Dreams and nightmares

[HappykindaGal]

I've never slept well but when I did, I didn't seem to have dreams.

Since being on Benepali, I'm having very vivid dreams every night-almost nightmares.

This could just be me being my usual weird self. I wondered if anyone else experiences this?

[wishbone]

Neither was I much of a dreamer until I started taking a high dose of tramadol a couple of years ago. As with you my dreams have been very vivid and can be downright freaky with some bordering on nightmares.

Since recently reducing my daily intake of tramadol I'm having fewer dreams and the ones I do have seem less vivid.

[HappykindaGal in reply to wishbone]

It’s weird isn’t it. Must be the drugs. Now I’m wary of going to sleep as I don’t know what tortures I’ll go through! Last night, it was staying in a hotel and guests systematically murdered. Eeek!

I’ve only been taking it for 3 months, so I’m hoping they’ll stop soon 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[wishbone in reply to HappykindaGal]

Hey, I've been attacked by some very weird types in my dreams and I'm still here to tell the tale! The best method I find is to threaten any would be assailant with a death chop. Hopefully this will have the desired effect, if not then actually delivering the required blow can be a very painful experience! During one particularly menacing dream, instead of using a death chop I tried a death kick and ended up in out of hours with a suspected broken toe or two after kicking an adjacent wall with some force I may add!! So be warned!

Sweet dreams....

[HappykindaGal in reply to wishbone]

Hahahaha. That made me chuckle. I may be back in a few hours to tell you how I single handedly beat up the zombies.

[wishbone in reply to HappykindaGal]

Haha, Give'em hell!

[anastasia43 in reply to HappykindaGal]

I haven't tried this myself because I rarely have classic nightmares where I'm like, "oh gosh I need to wake up NOW", mine are more plain disturbing, but here's a tip my friend uses and it actually works:

You need to get into a habit of looking at something material and very real every day, something which is always with you, for example your hands. Just spend a minute or so looking at your hands when you're awake. This acts like some kind of reality anchor, I suppose. Then when you have a nightmare and want to wake up, all you need to do is try to look at your hands. Since the dream can't incorporate something so real, apparently you'll end up waking up. Sounds doubtful, I know, but this has actually worked for my friend.

[Sunflower1977]

I'm on benapeli and have been for about 6months I've always been a sleeper sleep anywhere but since taking it I'm wide awake at 5am in morning no alarms nothing I sit reading a comments on here but am really awake xx

[NeonkittyUK]

I have read before about disrupted REM sleep giving you nightmares. The REM stages are where most dreams tend to occur and that certain medications including some antibiotics, steroids, anti depressants and anthistamimes (which are all in fairly common usage amongst people with RA) are said to be the reason. Antibiotics I am taking at the moment are certainly giving me some whacky dreams! Just loony really and not too terrifying but I wake up with my heart pounding. Also when I was on Prednisilone tablets a few years back for ten months, then I did have nightmares. I could go back to the same terrifying one which was awful. Usually about water and heights which are two phobias. I remember one dream where I was driving along a narrow quay wall in a mini (no I hadn't been watching The Italian Job! LOL) and I had to make the car leap across a huge gap where the sea had broken it away and I took off into the air but never landed. I remember waking with an enormous jolt. Heart going like mad.

[anastasia43]

Oh my goodness, yes! My biologics are rituximab though, but ever since I've started I've been having crazy freaky dreams. I've always said I dislike any kinds of dream (if I remember them when I wake) simply because even the good ones don't leave me feeling rested. I would very much like my subconscious to take a rest and leave me alone during the night hours Anyways, I do feel the struggle, and I've been trying calming herbal teas in the evening, lavender oils on my pillow, calming scents in the bedroom, but nothing really seems to help. If a dream wants to happen, it will happen, no way of stopping it.

Has anyone found any useful tricks for calmer nights?

[HappykindaGal in reply to anastasia43]

Odd isn't it. I thought it was just me!

[Downtime]

I had similar on Humira at the start. I’d wake a lot with vivid dreams and a rapid heart rate. Then I’d go back to sleep and carry on the same dream ...😩 It was awful. It did stop after a while. I’m starting a new biologic soon so I hope it doesn’t start up again.

[jojo_71 in reply to Downtime]

Hi. I'm on rituximab.. And I have very vivid dreams.. And also can wake up, then go back into same dream! We must be dreaming a lot and late in sleep pattern to remember them?

I have OK dreams, quite fluffy 😃 so I don't mind too much.. In fact I sometimes don't want to wake up.. To reality. Lol! Xx

[NeonkittyUK in reply to jojo_71]

Argh Jojo, sounds like Rituxinights with me too! 😝 Think it's more Doxycycline for me at the mo but my whacky dreams could well be Rituxi .. Who is to say as it may be Fentanyl too. Perhaps all the meds are causing one big wild dream. My OH says I mutter and argue in my dreams when I'm on the ABs. Will have to take his word for it! So far I haven't had any dreams of Johhny Depp or Aidan Turner .. More's the pity! LOL. Just crazy things. Strange how you can always go back to the horrid dreams easily but never the one where Mr Depp has taken you out to dinner!! 😍

[jojo_71 in reply to NeonkittyUK]

Hi neon kitty! Ooh I've had some lovely ones Inc George Clooney and Enrico!! 😉😁. I always know I'm dreaming tho.. Is it called lucid dreaming? I love running and jumping, and even flying sometimes!! (they're great those dreams!) none of which I can do in real life, particularly the latter 😂... No wonder I don't want to wake up!! 😑😑😑Zzzzz!

Xx

[NeonkittyUK in reply to jojo_71]

Agree Jojo, who to wants to wake up from those dreams?! 💕 I was glad to get out of my flying mini on the quayside dream! Also odd that I never dream I can't run anymore .. Which I can't jog or jump with hip and knee RA .. Maybe a lil jog now and then, but in my dreams I sprint and jump too! I've not flown yet though.

[wishbone in reply to NeonkittyUK]

I can run, jump and lift heavy objects in the majority of my dreams. I've also had the odd one or two where I do have some sort of physical disability. I could be wrong, but think my confrontational dreams may be something to do with my subconscious mind battling against one or more serious health conditions that I've been blessed with.

[HappykindaGal in reply to jojo_71]

Oooh. Enrico 😍💋

[NeonkittyUK in reply to HappykindaGal]

Ha ha! We all need a nice dream to keep us smiling! I think the being fit and strong in our dreams is a good thing as it shows our desire to be just that and to keep going. No we aren't going to run a marathon or lift Arnie type weights but we are able to do something to keep fit and strong. I don't wake up annoyed that I can't actually do what I've done in my dreams as it always feels so real like I have really lived that dream!

[Mmrr]

I have very vivid dreams since being on methotrexate, sometimes I have lucid dreams too. However when on hydroxychloroquine I had psychedelic type dreams, quite scary at times. Just have RD can also cause strange dreams, so not surprising many of us experience them !

[dembonesDAMNBONES]

Just came off another post about weird dreams.

Omeprazole, Sulfasalazine, Naproxen, Tramadol (or Cocodamol) and Paracetemol.

Maybe the type of drug itself, acting independently, or a combo of types that induce my Nocturnal Nutcase Visions. Lol.