HAVE PD AND ON OR WAS ON MIRTAZAPINE,DID IT MAKE REM SLEEP DISORDER BEHAVIOR WORSE FOR YOU?/ HOW TO DEAL WITH REM SLEEP DISORDER BEHAVIOR

[OREOLU]

Hi friends, Just found out online that Mirtazapine can induce or make REM sleep disorder worse.I have PD and was prescribed Mirtazapine, 7.5 mg at bedtime for sleep to increase to 15mg after one week,but I continued with 7.5 mg.I have been on this medication for roughly 7&1/2 months now.It has made me sleep well initially for the first 5 to six months,but now,I am having increased rates of REM sleep disorder behavior.Before I started this medication,I have experienced REM sleep disorder behavior,but not at the present rate.Also, what has worked for you in dealing with REM sleep disorder behavior,apart from Clonazepam. Please help with your replies.

[park_bear]

Firstly, thank you for bringing this problem to the attention of the group - it seems people are frequently prescribed mirtazapine.

If it is aggravating your REM sleep disorder I would taper off and find something different. The herb valerian root works for me when I need help sleeping.

[OREOLU in reply to park_bear]

Hi Park bear,

Thanks for response.Do you use Valerian roots alone? How many hours of sleep do you get and at what dose?

[park_bear in reply to OREOLU]

When needed I take one or two 500 mg capsules and nothing else. I only need to sleep 5 or 6 hours. With the Valerian and I usually get six or more. Hope that helps!

[OREOLU in reply to park_bear]

Thanks again.

[parkie13]

Did you try melatonin? That is supposed to help with REM sleep disorders. I would try to take it every single night at the same time, before going to bed.

[OREOLU in reply to parkie13]

Hi parkie 13,

I am currently using melatonin, 7.5 or 10mg, depending on how well,I sleep the previous night,but it seems,after using melatonin for some time it does not work too well again,unless I stop for few weeks,and restart. How much melatonin do you use,and how many hours of sleep do you get?

[parkie13 in reply to OREOLU]

Currently nightly I am taking 5 mg. Before, for quite a while I was taking 10mg before going to bed. However I started waking up with a headache in the morning so I stopped completely. I must have been off it for at least a year. Then, believe it or not, I started having nightmares. but nightmares was not the worst of it. I started also screaming in the middle of the night, the very first time it happened it was funny if you would have seen my husband's reaction. That happened a couple times more. I went back on melatonin at 5 mg and my nightmares and screaming stopped right away. It's been a while that I've been taking it and so far so good no headache. Mary

[OREOLU in reply to parkie13]

Nightmares, tell me about it,I have had nightmares, 3 nights in a row this week alone.That's why I am looking for alternative options to the drug mirtazapine. Most of these medications,when you used them for some time, your system either get used to them,then they stop working until you increase the dose,or they stop working entirely, then you would need to stop using them for few weeks and restart them,before they become effective again, Another thing that I don;t understand is why the REM sleep disorder causes mostly nightmares and not sweet dreams.

[rebtar in reply to OREOLU]

I have taken mirtazapine for several years, as high as 30mg (for depression) and now at 7.5. I did start having REM disorder earlier this year, but attributed it to PD, not to mirtazapine. I take 9-12mg melatonin 30 minutes before bed, and have not had problems with REM sleep since starting it months ago.

[OREOLU in reply to rebtar]

Hi rebtar,

The combination seems to be working real good for you. As they say everybody is different ,as regards the effect of medication and doses. Thanks for your response.

[parkie13 in reply to OREOLU]

Extremely rarely had I had a nightmare before those episodes. And I never yelled in the middle of my dreams I think it has something to do with PD.

[jrg54321]

If I watch a violent tv show I will end up having some crazy dream where I end up kicking and screaming. I noticed it at first every Sunday night after watching the walking dead. Now if someone in the house watches something violent I will just close my eyes through those parts. Seems to be effective.

[Rlp1]

15 mg Remeron and 6 mg Melatonin works great for past 10 months.

[OREOLU in reply to Rlp1]

Hi ,

How many hours of straight non-fragmented sleep do you get?

[Rlp1 in reply to OREOLU]

6-7 hours. That’s been my normal for last 40 yrs.

[OREOLU in reply to Rlp1]

So are you saying that 15 mg Remeron and 6mg Melatonin has no effect on your sleepnig hours,since you said above that you have been sleeping 6-7 hours normally for 40 years? How has the 15 mg Remeron and 6 mg Melatonin been working great for 10 months?

[Rlp1 in reply to OREOLU]

Ten months ago I had a period of 3-4 weeks when I was having trouble. That’s when my doctor prescribed the Remeron and Melatonin.

[OREOLU in reply to Rlp1]

Oh I see,so the medications helped to restore your sleeping back to your normal 6-7 hours. Thanks for the information.

[1TonyS]

I had REM sleep disorder, bad dreams, acting out my dreams and shouting in my sleep. I was prescribed Clonazepam and take 0.25 mg at night and sleep well and don't dream! Why don't you take it?

[OREOLU in reply to 1TonyS]

Hi 1TonyS,

Thanks for your response.

[koshca]

Medical marijuana helps a lot.

[OREOLU in reply to koshca]

Hi koshca,

I have read about Medical Marijuana,especially with htc. I will research more into this as well.