No idea if it's the meds, but definitely tell the doc. For me, those kinds of drams were actually masks over old memories that I'd repressed---so that was kinda not a fun thing to find out and experience (PTSD dx a year and odd months ago now, thanks to those memories resurfacing)....

It could be meds, it could also be anxiety, any number of things. Definitely check the doc and in th emeantim, *journal* the dreams---when you wake up, write down all you can of them ASAP, and how you felt upon waking, and you might find a pattern---something in your past trying to warn you bout something in th present, or something now raking up something from long ago that you don't really think about.... who knows? OUr brains are nothing but glitches sometimes, I swear.

Keep us posted.

Hugs,
Leo

I'd get your hormones checked out. Hope you feel better soon. Take care.

Just wondering mem0426,


Do your dreams come with you striking, kicking, or jerking in your sleep?

Though I have had friends tell me that they too had strange, uncomfortable symptoms associated the their taking Gabapentin, including bad dreams. When I was taking it, I did not have bad dreams from it. I only stopped taking it after 2 years because it eventually became ineffective for me. While I was on it, it helped me a lot.

However, I just thought I'd share with you that early on in my Fibro, I went through a period that lasted about 5 months where I was suddenly having violent dreams and being jerked awake from my own kicking and striking. A couple of times I ended up on the floor, having jumped out of bed in my sleep.

My poor cat (who slept with me) was kick across the room a couple of times, so I had to stop allowing her in my bed for her own safety.

My primary doc sent me to a Neurologest with these symptoms. She said that this could be associated to a neurological issue. A brain MRI was ordered and numerous white matter lesions were found.

Because of the locations of these lesions my doctors were able to rule out MS, but they were reluctant to associate the "white matter lesions" to my disturbed sleep and dream actiivty, and then they refused to see me again. So I left with no answer to the reason I went to see them. But of course, they suggested it was due to depression and that I should see psychiatrist. (:-/)

Well, as I said early on, after about 5 months of this going on almost every night, it began to sort of tapper off. I would happen, but maybe once every several months. It hasnt happened now for about 2 years.

Just for your info, the comment on my mri said: The white lesions seem to be "related to a demylination process."

I recently read an article stating findings of a demylination of nerve tissue associated with Fibromyalgia.

I will look for the aricle. If I find it I will post it here for you. I do hope your bad dreams subside and that you will be about to acheive peaceful rest again.

Sincerely,

FYI, Here is a study showing:
"A subset of fibromyalgia patients have findings suggestive of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and appear to respond to IVIg."


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18208823

One more short article related to the study findings I just posted.


"Is fibromyalgia more like multiple sclerosis (MS) than we thought? A unique line of research is making it look that way."

http://www.mecfsnsw.org/research-news/fibromyalgia-maybe-demyelinating/

Hi there..I too have vivid bad dreams. My hubby gets the brunt of most of them because I am physical and hit him allot. I take gabapentin as well but the dose is low, only 900 mg daily. Its good to see others are suffering as I am with the dreams. Not to make it sound as though I am happy that you are but I am comforted that I am not alone. I sleep walk many times and have ended up hurting myself lately while doing so. I wish you the best in finding a solution. Please share with us when you do. You are in my prayers.

RS-- I've been tested for MS on several occasions. I even have an antimeylin antibody that is often seen in MS, but I don't have MS. One thing that has helped me is taking an aspirin a day. If there is any issue of "sticky blood" it will help blood flow. It particularly helped with brain fog and also nerve pain.

Your sleep sounds like my sleep. I keep waking up with a start every hour or so, even though I'm taking Klonopin, although I haven't fallen on the floor!

On the other hand, Melissa, are you sure the world isn't giving you nightmares. There is so much bad stuff going on in the world that I think sensitive people have it come up in their sleep? I feel like my bad dreams have more to do with what's going on in the world than anything else.

Lee Lee-- Sleep walking as an adult is a symptom of narcolepsy. Have you had a sleep test? If you have some weird narcolepsy you can be prescribed Xyrem, which is supposed to be really effective for fibro symptoms, since it will get you into deep sleep. I would love to be able to try Xyrem, since I still sleep so fitfully even on Klonopin. (I used to walk in my sleep as a child, and have had some of the other symptoms--hypnogogic halucinations & sleep paralysis as an adult--all really fun stuff. Talk about wacky sleep!)

I had nightmares before I was diagnosed. And sometime but it's not the norm. But as others have said go see your doctor.

Hi guys,

I take 600 mg of gabapentin at least twice a day and three times a day when I'm in a flare. The dreams just recently started and I'm not sure what is triggering them. It could be the world, but I don't watch the news just because it's always bad. They never report anything good in the world so why watch the negative stuff all the time. I take zanaflex at bedtime and it usually keeps me sleep throughout the night but the last two weeks have been rough. My pain level and fatigue has significantly increased over the last couple of weeks also. My doctor did blood work on Tuesday to check me for anemia, my thyroid, and any vitamin deficiency that could be going on. I don't wake up fighting or jerking around, my eyes just open and I'm glad that I have come out of the dream. I'm sure I do need a sleep study done. I did call my doctor and the nurse should be calling me back today. Everyone's advice and experiences has been really helpful. I just hope I can find some answers or the dreams will just go away on their own.

Melissa,

I often get horrific nightmares when put on many anti depressants to help with the pain. They are so bad that I will stay awake for days.
Which is why I fail on them.

And back when I took neurontin (the brand version of what you are taking), I experienced extreme rage the two times I took the pill at it's lowest dose. My doc couldn't explain it much to me as he was rather stumped. But I had an irrational rage over stupid stuff like a diaper. Wasn't upset with our baby at the time, just the diaper. Scared the crap out of me.

It does impact your mood as rare side effect. And just like all other side effects they can surface at any time.

As to your question what else can you take? The only other medication in this classification of meds is Lyrica.
Otherwise you need to cross over into SSRI's or other anti depressants and then there is also pain management via pain meds.

My advice to you is to talk to your doc, which you put in the call already (this is good) and discuss coming off of the med.

Yes gabapentin did that to me.

If I watch a violent TV show before I sleep, it continues in my dreams. So no more watching horrible, murderous, scary shows before bedtime.

I too have been having nightmares a lot lately and they have become worse since taking an anti depressant med. I also try not to eat cheese in the evening before bed as I think it gives me nightmares, silly I know.