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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fionam on February 13, 2005, at 2:53:32
I have looked for a thread on dreams (though probably in the wrong places!) but couldn't see one.
Wondered if anyone else diagnosed with clinical depression has similar experience of bad dreams. I have been taking Lexapro (15mg) for about 14 months and the depression seems to be returning. On top of that - or possibly the cause/result of that - I'm having at least one bad dream every night (I counted 5 in one night last week). This began about a month to six weeks ago. Jumbled images, recurring feelings of anxiety, fear. Sometimes quite nasty. I wake up feeling exhausted and depressed and cannot shake the dream/s from my head all day.
My therapist has asked me to write the dreams down, but after a while I just gave up as there were too many and I found it made me more depressed.
Dread going to sleep now because of the dreams. The tiredness in the mornings is interfering with my life and makes getting up for work a big problem. Read an article recently on the internet on the connection between depression - bad dreams - mental exhaustion.
Has anyone tried anything that worked to ease the dreams? Is such a thing possible? Have just started self-hypnosis/relaxation to try and stop the dreams. Anyone done anything similar?
Thanks.
Posted by Sebastian on February 13, 2005, at 9:03:07
In reply to bad dreams, posted by fionam on February 13, 2005, at 2:53:32
A sedating anti-psychotic works for me. I take geodon and zyprexa. Take one 1-2 hours before bed, especialy zyprexa, and you will have an excelent sleep.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on February 13, 2005, at 12:35:46
In reply to Re: bad dreams, posted by Sebastian on February 13, 2005, at 9:03:07
I like Ambien. I sleep soundly and rarely even remember any dreams.
Best,
EE
Posted by HappyGirl on February 13, 2005, at 13:22:25
In reply to bad dreams, posted by fionam on February 13, 2005, at 2:53:32
Hi:
I had several 'bad' dreams when I started a VERY first psycho.-med., the Depakote for my Bp II. They were all very 'scary' dreams, as if I was trapped in the very corner of the building and someone chasing and trying to grab my neck. I often ended up 'screaming' and made quite 'frightening sounds' all corners in the room where I was sleeping. I totally attributed this, bad dreams to the Depakote.Afterwards, I had some 'bad dreams' on my initial dosage of the Trazodone, however it went away with time as my system started to adjust this med. Now, after all this experience, the Trazodone is one of my 'most' favorite meds. next to the Zyprexa. The Zyprexa is also a 'life-saver' due to my dx with Bp II, however in the beginng, it caused me to 'hang-over' next day, even a small dosage, the 2.5 mg. Then, I truly hesitate to suggest you to take one UNLESS all 'sleeping-aids' are exhausted.
In my guess through my personal experience, ... 'terrible/bad dreams' are somehow related to your 'unstable' chemicals in the brain, ... or your brain-chemicals are still adjusting 'foreign substances/psycho.-meds.' In my case, the 'bad dreams' started less and less as my Bp has been stabilized. However, I have no concrete evidence and proof to claim this theory. Just through my 'personal' experience over the years.
H.G.
Posted by fionam on February 13, 2005, at 22:25:04
In reply to Re: bad dreams, posted by Sebastian on February 13, 2005, at 9:03:07
Thanks for this - I'll look into it. Wary of taking more medication, though; are there any side effects to the ambien and the geodon? If the dreams keep up, I might give them a try.
Cheers.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on February 15, 2005, at 7:48:06
In reply to Re: bad dreams, posted by fionam on February 13, 2005, at 22:25:04
> Thanks for this - I'll look into it. Wary of taking more medication, though; are there any side effects to the ambien and the geodon? If the dreams keep up, I might give them a try.
> Cheers.
I think that some people feel a hang-over type effect w/ Ambien, but I didn't experience that.Good luck!
EE
Posted by AMY II on February 19, 2005, at 21:46:54
In reply to bad dreams, posted by fionam on February 13, 2005, at 2:53:32
> I have looked for a thread on dreams (though probably in the wrong places!) but couldn't see one.
> Wondered if anyone else diagnosed with clinical depression has similar experience of bad dreams. I have been taking Lexapro (15mg) for about 14 months and the depression seems to be returning. On top of that - or possibly the cause/result of that - I'm having at least one bad dream every night (I counted 5 in one night last week). This began about a month to six weeks ago. Jumbled images, recurring feelings of anxiety, fear. Sometimes quite nasty. I wake up feeling exhausted and depressed and cannot shake the dream/s from my head all day.
> My therapist has asked me to write the dreams down, but after a while I just gave up as there were too many and I found it made me more depressed.
> Dread going to sleep now because of the dreams. The tiredness in the mornings is interfering with my life and makes getting up for work a big problem. Read an article recently on the internet on the connection between depression - bad dreams - mental exhaustion.
> Has anyone tried anything that worked to ease the dreams? Is such a thing possible? Have just started self-hypnosis/relaxation to try and stop the dreams. Anyone done anything similar?
> Thanks.
Hey there,I can tell you that I have weird nightmares and I have an acute anxiety disorder. If I take zanex before I go to bed, it seems to make my dreams normal. Sometimes I won't dream at all. But I know what you mean by exhausted and can't shake the thoughts. I hate it and it sucks. Your not alone. Hope this helps.
Posted by fionam on February 20, 2005, at 6:56:44
In reply to Re: bad dreams, posted by AMY II on February 19, 2005, at 21:46:54
Thanks, Amy. Glad to hear the zanex helps. Side effects? Might investigate. My therapist has just suggested increasing the Lex; so far experiencing deeper drowsiness and desperation to get back into bed throughout the day. Wondering how I can continue working f/t and studying at this rate.
Found out, by research on the intranet, that Lex can cause significant weight gain (I have gained c.10kg, though I don't exercise enough, admittedly). Very angry about this as, for three years, I fought going back onto antidepressants precisely because of past experience of weight gain, only to be told by the psychiatrist that Lexapro does not cause weight gain. So I went ahead and took it. It does help with the depression, though but if I can't lose the weight, it will all be counterproductive. Considerably annoyed; guess I shouldn't be so ready to trust health professionals! Has anyone else had weight gain and (fingers crossed here...) success at weight LOSS with Lexapro?
At least the bad dreams appear to have abated a little. Still dreaming, but not as horrible.
> > I have looked for a thread on dreams (though probably in the wrong places!) but couldn't see one.
> > Wondered if anyone else diagnosed with clinical depression has similar experience of bad dreams. I have been taking Lexapro (15mg) for about 14 months and the depression seems to be returning. On top of that - or possibly the cause/result of that - I'm having at least one bad dream every night (I counted 5 in one night last week). This began about a month to six weeks ago. Jumbled images, recurring feelings of anxiety, fear. Sometimes quite nasty. I wake up feeling exhausted and depressed and cannot shake the dream/s from my head all day.
> > My therapist has asked me to write the dreams down, but after a while I just gave up as there were too many and I found it made me more depressed.
> > Dread going to sleep now because of the dreams. The tiredness in the mornings is interfering with my life and makes getting up for work a big problem. Read an article recently on the internet on the connection between depression - bad dreams - mental exhaustion.
> > Has anyone tried anything that worked to ease the dreams? Is such a thing possible? Have just started self-hypnosis/relaxation to try and stop the dreams. Anyone done anything similar?
> > Thanks.
>
>
> Hey there,
>
> I can tell you that I have weird nightmares and I have an acute anxiety disorder. If I take zanex before I go to bed, it seems to make my dreams normal. Sometimes I won't dream at all. But I know what you mean by exhausted and can't shake the thoughts. I hate it and it sucks. Your not alone. Hope this helps.
>
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