I do not know what medications you take ( if any) but sometimes the side effects may include disturbing, vivid dreams. Check with your doctor or pharmacist. Also consider being checked for sleep apnea.
All the best,
Helen

@sallyharper I have read if you take melatonin that it is best to not take more than 3mg because any more than that can cause nightmares. Are you taking that by any chance? I do use it often but I keep it to 3mg or less and have no problems with it.
JK

Thanks!

Thank you!

@sallyharper Hi, Sally! That sounds horrible and would make it difficult to go to sleep if you have that expectation. Because of chronic pain, I am varying doses of opioids and if I am at or below my average, I don't notice, but on really bad days, the extra medication does cause vivid dreams. Not always bad, but difficult to wake up after the effects of medication. I am guessing that is not your issue, but many meds will have that listed as, at least, a rare side effect.
Gary

i understand. Thanks for your input!

Hi, @sallyharper — wondering how you are doing and how it's going with the disturbing dreams and headaches?

Thanks for asking. Still dreaming, but started on Lithium and seems to help moderately with the screaming.

Hi, @sallyharper — I thought you might also like to meet some of the other members on Connect who have talked about disturbing dreams or nightmares, like @suzmay @efexfreeforever @parus @macjane @muriel66 @robbinr and @lafaye. Hoping they might share some of their experiences with nightmares and have some insights on what they've learned and what has helped them, if anything.

@peach414144 @jimhd may also have some thoughts on this.

Thanks for mentioning the Lithium, @sallyharper. Are you finding you are experiencing any side effects from it so far?

Hi Sally. @sallyharper

I hope that Lithium will increase the good benefit as you continue taking it.

Jim

@contentandwell Thank you for mentioning this. My primary suggested 10 mg-waaay too much. I know this now. I do have nightmares due to past trauma. After talking with the pharmacist about meds and supplements-BINGO. The large dose of melatonin were contributing to the worsening of nightmares.

@sallyharper Not knowing your history it is hard to say what may be causing thus. I am an adult survivor of extreme abuse. I have PTSD and a dissociative disorder. Nightmares are terrifying and terribly disruptive to adequate rest. I hope the lithium helps you. Keep us posted as you can.

I made the horrible mistake of being so crazy exhausted that I took 20 mg of melatonin. Was way in left field for a few days…..wore my shirt wrong side out to get a pedicure and then to buy groceries. Never noticed until I loaded my groceries in the car. Bad thing is I still had exhausting dreams.

I was a little extra sleepy for a few days, but nothing else.

So very sorry about your abuse. Human inflicted issues are so hard to take……I had no physical abuse, but extreme emotional abuse. Mine aren’t always scary just detailed and go on and on. I’ve shared with my daughter who is a therapist and she gets exhausted just hearing all the details. Think the lithium is helping and plan to continue. Thanks!