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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by former poster on August 23, 2015, at 9:46:36
Having incoherent and fragmented dreams while on Brintellix. The only way I can describe them are like old analog TV's when 2 stations would come through on 1 channel or watching a movie play backwards. I don't enjoy this type of sleep. Anyone know what causes this? Is this a good thing or not?
Posted by Lamdage22 on August 23, 2015, at 9:58:21
In reply to Having weird dreams on Brintellix, posted by former poster on August 23, 2015, at 9:46:36
It doesnt sound like a good thing. I have some weird dreams on my meds too but they dont bother me as much anymore.
I always am unprepared for a math test. I wrote an A in the final exam in real life yet i dream of this.
Does Brintellix help during the day?
Posted by former poster on August 23, 2015, at 12:42:00
In reply to Re: Having weird dreams on Brintellix, posted by Lamdage22 on August 23, 2015, at 9:58:21
<<< "It doesnt sound like a good thing. I have some weird dreams on my meds too but they dont bother me as much anymore.
I always am unprepared for a math test. I wrote an A in the final exam in real life yet i dream of this.
Does Brintellix help during the day?" >>>
Too soon to know if it's helping...
Sounds similar to my dreams.. I always dream I'm at work but haven't scanned in with my ID for 5 years and I'm trying to find a way to explain to my manager so I don't get fired. I wake up feeling exhausted. Seems I have had this dream every night since I retired 5 years ago. Now that I'm on Brintellix my dreams are like static. Like white noise of dreams. A clutter of thoughts and images overlapping.
I do miss the lucid erotic dreams I had with Fetzima and Cymbalta. A few times I didn't want to wake up.
I can't give an evaluation of Brintellix since I've only been on it 10 days at 10mg. I can say it doesn't feel sedating. I have had almost no nausea. Downside is I only sleep about 5-6 hrs a night. Haven't seen any beneficial effects at this point. I think I'm supposed to increase the dose to 20mg after a week but I've been reluctant to do so.
Posted by Horse on August 23, 2015, at 17:21:43
In reply to Re: Having weird dreams on Brintellix, posted by former poster on August 23, 2015, at 12:42:00
My dreams have become more vivid...which I guess is ok because they've been pleasant. I'm 17 days on Brintellix 10 mg. There is the theory that it will affect sleep/wake cycles. I wake up earlier, too. Cuts into my hypersomnia :-)
Definetly not as sedating as Lexapro, which I am discontinuing. Not sure if that's 100% good or not.
I still have nausea...you're fortunate.
Posted by former poster on August 23, 2015, at 22:55:32
In reply to Re: Having weird dreams on Brintellix » former poster, posted by Horse on August 23, 2015, at 17:21:43
Seems like when I took it on a empty stomach it made me nauseous. I take it with a big meal every time now and never a problem.
Posted by phidippus on August 24, 2015, at 14:43:25
In reply to Having weird dreams on Brintellix, posted by former poster on August 23, 2015, at 9:46:36
It is a known side effect of Brintellix. Its hard to say what causes this.
Eric
Posted by former poster on August 25, 2015, at 1:11:42
In reply to Re: Having weird dreams on Brintellix » former poster, posted by phidippus on August 24, 2015, at 14:43:25
Losing hope now. I suddenly recall never having success with 5HT1A partial agonists. Buspar, Trazodone seemed to all exacerbate anxiety.
Posted by phidippus on August 25, 2015, at 10:57:10
In reply to Re: Having weird dreams on Brintellix » phidippus, posted by former poster on August 25, 2015, at 1:11:42
Prazosin can help with unusual dreams/nightmares.
Why are you losing hope?
Eric
Posted by former poster on August 25, 2015, at 11:16:52
In reply to Re: Having weird dreams on Brintellix » former poster, posted by phidippus on August 25, 2015, at 10:57:10
>>Why are you losing hope?<<
Day 12 on Brintellix and social anxiety is actually worse. I fall asleep at 2AM with the help of 2mg clonazepam, wake up at 6AM, back to sleep again at 9AM, sleep till 10 wake up exhausted. Weird dreams and no motivation.
Posted by phidippus on August 25, 2015, at 13:31:39
In reply to Re: Having weird dreams on Brintellix » phidippus, posted by former poster on August 25, 2015, at 11:16:52
After two weeks on an antidepressant it is not unusual to have a spike in anxiety this usually goes away by week 4.
Brintellix is also known to cause unusual dreams.
You might have no motivation because the antidepressant qualities of the Brintellix have not kicked in yet-this usually happens around week 4 as well.
Two things you can do: add prazosin for the unusual dreams and add Topomax for the social anxiety. Clonazepam should help you with the bump in anxiety.
Eric
Posted by Chris O on August 30, 2015, at 4:15:51
In reply to Having weird dreams on Brintellix, posted by former poster on August 23, 2015, at 9:46:36
I had weird dreams on Brintellix, but then, I've had weird dreams on every SSRI/SNRI I've taken. (But I also have constant "being attacked" dreams when I am off medication.) So, I can't say Brintellix dreams were much different from Prozac, Luvox, Lexapro, Celexa, Effexor, Cymbalta, Paxil, or Wellbutrin dreams. Surreal, vivid, strange. For me, I think it has something to do with the way the drugs affect my anxiety. Sorry they are bothering you so much. Hope it gets better.
Chris
Posted by former poster on August 31, 2015, at 0:10:36
In reply to Re: Having weird dreams on Brintellix » former poster, posted by phidippus on August 25, 2015, at 13:31:39
Thanks for the advice. I'm afraid of Prazosin and Topomax. I've had bad experiences with both. I'll give Brintellix a 4 week trial as you suggested. This is the first SSRI I have taken in quite a while. The last few meds I've taken were SNRI's. I'm having trouble adjusting.
Posted by Lamdage22 on September 1, 2015, at 8:55:30
In reply to Re: Having weird dreams on Brintellix » phidippus, posted by former poster on August 31, 2015, at 0:10:36
Its your call.
This is the end of the thread.
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