Is It Possible To Remember Dreams After Sleeping Pills?

[Richter]

Ok, I know sleeping pills are recall killers in general, partly because they stop REM periods, and they're also sometimes just addictive. Still, I find them invaluable sometimes for falling asleep. My question is, are they really THAT destructive to dreaming, or is it possible to take sleeping pills (such as Tylenol PM or Excederin PM) and still get decent recall and REM periods?

[sanjaysagrawal]

Hello Richter, If LD is a goal for you, I would recommend avoiding the sleeping pills that you are talking about. What these drugs do is lull your brain into a different chemical state that your mind mistakes for LD. Over a period of time, the side-effects of these drugs kick in, and instead of you reaching your LD goal, you go far away from it. If insomnia is your problem, I would suggest a change of lifestyle, and a ten->twenty->thirty minute meditation before you go to bed. Meditation readies your body and mind naturally, so that you can sleep soundly. Sleeping pills are not a permanent/lasting solution to insomnia either. My two pence, if you would like to consider them. Regards, Sanjay.

[Richter]

If insomnia is your problem, I would suggest a change of lifestyle[/b] I have to admit, my insomnia has gotten a little better after I've tried meditation. My lady-friend from work tries meditation too. She recommended picturing a colored breath entering one's lungs, then spreading out to the extremities. It really does work. However, how can I change my lifestyle for the better? I get I think enough exercise during the day, and go to bed at a fairly regular time. WBTB and such makes my waking time vary. Finally, I know I'm really pushing it, but if I just use these pills for sleepless nights here and there, it doesn't seem like they'd be "habit-froming", right? I'm reluctant to give them up.

[sanjaysagrawal]

<span style="color:#990000"> Hello Richter, If you have sleepless nights, I suggest you reflect on why are not able to sleep in the first place. Is it that during bed-time, there is a lot of energy in you that has not yet dissipated? Or is it that the worries of your workplace are carried home? If you keep a journal / log, and look out for patterns in them, you might be able to understand the reason. I personally liked the dream log that I got when I bought my Lucid Dreaming Kit from here. I get my students to not only jot down all their LDs in their logs, but also their major issues, and make them discern patterns in their reflections. After discovering the reason, do the opposite of what is _causing_ the reason, so that the reason does not occur&#33; Perhaps, with this approach, you may then never ever need to have those sleeping pills in your home? Hope this helps, Cheers, Sanjay. </span>

[Somnio Forte]

Interesting... Sanjay, if I may ask, what's in that kit?

[sanjaysagrawal]

<span style="color:#990000"> Hello Somnio Forte, The kit has the following items - 1. The course itself - this is in PDF form, password-protected; 2. A "Dream Log" - this is a computer diary, where you log your dream experiences. 3. A "Reality Prompter" - when installed, this software keeps popping up MSN-Messenger style boxes on the bottom-right of the screen. 4. A "Dreamscape" screensaver - very beautiful, part-real, part-surreal images float by. 5. The Audio Music track, useful when you are preparing yourself to sleep. I have been using it for the past over one year - and must say have benefitted immensely. I have reviewed the product here - http://www.ciao.co.uk/lucid_dreaming...Review_5613524. Hth, Sanjay. </span>

[skywatcher]

I have struggled with insomnia off and on for years. I agree that it's best to avoid medication but if you must use it, you might look into the prescription Ambien. I've read that unlike other types of sleep aids, it does not interfere with REM sleep. I have used it and it does seem to negatively affect recall (a little bit,) but it does not limit LDs. In fact, quit the opposite in my experience.

[sanjaysagrawal]

<span style="color:#990000"> Hello skywatcher, This is one useful URL about pharmacological dynamics and kinetics of Zolpidem Tartrate or Ambien - http://products.sanofi-aventis.us/ambien/ambien.html. Note the paragraph titled "Effects on Sleep Stages". Though this particular document is highly adulatory of the drug, one cannot help coming away with the feeling that more research needs to be done; that there are missing links in those paragraphs there. Of course, my own subjective assessment. Here&#39;s another note on Ambien - http://www.drugs.com/ambien.html. Cheers, Sanjay. </span>

[blade5x]

I think the best way to solve insomnia is to stay up an entire night, tough it out the next day (do not take any naps). Yeah it's hard, but possible, just do things that will keep you awake, or go take a walk if you really feel the urge to lay down. Then go to bed at like 9-10PM (or whatever time will allow you to get 8 hours of sleep). Wake up your regular time the next day. You might feel a bit a tired, but hopefully your sleep cycle will be reset.

[skywatcher]

<span style="color:#990000"> Hello skywatcher, This is one useful URL about pharmacological dynamics and kinetics of Zolpidem Tartrate or Ambien - http://products.sanofi-aventis.us/ambien/ambien.html. Note the paragraph titled "Effects on Sleep Stages". Though this particular document is highly adulatory of the drug, one cannot help coming away with the feeling that more research needs to be done; that there are missing links in those paragraphs there. Of course, my own subjective assessment. Here&#39;s another note on Ambien - http://www.drugs.com/ambien.html. Cheers, Sanjay. </span> [/b] Hello Sanjay, thanks for posting those links. I didnt&#39; read the whole article, but the section you mentioned does seem to confirm what I&#39;d read in other places about it not affecting REM sleep as other sleep aids to. In my own experience with it, it has little to no affect on recall and no affect on LDs. Since the drug works so quickly, it actually makes WILDing easier, at least for me. I would not condone using it just for that purpose, however, since Ambien can become habbit forming.

[hydroPWNic]

I took 4 Excedrin PM one night and had the most amazingly vivid and recallable dream that night. Only problem is the whole next day i could barely stay awake, and that night even though i was tired as fuck for some reason, I couldnt get to sleep! I dumped the remainder of the pills down my toilet. I dont suggest it.

[Richter]

So far, Ambien seems to be the only sleep aid that doesn't affect REM greatly. I have a doctor's appoitment tomorrow; I will ask personally whether it does or not; hopefully she'll know.

[Ariox]

Finally, I know I'm really pushing it, but if I just use these pills for sleepless nights here and there, it doesn't seem like they'd be "habit-froming", right? I'm reluctant to give them up. [/b] Right, I can totally understand how your reluctant to give up your non habit-forming sleep aid.