Lamictal Nightmares?
Posted over a year ago
I have been taking lamictal for several months now, and have developed a new and perplexing symptom... "night terrors", which are like a combination of sleep paralysis and nightmares at the interface of waking and sleeping. At the time it is a really ... more »
I have been taking lamictal for several months now, and have developed a new and perplexing symptom... "night terrors", which are like a combination of sleep paralysis and nightmares at the interface of waking and sleeping. At the time it is a really horrifying experience, but I'm fine when i finally manage to waken up. I'm convinced the lamictal is to blame because this is new to me, and more likely to happen if i take my dose near bedtime. I have seen some mention of lamictal causing nightmares on other sites, and just wondered if anyone had had any similar experiences?
Bigd30 - I have totally found that to be the same case with me. I've been on it for what 3 or 4 months, and it seems to be bad if I sleep more then 6 to 8 hrs that I get the nightmares. Its weird I take my pill in the morning so it's still in my system obvousilly. I have always remembered my dreams, especially the ones I have right before I wake up. These are just differnt, it's like they take my worries and put them to extreme height. I wake up either pissed, scared, or just freaked out. Before when I was doing school I was doing 3 to 4 hr naps, and didn't find the nightmares to be there, so it's almost like you can't go into REM. You are defiantly not a lone here.
Ladybugg31186 - HI there! I googled this question because my doctor said that lamictal wouldnt cause nightmares. I disagree. They just upped my does to 150 a day and suddenly i've been having these awful nightmares, usually about dying. And their not your average nightmares, they're in great detail, usually of me dying. And I've also had several encounters with sleepwalking. Its getting scary, and Im worried :( I'm glad im not losing my mind!
Propheticcreed - I just had my first experience of sleepwalking this morning at 5:30 AM. Apparently I was on the computer (which I had shut off whle I was reading a book) and blasted a Scottish comedian and work my fiance up. I'm on 200mg of Lamictal generic (Lamitrogine) and I took it before bed. I've been on it for a year and a half and have rapid cycle bi-polar as well as severe anxiety disorder and severe panic disorder. I recently admitted myself to a mental hospital and I'm sure it's the Lamictal acting up on me. I also have nightmares which are VERY vivid. I just want to let you know that you are not alone. Best of luck to you.
Twelveoclocktails - Thanks for posting your problems. I, too, have been having horrible, horrible nightmares since re-starting Lamictal and titrating up (I'm up to 150 now). I haven't had the sleepwalking problem, though, as I'm too manic and have too light of a sleep (*knocks on wood*). I'm going to switch to the mornings for this pill and see what happens, although from other websites and forums, it appears that this may not stop the nightmares....
Bpb - Just started it a few days ago, had horrible nightmares all night, along with the ones between the waking and sleeping. I'm prone to nightmares anyway, but this was a BAD night, and I woke up in a panic attack with turned to dysphoric mania rage. Don't know what to do now.
Johnny67 - Finally, I know i'm not crazy, well any more crazy! little joke. i've been having incredible dreams, they cause me anger, fear, emotional pain and confusion. someone said they take normal fears and intensify them. that is exactly what i am feeling. having relationship problems and the dreams are intensifying my pain tenfold. i take my dose at night, should i switch to morning? afternoon? does anyone have advice? please, i need some good sleep.
Lawschoolblues - I just started it this week (at lunch) and for the first time I can recall I have had two nights of streight nightmares. I usually have lucid dreams and can control the contents, but not now. I will wake up, go back to sleep and start a whole new nightmare. They are also really violent, something which is new for even my most frightening dreams: used to be just the anticipation of violence. Now its full on gore. It was really upsetting, but once I woke up, even though I remember it, isnt bothering me and I do feel rested.At least it's not those nightmares that you wake up feeling even more exhausted.
Ladeydaley - Sounds like a lot of people have this problem. I have taken Lamictal in the past. But jsut started again yesterday, I took my pill around lunch. I had the worst nightmare! I woke up screaming bloody murder! My husband freaked out. I'll stick with it, hopefully it will get better. My doc also started my on trazadone to help with the sleep, so that may have made it worse.
Joshfromlouisiana - I just woke up around 4:40am. I had 2 horrible nightmares. This is not normal for me. I then began to think what could be causing this--- the only thing I can come up with is Lamictal. I have been on this drug close to 4months and have been having nightmares every since. I cannot believe it has taken me this long to put it together. I have continually had very vivid horrible dreams. Just like I read in the other posts about people dying, me dying, people coming after me. The list goes on and on. I don't understand it. Anyways I really appreciate everyone writing their Lamictal horror stories. Thank you
Pgb - I have been taking lamictal for 2 months now and have had horrid, vivid nightmares for at least 6 weeks. I have to take this medication at night because it makes me drowsy. My dreams take me back 25 years sometimes, to places and people I've long lost touch with. I feel afraid to go to sleep because I never know what is going to happen in my dreams. I am going to call my doctor today and start weaning my dosage. Thanks for sharing your stories. I thought it was, "All in my head."
Stephenherndon - 18 year old male with Bi Polar. I'm on the 50 MG dose of lamictal. just woke up from the most real dream of my life. Had a conversation in an unknown language with an indian woman who was sitting over me on my bed. She put her hands on my side and started to pray and I was begging her to stop but couldn't scream. I woke up in the same position very scared. It seemed so real. You guys are definately not alone. and BTW my doctor told me that crazy dreams are a "reported side effect" but she didnt touch on it too much.
Wurst911 - 40y.o. male on lamictal. Just upped dosage from 25mg to 50mg yesterday. Today I took 25 in the morning and 25 around lunchtime. I had been taking 25 only in the morning for a few days with no problems until tonight. I just had a VERY vivid nightmare about something happening to a family member. I'm certain it's the Lamictal. I was taking it a year and a half ago and had nightmares, but they stopped once I stopped taking it. I'm going to take it first thing in the morning only and not go to bed so early - I was in bed by 8pm vs. the normal 10-12pm. It was an effective medication in the past for me but lost the effect after 18 months. After another 18mos. I'm trying it again b/c it was the only med that has actually helped me more than 3mos. I'm a little freaked out by this nightmare, but maybe there is a way. Hope this helps someone.
Mpotter66 - Holy Crap!!!!!!! I started taking lamictal just three weeks ago and i am having the most vivid,stressful,terrifying,frustrating......almost as if i'm living it type dreams.....it makes me afraid to go to sleep! These dreams are most "real" just before i wake......sets a very bad tone for the day!!!!!!
Kab2020 - 51 yr. old female and have been BP most of my life, but was only diagnosed about 6 years ago. When I first took Lamictal, about 3 yrs ago, it helped me feel better for 18 mos or so and I never had nightmares. Then it just stopped working. I went through a barrage of drugs and just last year started it again and now I'm on 100 mgs. I also take ambien to help me sleep. However, my depression is not better at all and my dr. doesn't think I am BP! So, I'm weaning off the Lamictal now. I've noticed when I don't take the ambien, I do have nightmares. So, for those that feel the Lamictal is working, but you are having nightmares, maybe you should ask your doctor about taking ambien or something like it. Good Luck to us all and God Bless!
Heart44 - It really bothers me that the sites that should be listing nightmares & night terrors in their side effects, AREN'T! Lamictal site states: trouble sleeping (insomnia). Would be nice if GSK would question those having "trouble sleeping", "What's causing their insomnia?" My husband's been waking from nightmares "very angry" and after 3 times (scaring the heck out of me!) I now sleep in another room. He's taking 200mg for a grand mal seizure he experienced August 2009. Levels were just checked by our regular Dr (Neuro just assumes if no seizure, all is OK). Waiting for results of blood tests. He's also experiencing "listed" ADR's: more anxiety, panic attacks (which aggravate a hand tremor), is easily agitated & restless.
Sgrmeswt2x - Well I think I now see why I have had such vivid and horrifying dreams. I am on 200mg of Lamictal for a mood stability and have major depression with psychotic features. I have re-checked all my other medications and this one after taking it for over 8 mos now, seems to be the culprit to my having these terrible and realistic dreams. I wake up several times a night and am afraid to go back to sleep. I have suffered sleep problems and nightmares for years but now they seem to have progressively gotten worse and I take Prazosin which is to help with PTSD nightmares. So frustrating not to know what exactly causes these hideous dreams. I have talked to my medication psychiatrist and we have ruled out all the possible causes of nightmares but was told Lamicatal should not be the reason, I beg to differ. I recall when I couldn't remember my dreams at all and it was before taking this medication so I think it is the reason why, I have already tried so many medications as it is.
Utah_angel - I got the started pack of Lamictal a couple months ago. Then for my first refill they gave me the generic. I take this medicine for migraines. Since I've started the generic, my migraines seem to be coming back but what I've finally realized is that the medicine is causing me very bad nightmares also. I have been thinking it was the Motrin PM I was taking but then I realized its been going on for longer than I've been taking that so I started thinking back to when I started having these bad dreams. I've always had very vivid, memorable dreams, but these are scary and I feel like I am awake and dreaming horrible things but can't wake up from it. Eventually I do but I have to get up and get a drink of water to shake the dreams off. There has been a couple of times I've went back to sleep only to start dreaming the same dream. Its like I took an "intermission" by getting that drink of water. I'm going to talk to my doc about this. My generic costs only $7 a month, but it doesn't seem to be doing the trick. If the nightmares don't stop, then on to another preventative migraine med. *sigh*
Utah_angel - Um, the post above ^^^^^ says its from someone called "utah_angel" when in fact this is the first time I've ever posted anything here as I just found it. I don't know how this happened as I'm on MY computer and, well, I'm kind of confused. I actually live in Montana and wonder how this could be???? Very weird...
Brerohodo - Little bunny foo-foo, hopping through the forest
scooping up the field mice, and bopping them on the head.
Gattina75 - Thank goodness for the internet. I just started Lamictal about a month ago at a very low dosage, and am only now at 25 mg. a day but my doctor wants to get me up to 100 mg, I think. Well, just at 25 a day, I'm having very startling, vivid nightmares. This is very strange for me. I've had night terrors before, throughout my life, so I empathize with what many of you are going through. I'm not having those, nor am I sleepwalking, but considering how bad some of these dreams have been at so low a dose, I am hesitant to increase the dosage. Even just after dozing off after like 5 seconds, I'll have an abrupt falling sensation, like I'm falling down a flight of stairs, and I'll jerk awake. It's helped my depression better than any other drug, and there've been no sexual side-effects, so hey, that's awesome....but dear God...yeah, maybe taking it in the morning would lessen the nightmares?
Gattina75 - Thank goodness for the internet. I just started Lamictal about a month ago at a very low dosage, and am only now at 25 mg. a day but my doctor wants to get me up to 100 mg, I think. Well, just at 25 a day, I'm having very startling, vivid nightmares that definitely make restful sleep a challenge. I'm talking nightmares every night since starting Lamictal, which has never happened before in my life, so I know it's got to be this med. I've had night terrors before, throughout my life, so I empathize with what many of you are going through. I'm not having those, nor am I sleepwalking, but considering how bad some of these dreams have been at so low a dose, I am hesitant to increase the dosage. Even just after dozing off after like 5 seconds, I'll have an abrupt falling sensation, like I'm falling down a flight of stairs, and I'll jerk awake. It's helped my depression better than any other drug, and there've been no sexual side-effects, so hey, that's awesome....but dear God...yeah, maybe taking it in the morning would lessen the nightmares?
Gattina75 - Hey, wanted to offer up a new insight to the nightmare dilemma. Last night was an especially bad night for me. I had an appointment with my psychiatrist today and told him I suspected the nightmares were caused by the Lamictal. He said he respectfully disagreed (despite testimonials such as the ones posted on this site). His theory was this: apparently he'd spoken to a sleep specialist in the past about the connection between sleep pattern structure and mood stabilization. My doctor believes that once moods begin to stabilize through medication, the sleep pattern "architecture" changes. A healing crisis of sorts, which he thinks will pass. He said there is no hard research to back his suspicions, and I don't know what the sleep specialist had to say, but it's food for thought. All the same, I told him I don't want to increase my dosage for now. I'm fine at 25 mg. a day and he supported that decision. Best of luck to you all!
Mauxox - Fortunaly my dreams are fairly enjoyable and lucid. Ichoose to do things. Last night I noticed that if I sleep on my back rather than my side I could go into an immediate dream because I was not aware of the side of my face touching the pillow. I enjoyed jumping up and down at a party, very light without the usual gravity. i could think in my dream and effect what I wanted to do there and I actually had a good time.
Redrose_20 - ok, I also started Lamictal and the first week i had dreams like they were steps as in it would pick up where they left off. Well I am now in two weeks of the med and I had five nightmares in one night and THEY WERE ABOUT people dying I also think that some of the doc who say that they are not a side effect should go back to college and learn more.
Computersarefun - I have also noticed vivid nightmares since beginning to take Lamictal. My doctor said that it could be a side effect of the Lamictal or it could also be a withdrawal symptom of stopping my previous medication, Wellbutrin.
Wendy.b - im 13 and i was recently diagnosed with epilepsy this past march of 2011 im currently taking to kinds of medicine one is keppar at 1000 mg a day and the other is lamotrigine at 50 mg a day having some beyond crazy dreams . some are where im getting chased by some one or one of my family members are getting killed or possessed or im getting possessed or killed in my dreams,
or having spiders chasing or crawling on me and i can hear the clicking noises to it .then i wake up in the middle of the night freaked out wondering if it was true or not then i look around then just go back to bed and then the dreams end then goes to another dream thats not freaky, and thing is i dont watch anything scary before i go to bed . and my mother called the doctor today and the doctor said she believes its not a side effect to the medicine but i was fine before i started to take lemotrigine. i wishh the nightmares would stop. is there any help for it ?
Wendy.b - im 13 and i was recently diagnosed with epilepsy this past march of 2011 im currently taking to kinds of medicine one is keppar at 1000 mg a day and the other is lamotrigine at 50 mg a day having some beyond crazy dreams . some are where im getting chased by some one or one of my family members are getting killed or possessed or im getting possessed or killed in my dreams,
or having spiders chasing or crawling on me and i can hear the clicking noises to it .then i wake up in the middle of the night freaked out wondering if it was true or not then i look around then just go back to bed and then the dreams end then goes to another dream thats not freaky, and thing is i dont watch anything scary before i go to bed . and my mother called the doctor today and the doctor said she believes its not a side effect to the medicine but i was fine before i started to take lemotrigine. i wishh the nightmares would stop. is there any help for it ?
Bobisreallyyouraunt - I have just started taking Lamictal for a mild case of epilepsy. My doctor has kept me on my regular dose of Dilantin (300mg) and I've been on 50 mg Lamictal for almost two weeks now. I had nosebleeds the first couple of days, but they have gone away. My lower back has been aching - not so bad that I can't work, but definitely noticeable - and in the past, only my upper back has ached, so I think it's the meds. Also, I have had the most VIVID dreams. Not all of them have been bad, but last night I was agitated about something and the dream was bad last night. Some have been very interesting. I have not had any really awful nightmares like I am seeing described here - but I am definitely noticing the dreams. 39 yr old female.
Latido.eterno - PLEASE tell your doctors that MANY people have these side effects. the pharmaceutical company must have left that information out, and it seems doctors are blinded to that as well, because they go by what information they're told by these pharm. companies, who are probably wanting to make as much money as possible by selling un-safe drugs.
if you can, also let the makers of this medicine know about your SERIOUS side effects. find a number to call and all them!
this american medical system is horrible! too much corporate greed from pharmaceutical companies and hospitals is destroying OUR health!
that's my two cents.
Kerrs - I'm so very glad I'm not the only one who has had this problem. I am on the generic for Lamictal, Lamotrigine, for my BP1 and was fine... until they increased my dosage from 25mg a day to 150 mg a day (if I don't stop, it'll eventually be 200mg per day). Last week, I had just been awakened by my alarm going off and could have sworn I was asleep. I felt something jump onto my bed, lean close to my ear, start talking to me in a language I didn't know and it was kneeling on my shoulder, keeping me down and preventing me from sleeping. I've had 2 more such instances in the past few days. I really like the medication (it helps keep me stabilized very well!) but I'm kind of afraid to go asleep, knowing that this could happen. It'd be nice to hear what the doctor says. Again, I thought I was going crazy but am glad that it's not just me.
Loe246 - Loe.. I'm 21 and was diagnosed bipolar,with ptsd horrible panic and axiety attacks. My first Dr put me on 1000mg of depakote which was bittersweet lol I was higher than a kite everyone loved it until I started showing MS signs... My body was going crazy... I went thru 4 different Bipolar medicies with my new Dr until she came to Lamctil. I'm on 200 mgs now and haven't tried to kill anyone and I'm no longer on constant suicide watch! Lamctil did give me horrible insane nightmares for about a 2 monthes... They finally stopped once I started also taking klonopin at night.. keeps me extremely relaxed and sleep BUT now I do occasionally have hallucination sometimes they are scary as Hell like I hear children laughing when there's no one outside. At night I have seen people I have no idea walking thru my house... I see my dead dogs which is comforting(animal lover) there have on very rare occasions I have seen somethings that look like something straight horror film... From Saw to Hannibal. Is anyone else have hallucinations? Sometimes they are ok ill see cats or deer walking around but the bad ones have made me scream at first sight. I told my doctor about n she was like " hmm that's a first"... But I'm still on the meds because hallucinations come n go... Just wondering if anyone else has that problem?
Savannah92 - I was wondering why I've been having night terrors! I've been on Lamictal for not even two weeks and I've already had two VERY detailed night terrors! The first one people were chasing me then they set a girl on fire! I was sick the rest of the day! The second I just had last night, and it was of me being horribly raped. It was absolutely terrifying! I've felt so bad all day! Hopefully these go away!
Heart44 - Hi Savannah92, Generic Xanax (alprazolam) has eliminated my husband's night terrors from Lamictal. They were not going away for him. I only discovered that alprazolam helped when our dentist prescribed alprazolam .50 mg to help my husband relax during dental work. He now takes .25 mg with his nighttime dose of Lamictal ODT (100 mg). His Neuro switched him from extended release to oral dissolving tablets, so he takes 100 mg twice daily. In addition to a grand mal seizure August 2009, he has dementia (1st signs started almost 9 years ago) and later developed some Parkinson's.
Sgroclkc - All nightmares are caused by scary palpitations. There are three main types of nightmares(death dreams or being chased dreams ,flying dreams or falling dreams and Incubus or sleep paralysis) that are caused by three main scary symptoms {the scary sensations of palpitation make you feel as if you are going to die at any moment[1], the scary sinking feeling in heart of palpitation and scary fainting (syncope) }. They are all different in certain ways. All three types of nightmares has symptom of a scary heart palpitations-sensations. Scary Incubus or scary sleep paralysis or scary fainting (syncope) has symptoms of scary lightheaded and dizzy , a loss of strength and a loss of consciousness, perspiration, vision problems, difficulty hearing, ringing in your ears, pressure in your chest[2] and others do not. [1][link removed]
Drugs can cause nightmares , because drugs can cause palpitations ([link removed])
Sgroclkc - All nightmares are caused by scary palpitations. There are three main types of nightmares(death dreams or being chased dreams ,flying dreams or falling dreams and Incubus or sleep paralysis) that are caused by three main scary symptoms {the scary sensations of palpitation make you feel as if you are going to die at any moment[1], the scary sinking feeling in heart of palpitation and scary fainting (syncope) }. They are all different in certain ways. All three types of nightmares has symptom of a scary heart palpitations-sensations. Scary Incubus or scary sleep paralysis or scary fainting (syncope) has symptoms of scary lightheaded and dizzy , a loss of strength and a loss of consciousness, perspiration, vision problems, difficulty hearing, ringing in your ears, pressure in your chest[2] and others do not. [1][link removed]
Drugs can cause nightmares , because drugs can cause palpitations ([link removed])
Sgroclkc - Lamictal can cause nightmares , because Lamictal can cause palpitations ( Lamictal Side Effect Report#6313 Severe heart palpitations...)
Bmxcrazychick - pissedmom-I'm so glad to hear this so I know I'm not crazy. My 3yr old was just put on this about a month ago and they are slowly upping her dosage. At her nap time I heard her talking and then woke up screaming. Every night she has woken up screaming and this is uncommon for her. Tonight she woke up screaming and shaking!! This happened 3 times before I put 2 n 2 together.
Catwoman3 - Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. If that were my child I would be concerned too. Epilepsy? It seems to me from the posts Dr.'s are not often recognizing the dream connection with Lamictal. I just woke from a terrifying dream though. I haven't had nightmares (or I would say night terrors) like this since I was a child. I took it at the wrong time though (in the evening bc I forgot to take it this morning). It was terrifying though. i would look into something new, but I don't know if there is something different for Bipolar Type II (which manifests as depression with bouts of anxiety -not mania or hallucinations like Bipolar I). I was on other medications commonly perscribed for epilepsy before but this is the first one that has caused horrible nightmares.
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Sweetpea69 - I started taking it 2 weeks ago, an started slower than the Dr. recomended, an it give me incredibly lucid and long dreams! Luckily nothing gory?! The latest one was an 'End Of The World' one, where fire balls were falling out of the sky!? But I was able to dodge them! I quit taking it after 2 weeks, because it created such bad asthma, that I almost drowned in phlegm!? I also almost O.D.'d on asthma medicine just trying to breathe!?! It still is in my system, but it's slowly getting better!?! Back on Prozac until I can find a suitable natural alternative!
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