Side effects

[Annmedd]

I have had to take Apixaban, bisoprolol and Lisinopril for two or three years now.

For the last 12months I have been having dramatic dreams every night, not exactly nightmares but frightening and on many different subjcts. They come in the form ofa sort of Kindle which I am reading. Subjcts range from Horses , missing the last bus home! losing the car, nasty snakes etc. Please nobody laugh as sometimes I wake up very upset. Last nights was a particularly sad one of an old lady who died with her cat and the bodies were not discovered in her home for years. I don't like all this much and don't know whether to Write a book or see a shrink. My question is do any of you ever get this strange thing and is it side effects. The dear old AF is the bane of my life, Can't walk very far without leaning on something! Comment would be nice. Anne

[Hidden]

Hi Annmedd. I'm not laughing. I don't know how your meds are affecting you-that is for your doctor to say. BUT there is a bonafide,well-documented side effect of some drugs called Vivid Dreams. Possibly this could be a side effect for you. They were especially common in some older psychiatric drugs used for depression but who's to say it can't be a side effect in something you're taking. I do remember patients saying these dreams were never pleasant but more distressing in nature. Ask your doc about them. If you hear something like, "it's possible but rare, please don't be put off and remember: Rare means someone had this side effect for it to be mentioned in the med literature. Why not you? Hope you get to the bottom of this. BTW with vivid dreams part of the stress is remembering the bad dreams so vividly after waking.So being able to forget about them makes for double stress, Much of the time we either don't remember our dreams or only vague snatches. Your description points to unpleasant details being remembered that I believe you'd rather forget. Take care. irina1975

[Carol70]

Hi Annmedd - I am taking bisoprolol (5mg daily), apixaban and a variety of other meds for various conditions I,e, glaucoma. I was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome and 2.5 years ago had a dual lead pacemaker inserted. I too have the most vivid dreams - some sad, some with family members who are long gone. They can be quite disturbing, but remember, they are only dreams, not reality. They will not hurt you. I never know what my next vivid dream will be, but try not to worry, it is distressing but not real. I don't know if my response is of any help for you but please remember, you are not alone with this.

With best wishes

Carol

[aika]

I fond myself having bad dreams while I was on amioderone and propafenone. Once I was taken off of these drugs, they ceased.

[castanes]

Hi Anne. I take 2.5 mg of bisoprolol daily and I have not had that problem. Mind you, I understand that my dose is quite low compared to a lot of people. Hopefully you will get to the bottom of what is causing your intense dreams. Perhaps a sleep clinic study might be in order if the dreams do not go away ? My sympathies for your problem. That must be scary, as you say.

[Tricia239]

Hi, I couldn’t agree more - it’s not in the slightest bit funny. I was put on Bisoprolol but like you had vivid disturbing dreams. My EP confirmed it was a side effect and said something about this drug ‘going across the brain’ and he immediately took me off it. It took a while to find an alternative that I could tolerate but well worth it. Good quality sleep is important so I suggest you go and get it sorted and please don’t feel you are being trivial - those dreams/nightmares are just horrid. Good luck, Tricia. PS. I now take Nebivolol without any problem it may not be the first drug of choice but it works for me. T

[momist]

Hi. I'm not laughing either. I've only been on Apixaban and Bisoprolol for a few months, and not had these vivid dreams in that time. However, some years ago I went through a period of such vivid dreams, they are scary. I also had a patch many more years ago of the same recurring dream about living in part of a huge house where I occasionally discovered more rooms that I had "forgotten" about. I had that dream for over a year, not every night but many, many nights.

I suppose that what I am saying is that we must live with our dreams, and even if this is a side effect, the drugs are needed for their intended effect.

[Lash65]

I would never laugh about that. I am having the same problem - every night. It's very distressing. I am not on those drugs so I can't speak to that. But I am wondering the same thing about the meds I take. I don't know, but it's definitely not funny at all.

[Hidden]

I had another thought as I read some recent replies re vivid dreams. I didn't know this but apparently some of the cardiac meds are causing this problem. I wonder what an ekg would show about heart rate/rhythm changes-perhaps negatively affecting a-fib while the brain is experiencing these dreams. Just a thought. But maybe worth investigating? And also how dreading the dreams and consequently putting off bedtimes can cause problems from sleep deprivation.? Take care. irina1975

[Richard1945]

Sounds like your having dinner too late in the evening. Eating large meals late in the day contribute to dream filled nights.