Emily, once a sound sleeper, found her nights plagued by vivid, distressing nightmares. These night terrors, triggered by newfound stressors and medication side effects, left her sleep-deprived and desperate for relief. While her doctor initially attributed her nightmares to her recent family problems, Emily’s discovery of my article on medication-induced dreams offered her a solution. 

While these unsettling dreams are a part of life, chronic or frequent nightmares are not. 

It’s important to recognize that medications can profoundly impact our dreams, a possibility that’s often overlooked.

The top 10 drug categories that can cause nightmares are antidepressants (especially SSRIs), antipsychotics, beta-blockers, statins, ADHD medications, smoking cessation aids, corticosteroids, antibiotics, blood pressure medications and anti-malaria drugs.

In Emily’s case, the culprit was a statin drug prescribed for cholesterol management, but known to cause nightmares and mood changes. By temporarily discontinuing the medication and embracing lifestyle changes like exercise, a low-carb, high-protein diet and lipid management supplements, Emily was able to reclaim peaceful nights.

Similarly, some herbal remedies and vitamins, such as melatonin, valerian root, excessive amounts of vitamin B6, and ginseng, can induce nightmares. Sometimes, a simple adjustment can help reduce this side effect. For instance, you might try changing the timing of your medication or considering a dosage reduction. The goal is to minimize dream-related side effects while still benefiting from the medication.

You could also explore combination therapies, using a natural aid alongside a drug. For example, pairing a statin with fish oil or an antidepressant with magnesium.

Adhere to good sleep hygiene, and optimize your bedroom so it’s cool, comfy and dark at night. Keeping a sleep diary to track nightmare patterns can also be helpful.

Having nightmares is awful. It can make you not even want to go to bed at night! It can impact cardiovascular function too, so even though it’s a bad dream and you don’t even remember it (which is pretty normal), you should try to get to the root cause.

Before seeking expensive sleep specialists or additional medications, consult your doctor to investigate if your existing medication or supplement regimen is contributing to the issue. That way, if a new side effect occurs on the heels of a prescription or herbal supplement you started taking, you can immediately figure it out, rather than waste months of sleepless nights. Always consult with your healthcare provider about adjusting or discontinuing medications, as sudden changes can be harmful.