Earlier, I used to have dreams. Sometime during my depression I stopped having them. I started going to therapy and few months later I started having dreams again.
So if medication can affect the ability (?) to have dreams, can it also affect nature or tone of dreams?
Absolutely yes, meds can impact dreaming and the nature of dreams. I don’t know what meds you are on, but prazosin is a blood pressure drug that is given off label to help people with PTSD. It increases REM sleep, which is when your mind works through issues you’re dealing with, and prazosin basically helps people work through their trauma. In my experience, my REM sleep approximately doubled, and my dreams took on a much more positive spin. Instead of being powerless in my dreams, I became much more of an active participant, “hitting back” when appropriate. It’s a great drug!
Both the psychiatric medication and the mood fluctuations (in this case, from your depressive episode) can alter sleep and dreams. Also, if you’re AFAB, your monthly hormonal cycle can also alter your dreams, especially before menstruation.
I’ve heard anecdotal evidence that the anti-malaria medication the US military uses that cause people to have recurring nightmares. If you’re taking a medicine that is supposed to effect the brain I don’t see any reason why it couldn’t effect your dreams.
Many psychoactive substances can affect your dreams. Usually when I have fully “sober” dreams, they’re mundane and ordinary (in the dream, I’ll wake up and go to work and talk to my coworkers and then go home), and I generally wouldn’t remember too many details after I wake up. When I took SSRIs, I’d have wilder, more vivid dreams that I remember for years. When I smoke weed heavily, I’m unlikely to dream at all and will just kinda “time-travel” to waking up.
I used to take an antihistamine called loratadine before bed and it started giving me horrendous nightmares, so yes meds can definitely affect dreams. Doc moved me onto a nose spray called Avamys and they went away (and the spray was more affective anyway)
I used to take one that made me sleep eat, would wake up with syrup on my face and beard because I was eating french toast sticks
Medication can absolutely affect dreams. Flu shots give me weird dreams the first night. Benadryl suppresses my dreams, but the next night they are so intense.
Also, realize the time you wake up makes a difference - if you sleep and wake up naturally you may not remember that you dreamed, but that is very healthy. The dreams taper off as the “awaken” chemical increases.
Medication (and mother substances) can affect your ability to have dreams, and what they are about too. Depends a lot on the type of medication and your specific case (not everyone reacts the same to each medication), so YMMV. I’ve been in treatment for depression for over 20 years with different medications and therapy styles and definitely I saw significant differences.
Hell, even the anti-nicotine drug (Chantix) gave me wild dreams. It was like having a nightmare but not being scared, like I was watching a horror movie. Looked forward to going to sleep. Free movie!
My girlfriend said that her dreams got more vivid and serious once she started taking her meds
Yes. It makes you worst too. Ask anyone that’s actually on them.
