[asp1079]

Has anyone else had this as a major side effect? When does it wear off? I've been taking 20 mg for close to 1.5 months now and my dreams are either insanely weird or horrible nightmares. I would say at least 1-2 days out of the week I also get up 2-3 hours too early for no reason.

Any support is much appreciated. I really do not want to take sleep medication as I don't want to get addicted. And I'm scared to switch meds... since this one is working very well for me.

[anneo59]

took it years ago and it worked well for me, didn't have that side effect, severe headaches though. . . . .I wish you the best, keep reaching out and asking questions, research, maybe you will encounter more info and support. Wish I had more I could relate to here. The best!

I wouldnt call that a major side effect. Seroquel gives me wicked dreams, as did avanza. I dont remember having them on prozac but its not unusual. Early waking is a symptom of depression too.

[Travelinglady]

I did google this topic and found that such dreams can be a less common side effect of Prozac. But, they can happen with this med.

You might want to mention these dreams to your doc to see what he/she says.

[Mickey4333]

Hmm!! Wow, I have been taking Prozac for years and I also have nightmares but I never put the two together. I have had nightmares where I wake up in terror!!! They seem to be worse in manic phases. I am like you, prozac works well for me. I had a recent severe mixed bipolar episode. Doc took me off Lamictal and put me on Depakote, seroquel, and, for anxiety he put me on propranolol (I could not function on any of the benzodiazepines). He said it was possible the propranolol might also help with the nightmares. So far, I still have nightmares but they are not as intense. In fact a couple were kind of pleasant, funny. You also mentioned waking up early. I have always considered this to be part of my bipolar - manic phase. I sleep 3-4 hours and get up refreshed. Right now I am sleeping 6-7 hours and sometimes I am so tired when I get up that I have to go back to bed for 2-3 more hours.

[sewerrats]

I have night mare dreams every night with my meds I am used to them, I had to move out the wifes bed and sleep in another bedroom I was lashing out in my dreams she was worried I may knock her out.

[asp1079]

Originally Posted by anneo59

took it years ago and it worked well for me, didn't have that side effect, severe headaches though. . . . .I wish you the best, keep reaching out and asking questions, research, maybe you will encounter more info and support. Wish I had more I could relate to here. The best!

I actually have/had the bad head aches, sorry you had them too! I got them with PMS... the meds also made my cycle 1 week late. :'/ I think I'll go to the dr.

[asp1079]

Originally Posted by Mickey4333

Hmm!! Wow, I have been taking Prozac for years and I also have nightmares but I never put the two together. I have had nightmares where I wake up in terror!!! They seem to be worse in manic phases. I am like you, prozac works well for me. I had a recent severe mixed bipolar episode. Doc took me off Lamictal and put me on Depakote, seroquel, and, for anxiety he put me on propranolol (I could not function on any of the benzodiazepines). He said it was possible the propranolol might also help with the nightmares. So far, I still have nightmares but they are not as intense. In fact a couple were kind of pleasant, funny. You also mentioned waking up early. I have always considered this to be part of my bipolar - manic phase. I sleep 3-4 hours and get up refreshed. Right now I am sleeping 6-7 hours and sometimes I am so tired when I get up that I have to go back to bed for 2-3 more hours.

Sorry you have similar problems to mine. I'm not sure why this medicine is giving me this issue. I am almost always pretty tired during the day. I feel very sleepy but can't actually physically go back to sleep. I've never had manic episodes or bipolar diagnosis.

[asp1079]

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

I did google this topic and found that such dreams can be a less common side effect of Prozac. But, they can happen with this med.

You might want to mention these dreams to your doc to see what he/she says.

Thanks Payne, this is a good idea. I'll make a dr. appt. and ask about it.

[asp1079]

To everyone else who took time to comment or help me, thank you so much! I'll keep everyone updated on this.

[Odee]

Prozac disrupted my sleep a bit when I first started taking it but wore off after a couple of weeks, however, I have been taking trazodone for sleep as well and still do. I have a lot of dreams, crazy mixed-up kind of over active dreams, but I believe those started with the trazodone.

[onionknight]

I don't know about Prozac but...While on Effexor, I basically hallucinated a clock on the wall while in that half-asleep, half-awake phase. I was conscious, but I must have been dreaming something about clocks or time, and bam, clock where there really wasn't a clock. It was strange.

[sewerrats]

let me just say the nightmares get bad , bbbbbbbbbUT when you wake you quickly forget them they don't linger, and there different every time . So at least you get a variety of horror movies THAN AT BLOCK BUSTER

[anneo59]

neat quote, and glad you're going to see your doc!