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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TomV on September 7, 2000, at 15:08:27
I have read about drugs that suppress dreaming on this board before, namely MAOIs. My question is, are there any others? I dream constantly and it really keeps me from getting a good nights sleep. And no, my dreams are not a reaction to any meds I'm taking (they are the byproduct of the work I've done in therapy). I dream regardless if I take meds or not.
Any ideas?
Posted by AndrewB on September 7, 2000, at 15:22:37
In reply to Drugs that suppress dreaming?, posted by TomV on September 7, 2000, at 15:08:27
I think it might help to define your problem a little more clearly first.
You can do this by having a sleep study done on you. Such a study would delineate the types of sleep you are having. If abnormalities show up, you can then target drugs that may correct thse abnormalities. BTW, the problem may be with the type and qualtiy of your sleep and the dreaming is just a byproduct of this. Also, do you have any problems with anxiety or a head filled with too many thoughts.
Best wishes,
AndrewB
Posted by stjames on September 7, 2000, at 16:12:24
In reply to Re: Drugs that suppress dreaming?, posted by AndrewB on September 7, 2000, at 15:22:37
Also you must dream at night or you will go
off the deep end after a few nights. REM sleep
is the most important stage of sleep, generally.james
Posted by Cindy W on September 8, 2000, at 0:32:29
In reply to Drugs that suppress dreaming?, posted by TomV on September 7, 2000, at 15:08:27
> I have read about drugs that suppress dreaming on this board before, namely MAOIs. My question is, are there any others? I dream constantly and it really keeps me from getting a good nights sleep. And no, my dreams are not a reaction to any meds I'm taking (they are the byproduct of the work I've done in therapy). I dream regardless if I take meds or not.
>
> Any ideas?Tom V., I think Effexor-XR suppresses REM sleep...I usually have very vivid, complex, interesting, lucid dreams...however, on Effexor-XR, I feel tired in the morning and notice that I hardly ever recall any dreams. Serzone, however, allowed me to enjoy the dreams (I like sleeping and dreaming!). James is right that you will go nuts if you don't dream (I'm getting there!!!).
Posted by Rick on September 11, 2000, at 3:00:10
In reply to Re: Drugs that suppress dreaming?, posted by Cindy W on September 8, 2000, at 0:32:29
Nardil definitely killed my dreaming, and that was the one side effect I really welcomed! My dreams tend to be annoying. I can't recall for sure, but I DON'T think the MAOI-B inhibitor selegiline (which I took at low, no-food-restriction doses) had the same effect. I know nothing else has kept the dreams at bay, althogh I don't have as many truly troubling dreams now as I did pre-meds (I'm now taking Klonopin, Serzone, and Provigil).
However, I recall reading that Nardil does NOT suppress dreaming. Instead, it keeps you from remembering them. I don't recall the source for this information, so I can't vouch for it. But it would seem to make sense.
Rick
Posted by stjames on September 11, 2000, at 4:36:03
In reply to Re: Drugs that suppress dreaming?, posted by Rick on September 11, 2000, at 3:00:10
> Nardil definitely killed my dreaming, and that was the one side effect I really welcomed! My dreams tend to be annoying. I can't recall for sure, but I DON'T think the MAOI-B inhibitor selegiline (which I took at low, no-food-restriction doses) had the same effect. I know nothing else has kept the dreams at bay, althogh I don't have as many truly troubling dreams now as I did pre-meds (I'm now taking Klonopin, Serzone, and Provigil).
>
> However, I recall reading that Nardil does NOT suppress dreaming. Instead, it keeps you from remembering them. I don't recall the source for this information, so I can't vouch for it. But it would seem to make sense.
>
> RickJames here....
Again, It is well reported that if you don't dream
you go psychotic. Any freshman pysco 101 book tells us this. Well documented.
Remembering dreams is, of course, what you are talking about.
That is a different issue. Some meds supress this. i have done
some training to be able to remember them. I find this info usefull.
Some meds do change the amount of time spent in REM sleep or mess with
sleep architecture. Sleep studies show that REM is what the body needs most
of all stages. In tests where REM in not allowed for a few nights, people will
fall asleep and go right to REM.
james
Posted by kazoo on September 13, 2000, at 23:48:34
In reply to Drugs that suppress dreaming?, posted by TomV on September 7, 2000, at 15:08:27
> I have read about drugs that suppress dreaming.../snip/
^^^^^^^^^^^^Yes, there is a drug that does this. It's an antihistamine of some kind ... I remember
taking this drug when I was plagued with horrible dreams.I'll get the name of it and do a follow-up to this message. I apologize for not remembering
the name, but it's been some time ago, when I was considered treatable.Greetz to TomV
kazoo
Posted by TomV on September 14, 2000, at 13:43:31
In reply to Re: Drugs that suppress dreaming?, posted by kazoo on September 13, 2000, at 23:48:34
> > I have read about drugs that suppress dreaming.../snip/
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Yes, there is a drug that does this. It's an antihistamine of some kind ... I remember
> taking this drug when I was plagued with horrible dreams.
>
> I'll get the name of it and do a follow-up to this message. I apologize for not remembering
> the name, but it's been some time ago, when I was considered treatable.
>
> Greetz to TomV
>
> kazooWould greatly appreciate if you could locate that name...Thanks for the greeting.
TomV
Posted by kazoo on November 29, 2000, at 1:50:36
In reply to Re: Drugs that suppress dreaming? » kazoo, posted by TomV on September 14, 2000, at 13:43:31
> > > I have read about drugs that suppress dreaming.../snip/
> > ^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >
> > Yes, there is a drug that does this. It's an antihistamine of some kind ... I remember
> > taking this drug when I was plagued with horrible dreams.
> >
> > I'll get the name of it and do a follow-up to this message. I apologize for not remembering
> > the name, but it's been some time ago, when I was considered treatable.
> >
> > Greetz to TomV
> >
> > kazoo
>
> Would greatly appreciate if you could locate that name...Thanks for the greeting.
>
> TomV^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(date of the original post: 9/14/2000)
Greetz to TomV
Sorry for the long delay.
The (generic) name of the drug is CYPROHEPTADINE, 4 mg tablets.
For info: http://onhealth.webmd.com/conditions/resource/pharmacy/multum0/item%2C68774.asp
Since this is an antihistamine, expect all the side effects from this genre of chemical.
Did it work? Yes, but I couldn't deal with the morning-after sluggishness, so I discontinued using it.
kazoo
Posted by Noa on November 29, 2000, at 11:36:26
In reply to Re: Drugs that suppress dreaming? » TomV, posted by kazoo on November 29, 2000, at 1:50:36
> The (generic) name of the drug is CYPROHEPTADINE, 4 mg tablets.Is this the same as Periactin?
Periactin has been used to suppress nightmares, including use with combat veterans with PTSD.
It is also sometimes used to counter the sexual side effects of SSRIs, but the only problem is timing it so you don't fall asleep too fast.
I think if the sleepiness lingers in the morning, I have heard that people just cut the dose.
Posted by kazoo on November 30, 2000, at 0:32:10
In reply to Re: Drugs that suppress dreaming?, posted by Noa on November 29, 2000, at 11:36:26
>
> > The (generic) name of the drug is CYPROHEPTADINE, 4 mg tablets.
>
> Is this the same as Periactin?
>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yes, it is.
This is why I provided the link.
Thanks for your info not found at the link.
kazoo
Posted by Noa on November 30, 2000, at 7:11:34
In reply to Re: Drugs that suppress dreaming?, posted by kazoo on November 30, 2000, at 0:32:10
Thanks, Kazoo.
Posted by TomV on November 30, 2000, at 13:53:32
In reply to Re: Drugs that suppress dreaming? » TomV, posted by kazoo on November 29, 2000, at 1:50:36
>Thanks. Will talk to Pdoc about this.
Posted by Jim on December 2, 2000, at 21:32:46
In reply to Re: Drugs that suppress dreaming?, posted by Cindy W on September 8, 2000, at 0:32:29
> > I have read about drugs that suppress dreaming on this board before, namely MAOIs. My question is, are there any others? I dream constantly and it really keeps me from getting a good nights sleep. And no, my dreams are not a reaction to any meds I'm taking (they are the byproduct of the work I've done in therapy). I dream regardless if I take meds or not.
> >
> > Any ideas?
>
> Tom V., I think Effexor-XR suppresses REM sleep...I usually have very vivid, complex, interesting, lucid dreams...however, on Effexor-XR, I feel tired in the morning and notice that I hardly ever recall any dreams. Serzone, however, allowed me to enjoy the dreams (I like sleeping and dreaming!). James is right that you will go nuts if you don't dream (I'm getting there!!!).The problem is that most people with depression
spend way too much time in their REM stage. It's
like you are stuck there, can't get past it,
and wake up feeling groggy, with all of these immediate
feelings from the dreams.I have found the benzo's helpful in this regard
when taken with an antidepressant. Most antihistamines
also seem to work, but a couple have been studied
and used widely. I am currently on my first week of
low dose Celexa, and am working hard at fixing my
sleep schedule. I use Doxepin (in small dose..10mg)
at bedtime, but still need more time to wait for the
Celexa to kick in. I'd really like to find a med to
knock out REM or minimize it for a few nights,
as it really seems to be a great feeling waking up
without those feelings attatched to the dreams.
I have to wait for a few weeks to see my pdoc, though.
Any REALLY effective OTC meds anyone can suggest?Just a quick note about Celexa: In lower doses, in particular between
5 and 10mg, I find it almost completely lacks the
'aggitating' effects of most of the other SSRI's.
I DO notice a bit of 'apathy' again (was same with
all other SSRI's), and this has me a bit worried.
But, one step at a time.
Posted by jay samson on December 9, 2000, at 13:35:10
In reply to Re: Drugs that suppress dreaming?, posted by Noa on November 30, 2000, at 7:11:34
Some reports suggest that guanfacine (Tenex) can suppress PTSD dreams - don't know about other kind of dreams.
Posted by Elizabeth on December 30, 2000, at 23:49:44
In reply to Guanfacine can suppress PTSD related dreams, posted by jay samson on December 9, 2000, at 13:35:10
> Some reports suggest that guanfacine (Tenex) can suppress PTSD dreams - don't know about other kind of dreams.
Yes. I've heard of clonidine (similar drug) being used this way too. Also I know somebody who says Depakote took away her posttraumatic dreams.
SSRIs (and Effexor) decrease the amount of time spent in REM sleep, but they also increase REM density (number of eye movements) and the number of nighttime awakenings. (It's possible to wake up very briefly without ever remembering that you did; this can increase dream recall.) These drugs typically cause very vivid dreams and are not the best choice for someone with a REM sleep disorder. (I have RBD and had particular problems with Effexor.)
Amphetamines, anticholinergics (such as amitriptyline and protriptyline), and MAOIs are the best REM suppressors (which is why they are the most effective drugs for narcolepsy).
This is the end of the thread.
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