate. The surgery with the highest rate of success is an mma procedure. This s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Yes, but .....: Estazolam or "prosom" is an fda approved hypnotic agent meaning it promotes sleep. It has a rather long half life so it is still likely to be having ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Yes.: This is a regulated or controlled substance, but it is available by prescription in australia.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Consider sleep apnea: Adults with unrecognized and untreated obstructive sleep apnea frequently have higher blood sugars overnight.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
Yes. Quite possible: This medication has probably the highest likelihood of of any commonly used mood stabilizer of promoting limb movements of sleep.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
I wouldn't recommend: Very little evidence exists supporting xyrem for pure insomnia. The potential side effects can be significant. It is only approved for use in narcol... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Leszczyszynanswered
29 years experience
You may be pregnant.: Your symptoms do not sound specific for any one medical disorder. There are some characteristics that fit better with a lung-based or respiratory con... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
41
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Leszczyszyn is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Leszczyszyn is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful!
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful!
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Awards
Associate Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics
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