Pills to stop dreaming?

Well, look... those aren't exactly easy to come by, as far as I know... they're chemically based, right?
So... if someone keeps having the same dream, just with slight variations, where it's basically a recurring traumatic event from their past that won't let them go... would that be considered a valid reason to get prescribed those pills?
And another thing... what about the side effects? Both mental and physical? Do they cause dependency? Is there more harm than good in the end?

I mean, what else would it be based on if not chemistry? Every single pill out there—whether it’s pure synthetic stuff or just some crushed-up, dried-out plant matter—it all works through chemical reactions. It’s just basic science at that point.

Have you even tried just having a normal conversation? Sometimes a real talk is way more effective than any pill, regardless of what’s inside them.

I don't really have anyone else to talk to about this. I’ve always been pretty skeptical about medication—I won't even reach for an Advil when I have a headache—so I view taking a pill as a last resort. That's exactly why I'm posting here; I want to learn as much as possible before making any decisions...

The downsides of these pills far outweigh any benefits.

My two cents? Just sit down and talk through whatever is weighing on you—whether that’s with a therapist or just someone close to you. You really need to work through this internally, rather than just trying to mask the pain with medication...

I’m with you on this. The absolute worst thing you can do is shove a problem down into your subconscious and hope it stays there. To be honest, I’ve always been pretty skeptical about those kinds of pills. I don't even know what the active ingredients are most of the time, or what the actual long-term effects might be, but any time you're messing with your central nervous system, you need to proceed with extreme caution and stay under strict medical supervision. My advice? Talk to a therapist, a chaplain, or just someone close to you that you actually trust first. Only if that doesn't move the needle should you reach out to a psychiatrist to consult about medication. And please, don't think for a second that me suggesting a psychiatrist means I think you're crazy... it's simply because they are the most qualified person to handle that specific type of chemistry.

Alright, so I’m a pharmacist by trade, and I actually felt compelled to go Google the phrase "anti-dream pills." I can't quite tell if I'm just being a bit out of the loop—it's true that I graduated relatively recently—or if there is some specific concept here I've missed. Were you perhaps thinking of hypnotic medications? You know, standard sleep aids? It is a clinical fact that certain types of them can have a side effect where you don't really remember your dreams in the morning... but as far as a specific category of "anti-dream pills" goes, my degree 😬 never once mentioned such a thing 🙂 (By the way, I'm certainly not mocking you if you used the wrong term and actually meant sleep aids; I'm just genuinely curious... I want to make sure we're on the same page so I can actually give you a useful answer regarding the pros and cons, if that's what you're looking for...)

Casey Palmer5 said:Those pills do more harm than good.

My advice? Talk to someone about what's actually bothering you, whether it's a professional or just someone close to you. You need to work through this internally rather than trying to mask it with medication.

I completely agree with that perspective; I'm only asking because I want to be better informed about how these things work. 👍

fadedmarlin402 said:I agree. Burying problems in your subconscious is the worst way to handle things. Plus, I'm pretty skeptical about those kinds of pills. Without knowing the active ingredients and how they actually work, you have to be careful—anything affecting the central nervous system requires caution and strict medical supervision. I’d suggest talking to a therapist, a chaplain, or just someone close you can trust first. Only if that doesn't help should you turn to a psychiatrist to discuss medication. And please, don't think I'm calling you crazy just because I mentioned a psychiatrist... they're simply the most qualified people to handle that kind of medicine...

I'm already seeing a psychiatrist for stress, just like half the kids at my high school, so I definitely don't view anyone—including myself—as crazy for doing it.😁
But I haven't been since May, and I won't go again until September, because she's on vacation...

crimsonstag3 said:Look, I’m a pharmacist, so I actually had to Google "anti-dream pills." Am I just totally out of the loop—it's true I graduated relatively recently—or is there something specific I'm missing here? Were you thinking of hypnotic drugs? Like sleep aids? The reality is that some of them can have a side effect where you don't even remember your dreams in the morning... but I’ve never heard of anything officially called "anti-dream pills" in my 😬 medical training 🙂 (By the way, I'm not making fun of you if you just used the wrong term for sleeping pills; I'm genuinely curious... I want to make sure we're on the same page so I can actually tell you the pros and cons if that's what you're looking for...)

I know exactly how you feel 😁
I was Googling it too, because I'm certain something like this exists, but I couldn't find much info, which is why I ended up on this forum.
Anti-dream pills... I don't really know how else to put it. Something you take at night so you sleep normally, but without the dreaming part... 🤷 I'm not talking about standard sleeping pills here... those are for people who can't fall asleep, right? Well, I don't have any trouble falling asleep... 👍

I honestly think someone is selling you a load of nonsense here... don't just fall for every random thing you stumble upon online. If a medical doctor tells you something doesn't exist, then take their word for it. Stop chasing ghosts. People spend their whole lives dreaming, but the real issue is whether they can actually recall it once they wake up—unless, of course, you've knocked yourself out with some heavy sedative and claim you were sleeping soundly when you really weren't. God, I'm rambling now. Look, just don't try to self-diagnose this. And let's be clear: you haven't been seeing a psychiatrist; you've been seeing a psychologist, and they aren't authorized to prescribe medication.

fadedmarlin402 said:I think someone is just selling you a load of nonsense here... don't fall for every random thing you stumble upon online. If a doctor tells you something doesn't exist, take their word for it... stop dreaming. People always dream... the issue is whether they actually remember it when they wake up. Unless, of course, you take some kind of sedative and claim you were sleeping soundly while forgetting everything... gosh, I'm rambling now. Look, don't try to handle this on your own... and I'm fairly certain you weren't seeing a psychiatrist, but rather a psychologist who isn't licensed to prescribe medication...

I know exactly who I saw. I've been seeing my psychiatrist for a year now. If she were just a psychologist, she wouldn't have been able to prescribe antidepressants for me back then... about a year ago. But I chose not to take them. Like I said, I'm not a fan of pills. And there is absolutely no way I would start taking anything without medical supervision. I'll just reach out to her for advice if these dreams keep happening.

Elizabeth Hayes43 said:I don't really have anyone else to talk to about this. To be honest, I’ve always been pretty skeptical about medication—I won't even reach for an Advil if I have a headache—so I view this as a last resort. That's exactly why I'm here, trying to learn as much as possible before making any decisions...

I went through something similar, mostly dealing with PTSD. It took about six months to a year on antidepressants to get back on track. Honestly, if your life is feeling more stable right now, you might not even need them, provided you stay consistent with therapy or talking things through with a psychologist. For me, the real turning point was a total change of scenery—moving, starting over, spending tons of time outdoors, finding some peace, and just getting lost in books. These days, I finally sleep peacefully at night.🙂

I can't quite make sense of this one... needs more context... kaže:
She went through it—mostly an PTSD diagnosis. She was on antidepressants for about six months to a year, but you won't need them if your current situation is more stable and you make sure to talk things through with a psychiatrist or psychologist. A change of scenery helps too. Changing up your lifestyle, spending plenty of time in nature, finding peace, and just getting lost in books... today, I'm finally dreaming sweet dreams...🙂

I was diagnosed with depression back in October of last year, and honestly, I can't even argue with the diagnosis. It was based on real stuff. But I was only seventeen at the time—just dealing with that teenage hormonal rollercoaster—and I decided it was time to step up and actually grow up since I wasn't a kid anymore. I managed to get my head straight on my own. I didn't even take the antidepressants I was "supposed" to, and I feel perfectly fine. So, I have no intention of starting them now. As for those dreams... they aren't a big enough issue for me to go through the hassle of moving or changing my entire life, especially since I can't afford to right now... but I would still like to find a way to make them stop...

I never had specific traumatic events that I could directly link to my nightmares, yet they were nonetheless absolutely terrifying, leaving me genuinely afraid to even close my eyes at night.
Combined with the depression I was battling back then, nothing seemed to provide any relief; consequently, after a long period of stubborn resistance—since I have always harbored a deep distaste for medication—I finally relented and began taking Celexa to try and stabilize my brain chemistry. This was done alongside therapy sessions, though in my case, the therapist wasn't particularly highly trained.
Initially, the nightmares subsided, and eventually, the depression lifted as well.

If you are going to take anything at all, just make sure you opt for the mildest version possible. Sleeping pills, along with those meant to suppress dreaming—assuming such things even exist—can carry incredibly harmful consequences, primarily because you are merely treating a symptom rather than addressing the actual root cause. Therefore, your path should be either pure psychotherapy or a combination of antidepressants and therapy (provided there are clinical indications!), but do not resort to anything else. In time, everything will settle into place. If these nightmares continue to plague you, it simply means your work isn't finished yet.

stormymaker24 said:I didn't have specific traumas tied directly to my nightmares, but they were still terrifying enough that I was scared to even close my eyes.
Combined with the depression I was dealing with back then, nothing seemed to help. After resisting it for a long time—since I’m not exactly a fan of medication myself—I finally started taking Lexapro to try and balance out my brain chemistry. I paired that with therapy, though my therapist wasn't exactly top-tier.
First the nightmares subsided, and then the depression lifted.

If you decide to take anything, just make sure you opt for the gentlest version possible. Sleeping pills, or even medications meant to suppress dreaming (assuming such things exist), can have really nasty side effects, especially since you're just treating the symptom rather than the root cause. Your best bet is either pure talk therapy or a combination of antidepressants and therapy (if indicated by a doctor!). Don't reach for anything else. Things will settle down eventually. If the nightmares are still haunting you, it means there's still work left to be done...

I don't have issues with depression, so I honestly don't see why I would need to take antidepressants... I dealt with it once before, but I found a solid way to practice self-therapy😁 so I really don't need meds just to feel "happier," because I'm plenty happy as it is..

Honestly, you might find it really helpful to just sit down and talk things through with a therapist—you know, just having someone to listen and help you work through everything rather than jumping straight to medication. Either way, I truly wish you nothing but the best 🙂

[QUOTE=Elizabeth Hayes43;21509448]I don't have an issue with depression, and frankly, I can't see why I would ever need to take antidepressants... I've been through it before, but I eventually discovered my own effective method of self-therapy 😁 so there's really no need for medication just to make me feel "happier," seeing as I am perfectly cheerful enough as it is now.[/QUOTE

I wasn't attempting to impose my views upon you; my sole intention was to point out that if there are genuine clinical indications for pharmacotherapy, it might actually provide some relief during those long, dark nights. Being cheerful while battling depression... well, it's quite a contradiction, isn't it?

Best of luck to you.😉[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=stormymaker24;21511535]
[QUOTE="Elizabeth Hayes43, post: 529027, member: 13814"]I don't struggle with depression, and I honestly don't see why I would need antidepressants... I've been on them before, but I found my own way to handle things through self-therapy 😁 so I really don't need medication just to feel "happier," because I'm plenty happy as it is currently..[/QUOTE

I wasn't trying to push anything on you; I just wanted to mention that if there are actual clinical indications for medication, it can help during those dark nights. Being cheerful while depressed... well, you know how that goes.

Good luck.😉
Thanks for sharing your experience 🙂[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]

If it makes you feel any better—hey, you’re probably sleeping soundly right now, while the rest of us are still wide awake🙂

Some people wish they could even just catch a few hours of shut-eye, but things have been so rough lately that sleep hasn't even been an option for days. Hang in there, honey, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel somewhere...