Effexor Dreams Overwhelming - Mental Health Message Board

thindela · 09-15-2003, 04:08 PM

I have previously taken Effexor and after a period of about four years I am taking it again (for depression). I am feeling 'better' however, my dreams have been so vivid and some so terrible that I am not resting at night. Last night my dreams were so bad that I walked in a daze all day today. Any suggestions?
I have, for the past few years, had a problem with waking up at night and often eating. Needless to say, I have an eating disorder as well. I do not purge of binge, but will wake up some nights and have something like a low fat cupcake or low fat cereal/ candy bar. Anyhow, I have had a prescription for Xanax for sometime, but still seem to awake with or without them. I don't feel that the Xanax will help me rest any more effectively, however I need to do something or other b/c these dreams are driving me crazy. I can remember every detail and last nights were so disturbing. Just putting some of this out to ya'll to see if anyone has any ideas for me, perhaps late night meditation of soothing music? i don't know, but it's hard to function/ work etc like this.

Thanks!

j3nuinebrui17 · 09-15-2003, 11:28 PM

I think the Effexor should actually help you with the dreams once you're up to a high enough dose. I'm guessing that you're still on a rather low dose since you've just started.
Nightmares occur during REM sleep, and often depressed people have prolonged REM interavals. Typically antidepressants shorten the REM period.

I'm not an MD, however, so I think it's best that you tell your psychiatrist about this. The Xanax should help with the anxiety, but it's not a longterm treatment. Xanax is in the class called benzodiazepines, and they can cause cognitive and motor impairments if used for too long. In addition, they can be addicting for your body may eventually build a tolerance, thereby requiring a higher dosage just to get the same effect.
Hope I've helped. Talk to your MD, and good luck!

Meg28 · 09-16-2003, 01:09 AM

Maybe you could ask your doctor for a sleeping pill prescription? That's what I do. I've found that to help me. I've been on a ridiculous amount of anitdepressants and have had either insomnia with some or weird, disturbing dreams like yours.
As my doctor says, "You can't get better if you're not getting sleep."

By the way, when are you taking your Effexor?

thindela · 09-16-2003, 09:28 AM

Let's see...I take the Effexor in the morning and I have been on the same dosage (150) for over four months. So I don't think it's that I am just begining the medication, or that the dose is too low, as it has been helping with the depression quite well, doing it's purpose. The Xanax however, I have found to be neither here nor there. I am aware of the addiction and motor impairment associated with Xanax and am not fond of medication in general, but we do as we must. Actually, I have other sleeping tablets and the Xanax actually was given to me for rest/sleep as the other tablets didn't seem to keep me asleep (ie, I keep waking up). I have come to the conclusion that the night waking is more than physiological. Thus, the sleeping tablets, whatever they may be are not really the issue. The dreams however are chaotic and frustrating, and started a few weeks into my taking the Effexor. This did not happen when I took the medication the last time and it is not ALL the time, but often enough. I have mentioned this to my Dr in the last session and I plan to discuss it with them again, but like I said, I just threw it out there.

I appreciate all your feedback. Thanks for you thoughts!

[This message has been edited by thindela (edited 09-16-2003).]

j3nuinebrui17 · 09-16-2003, 12:39 PM

I was just thinking, have you ever tried Serzone?
It's a serotonergic agonist, and it's quite sedating. I think it would really help with the sleep, so you wouldn't need other sleeping meds. In addition, its an antidepressant, so it will also serve as an anxiolytic. It's the analog of trazadone.