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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by john1022 on November 8, 2003, at 12:43:50
The last three medications I have been on have all been giving me abnormal dreams and nightmares. I have also been waking up in the middle of the night with anxiety and not being able to fall back asleep.
This has happened on effexor, elavil and most recently/currently on lithium orotate. along with those side effects, they also seem to be making my depression, anxiety, some twitching of legs, ear ringing, pains in ears, sensitivity of hearing and everything else 100x's worse. They seem to be making my brain malfunction worse than it already is.
Is this something I should try to ride out with time and hope these side effects go away. Are the dreams/nightmares normal (I never have bad dreams when I am not on meds, maybe the last time was in highschool over 8 years ago that I can remeber). Now the bad dreams are one after the other every night. Is this side effect something I should be worried about. What is going on with me here? Any advice would be appreciated.
Posted by sarita0001 on November 8, 2003, at 13:38:13
In reply to Meds and nightmares/anxiety/abnormal dreaming, posted by john1022 on November 8, 2003, at 12:43:50
Hi John,
I recently stopped lithium carbonate and the weird dreams and sleep stuff stopped too. For several years, I would often wake up suddenly while, usually right before I went in to a deep sleep, while on lithium. Sometimes the dream that accomplanied that was a dream that I was falling or that something was coming at me and then I would wake up. Really weird! I always thought that was just me but I think it was the meds. I have only been off a month so i'll be looking to see if it happens again.
I recently started Prozac and have been having some funky dreams but I have only been med free for 3 weeks in 7 years, so I can't figure out what is me and what the meds are. I am pretty sure about the lithium and the sleep effects.
Hope this helps.
Sara
Posted by cookie0876 on November 8, 2003, at 14:55:55
In reply to Re: Meds and nightmares/anxiety/abnormal dreaming, posted by sarita0001 on November 8, 2003, at 13:38:13
Sometimes I have downright creepy dreams while on meds - lithium and zyprexa especially. Sometimes I am doing things in my dreams I would never do. The dreams really bother me, too. I have a lot more anxiety while on mood stabilizers, anti-seizure meds, and psychotropic meds. My doc says it could be just placebogenic. I only take Wellbutrin now (isn't it not the only anti-depressant of it's type to balance not just seratonin but also dopamine). I am doing very well on Wellbutrin and take an occassional Ativan when really stressed out or in a lot of discomfort.
Posted by john1022 on November 8, 2003, at 18:24:28
In reply to Re: Meds and nightmares/anxiety/abnormal dreaming, posted by sarita0001 on November 8, 2003, at 13:38:13
Thanks for the response Sara. I have also been waking up suddenly right after I fall asleep while on lithium. It is crazy how these meds can affect your brain and do the things they do. I have no doubt that these different meds are all giving me nightmares because they start every night when I start the meds and stop when I stop the meds. I only have nightmares and very vivid dreams when I am on them. glad to hear I am not alone. it sucks though because I used to enjoy my sleep so much and now it is not as fun. take care
Posted by john1022 on November 8, 2003, at 18:28:27
In reply to Re: Meds and nightmares/anxiety/abnormal dreaming, posted by cookie0876 on November 8, 2003, at 14:55:55
Thanks for replying also Cookie. I have been taking a little ativan as well for my sleep and anxiety, it definitely helps when nothing else really has. How is the Wellbutrin treating you? I think it actually works more on the dopamine and norepheredrine (sp?) from what I have read on here than serotonin. I hope it works out for you either way. well it looks like abnormal dreaming and lithium go hand in hand, glad to see I am not alone. best of luck!
Posted by spagirlnj on November 9, 2003, at 13:11:08
In reply to Re: Meds and nightmares/anxiety/abnormal dreaming, posted by john1022 on November 8, 2003, at 18:28:27
Hi there. on lexapro - mine aren't scary - but they are very vivid. and....i think the intensity is making me more tired in the morning. that is my main issue - i'm sick of being tired. i'm a high energy gal. and while lexapro has helped a lot over the last 3 months - i'm not liking this. i've heard the dream thing is with most SSRIs. don't know much about lithium.
good luck.
Posted by Edgefield on November 9, 2003, at 17:22:23
In reply to Meds and nightmares/anxiety/abnormal dreaming, posted by john1022 on November 8, 2003, at 12:43:50
My mother in law experienced daily nightmares while on Paxil. This was the only "side effect" that she experienced so after a couple of months she stopped taking Paxil. She is now doing wonderful!!!
Edgefield
> The last three medications I have been on have all been giving me abnormal dreams and nightmares. I have also been waking up in the middle of the night with anxiety and not being able to fall back asleep.
>
> This has happened on effexor, elavil and most recently/currently on lithium orotate. along with those side effects, they also seem to be making my depression, anxiety, some twitching of legs, ear ringing, pains in ears, sensitivity of hearing and everything else 100x's worse. They seem to be making my brain malfunction worse than it already is.
>
> Is this something I should try to ride out with time and hope these side effects go away. Are the dreams/nightmares normal (I never have bad dreams when I am not on meds, maybe the last time was in highschool over 8 years ago that I can remeber). Now the bad dreams are one after the other every night. Is this side effect something I should be worried about. What is going on with me here? Any advice would be appreciated.
This is the end of the thread.
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