Vivid Dreams

When I was taking Methaline for brainfog, my dreams were so strange, I couldn't get back to sleep and stopped taking it.

Might want to let your Pdoc know what's happening so she can adjust the dosage.

Best wishes.

Hi Soul - My 14-year-old grandson lives with me and my husband.  He has bipolar disorder with psychotic features.  He dreams often of sharks attacking him or other frightening ordeals.  He will describe the fear, pain, blood, and crying in great detail.  He demands that it was very, very real and has been known to suffer for several days over the fear of going to sleep because he might dream it again.  He does not take Lamictal as part of his medication regimen.  I have talked with his therapist and psychiatrist on several occasions about these dreams and they have told me that people who are bipolar often dream very vividly.

I would ask your pdoc just to be sure.

Grams4

I took lamictal for about a year, but stopped for reasons unrelated to the dreams.  I did have strange/vivid dreams while taking lamictal.  Sometimes, I would swear it was really happening in real life, except for when I woke up and noticed otherwise.  I am not trying to tell you to stay on it if you do not like what is does, but maybe try to wait it out a bit.  Most mood stabilizers do not take there full effect in up to a month or more.  But if you feel life this is not the drug for you, then you should talk to your pdoc and talk about other options.

I have never taken Lamatical, however, vivid dreams are very much a part of life for me. I find the dreams are so real to me that I am haunted for days, trying to figure out what is real. In one istance I dreamt that my brother was killed, it took me three days to not be startled to see him walk into the room.

I would suggest charting (however you wish to) your moods and then the dreams you have. I found that mine are very much related to stress and depression, and I rarely get them when I am hypomanic. I know it doesnt help take them away, but it may give you some answers, which in itself helped me not be so freaked out at my in-ability to separate dreams from reality.

Hope this helps you out. Good Luck.

Rock