Thread: Dreams and SSRIs

I was wondering if anyone has any scientific or personal insight into the effects of SSRIs (such as Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil) and dream recall or lucid dreaming.

From what I've read, most of them inhibit REM sleep.
so it may be hard to impossible to become lucid

Originally posted by lucidnina
I was wondering if anyone has any scientific or personal insight into the effects of SSRIs (such as Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil) and dream recall or lucid dreaming.

Yes. I personally take SSRI's (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibiters) I am not on any of the above that you have mentioned however they are still SSRI which are in their own classification.
What I have read - SSRI's will inhibit your ability to have dream recall.
Personal expieriance, it's gone.

Another person I know takes prozac and has very good dream rcall. Although she has yet to learn to LD. Also Both her and I suffer from fatigue from the medication. But if you get enough sleep you still get enough REM.

The last iissue of Newsweek has some information on SSRI's and Dreaming. 8/9/04
http://www.dreamviews.com/forum/viewtopic....6644&highlight=

Interesting, thanks.

The reason I asked is that when I first joined the forum I had 2 LDs that night and 2 the next day while napping. I was so excited, but the next day I started taking an SSRI for a week and had little to no dream recall and no LDs. I wondered if it was a result of the SSRI so I stopped taking it about 4 days ago and since then have had very vivid, interesting dreams with great dream recall but no LDs yet.

Well good luck with the LD's.
The article says that SSRI can reduce dreaming to a third to one half. Take into consideration that each medication is different along with the fact that each person can have different side effects with any one particular med. The medication they use in referance to is Prozac.

Originally posted by Howetzer
Take into consideration that each medication is different along with the fact that each person can have different side effects with any one particular med.

I agree very much.

When it comes to SSRI medication, I don't have been on that.
However, that side effects is different from person to person like Howetzer said, is very true.

I'm so sad, although I am having decent dream recall I havent had any lucid dreams yet since stopping the SSRIs. I hear they take 2 weeks to completely leave your system, guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Originally posted by lucidnina
I'm so sad, although I am having decent dream recall I havent had any lucid dreams yet since stopping the SSRIs. I hear they take 2 weeks to completely leave your system, guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Hey! I am from Ohio too. What part lucidnina?
It will come. The LD's - just don't stress about it. Practice the same routine you have before and try not to get discouraged, otherwise it can snowball into making it more difficult because you are in a sense trying too hard. > good luck