[C.Oliver]

I notice that there is a lot of dream talk here but I was wondering if anyone is taking drugs for sleep disorders?

I have had a sleep disorder for 20 years. 18 of them totally untreated. I also have PTSD so I have terrible nightmares so a lot of the typical sleep drugs I can't take because they don't control dreams.

So I am doing the unthinkable and taking Ativan for sleep along with a blood pressure med (minipress) to not have any dreams at all.

Of course with the Ativan come dependance so I am up to 5 a night. I take 2 Ativan and one minipress to fall asleep and then wake up at three to take 3 Ativan and one more minipress to fall asleep again.

I know this sounds horrible I just wonder if anyone else is doing anything like this or what everyone else is taking for drugs for sleep and if they need any nightmare control like I do????

C and Oliver (my Service Dog)

[Travelinglady]

I haven't had your exact experience, but I have taken sleep medicine and I can tell you it definitely affects the nature of dreams. For example, they can make a dream very vivid.

[C.Oliver]

Yes, I think that is the exact reason my pdoc couldn't put me on the regular sleep meds and had to put my on the dreaded benzos for sleep.

I hate the fact that I am having to go up and up and up on the ativan but it really is working for the sleep. Better than not sleeping for 18 years!

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

I haven't had your exact experience, but I have taken sleep medicine and I can tell you it definitely affects the nature of dreams. For example, they can make a dream very vivid.

Yes it eill stop nightmares, but I feel I have to tell you to be careful with upping your ativan like that. There was a time in my life I was extremely reliant on this drug. It made me sleep, yes, but after 20 years of use it didn't work for anxiety, I feel it actually caused me to have anxiety and no use for good restful sleep. Its short acting and with that high of a dose you will continue to need more and more of it to work. A few years ago I had enough and looked into what I could do. Switching to diazepam was a good choice for me. I tapered down slowly and don't get that feeling anymore that I cannot live without it. Take care

[RedBarchetta]

I use a sleep medication - never noticed any difference in dreams due to it - but I only use it 2-3 times a week (sometimes less) - if used more, it tends to loss it's effectiveness - that is Tamazapam.

[Travelinglady]

I wonder if there are any sleep aids that don't lose their effectiveness after awhile.....

[Korana]

I don't dream as much with drugs, even cough medicine. It's like they dampen my subconscious. I hate it! I've always loved dreaming, because they can get pretty hilarious, but painkillers, AD's and even alcohol messes with sleep and dreams.