Zoloft, Counter-Zoloft, Nightmares, Prednisone

Hello everyone,

I have seen some things go by about nightmares and Zoloft, but I haven't really looked into this or jumped in on a conversation, as I was trying to figure out whether or not that is what I was going through or not.

I have been on Zoloft for about five years. I was on Zoloft, Klonopin, and Lamictal before the combination failed me. I do remember that back at this time, I experienced A LOT of nightmares. Very vivid, real nightmares that will wake me up in a sweat/panic.

I was taken off the Zoloft when this cocktail failed out. Now I'm on Lithium, Zoloft again and was just started on Cyproheptadine. When I got started on Zoloft again in March (from 25 mg back to 100 mg), I did not seem to be having any troubles with nightmares. In fact, I completely stopped remembering any dreams for this time period.

For about a week now, I was put on Cyproheptadine (another post) to counter some of the Zoloft sexual side effects. It is my understanding that this does actually counter the Zoloft itself to a degree. A couple days later I was actually put on prednisone for an ear issue. Since I've been on these meds, the nightmares have returned - nightly.

Has anyone had issues with nightmares on prednisone?
Or maybe...the cyproheptadine is actually countering my Zoloft just enough to bring back the nightmares...
That is what I'm trying to figure out.

If it is the cypro-Zoloft counter action bringing about the nightmares, I guess I'll have to make a choice - live with these nightmares, or have no sex life.

Thank you SC!

I did a little research the other day and it turns out that Zoloft itself appears to be the "nightmare" drug. Apparently there are numerous reports of Zoloft inducing very vivid, real - even lucid dreams, a lot of them being nightmares.

It seems to be more like the counter-action of the cyproheptadine is counteracting the Zoloft enough just to put me into the nightmare phase again. Coming off the steroids tomorrow so we'll see if there's any change, but I'm pretty sure this has to do with the interplay between the cyp and the Zoloft.