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Islandton, SC
A 23-year-old female asked:

Involuntary movements an issue? have invol. movements only when i try sleeping. lip puckering/ twitching. jaw moving. muscle twitch. face twitching.

3 doctor answers3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Laurence Badgley
General Practice 53 years experience
Unusual: A neurologist is needed for a problem of this complexity. A side effect of Ritalin (methylphenidate) is always a possibility.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Reid Blackwelder
Family Medicine 39 years experience
Unusual: Several things can cause muscle twitching. All of them need some attention if this problem is progressive or continues. It is common to have occasional twitching, but especially with so many different muscle groups around the face being involved, it would be good to know exactly what is going on. Blood chemicals, medications, tourette's syndrome, nerve problems are just some causes.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Linda Callaghan
Addiction Medicine 55 years experience
Could be normal.: Involuntary movements may occur during the dreaming phase of sleep. Some people may have difficulty getting to sleep because they worry a lot and when they finally fall asleep their muscles twitch which can cause them to wake up. It can also happen when you are very tired and yet you may have a hard time to relax and sleep. I wouldn't worry too much about this.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Reid Blackwelder
Family Medicine 39 years experience
I appreciate Dr Callaghan's additional information as such twitching at night with sleep is indeed common. However, if it continues, or worsens, it is a good idea to get checked out
Feb 3, 2014
Last updated Jun 7, 2018

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