Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 11/5/2008

Question
I was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder but i have no health insurance and because of my inability to pay i was never treated for it nor have i ever been, so i am not medicated at all. My question to you is, is it normal for someone with bipolar disorder to be violent in their sleep? I have walked in my sleep and i often talk in my sleep, however if someone tries to disturb me i become violent, hitting, kicking and wailing all my limbs, and also screaming and yelling. I've been told that my eyes are wide open and i look possessed, I have no memory of these events, but i have noticed i get that way when my dreams are extremely intense, im a little scared i might end up hurting someone in my sleep. Is this common in bipolar and is their anyway I can treat myself until i can get medication?

Answer
Hi Melissa . . .

What you describe is not common in people with bipolar disorder. It sounds as if you might have something refereed to as REM sleep behavior disorder. It can only be properly disguised by spending a night at a sleep laboratory. The condition is usually treated with Klonopin or Mirapex being taken at bedtime. Here are some links that may be of interest:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/rem_sleep_behavior_disorder/article_em.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17925503?ordinalpos=12&itool=EntrezSystem2.PE...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16815751?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEn...

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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