Bad nights and dreams

Hi thanks for your answer. Todas is my first appointment with Sleep Medicine expert at Mayo. I will discuss my options. But the last time I came they told me that the protocol for rem sleep disorder is to use melatonin on the long term. People who experience VIVID DREAMS or HALLUCINATIONS while on melatonin usually last 2 months & that after 2 months these symptoms dissappear. I was wondering if theres somebody here that experienced this awful side effect of melatonin and if they find a way to take it in order to avoid the awful vivid dreams

@lorena1egas, I would certainly be interested in what you learn at your appointment with Sleep Medicine today. In particular, I'd like to understand the recommendation about the use of melatonin: Short term vs. long term. I'll also be interested if it is suggested that you take something different since melatonin seems to cause unpleasant sleep for you with vivid dreams and hallucinations. I found this article that helps to explain this:

- Does Melatonin Make You Have Weird, Vivid Dreams? https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep/melatonin-dreams

Lorena, will you report back what you learn from your sleep study?

@collenyoung I took your advice and read the article. It explains alot of my dream and sleep issues. Melatonin is the main ingredient in Sleep3. It's a stronger mix with GABA and an amino acid but it really answered my sleep problems. It's always nice to have a solid medical explanation.

I am 75 and have experienced headaches and what I call excessive dreaming my whole adult life. It seems to me that I dream all night. They go on and on mostly nonsense but many have a similar theme. I am I think semi-awake, drifting in and out. The only way I can end that dream is to force myself to get out of bed, get a drink, go to the bathroom, etc. As soon as I go back to bed a new dream starts which goes on and on. I wake feeling worse than when I went to bed. I can take a 10-minute nap and dream.
My sleep analysis apparently looks fairly normal. CPAP did not help. Psychiatrists tried antidepressants, no change. At my last sleep medicine visit, I saw an actual sleep doctor who gives forensic testimony. (googled). I figured this might be my one chance to get an answer. I gave my whole history of symptoms and treatment. He said you have epic dreaming (non-rem). It is rare, not much is known about it, or how to treat it. Not what I wanted to hear!
One year ago at my annual exam, I was complaining about headaches. The doctor said let's try a low dose of 37.5 mg of Venlafaxine/Effexor (antidepressant) which has been effective for different things. (does have side effects)
It did not help with headaches but did help the dreaming. I would say for the first two weeks I did not dream at all. The dreaming has gradually crept back but not as long, intense, or vivid as before. Increasing the dose has not helped. Not continuing brings the original symptoms right back.

@mazeppabob Thank you for your reply. I knew I couldn't be the only one with strange sleep/dream story. I'm 77 and always had weird dreams and even a hallucination or two before I was twelve. Skipping ahead twenty years I started waking up and the same routine. I was examined multiple times galore assuming that my problem was kidneys. Ten years later snoring became an issue. A new doctor ordered a sleep test. Five tests and as many years the diagnosis was obstructive sleep apnea. No one could answer questions a bout realistic dreams that reloaded at the same point every time I got up and went back to sleep. I have rem sleep but no one can tell me what damage or danger comes from vivid dreams or nightmares. No interest? Or no University specialty?

I was told that if it is unusual or uncommon that no one will spend money to research the disorder so their solution is to first put you on CPAP, then send you to a shrink and prescribe drugs.

@mazeppabob if doctors usually don't know what to do they take the easy route. I was fortunate to have a doctor with initiative and heart. He was respectful of patients emotional needs as well. The youngest crop of doctors have supposedly had sensitivity training and nutritional information. Hoping it's universal. I had over thirty hears of insensitive inconsiderate experiences. In self defense I learned all I could and worked in nursing homes and hospital. It came in handy too many times to count. The funniest time I needed my knowledge was years after I learned how to stop a person from choking in a scout class. My spouse and I were having dinner in a restaurant early in our relationship. A person was obviously choking and panic was the general response. I stood up walked over pushed the panicked ones away and did the usual mouth check then the Hemlick manuvoir left every one to fuss went back to the table and ate my dinner. First aid classes are invaluable.