bupropion hydrochloride (wellbutrin, Zyban, Voxra.) and lucid dreams

**ADEzor** · 03-20-2012 10:12 AM

Hi! (My first post!)

I tried to search the interwebs for answers, but didn't find anything directly related to the issue at hand. I have ADHD (predominately inattentive) and am 25 years old. For the ADHD, I used to have Concerta as the primary medicine for inattentivity, but recently my doctor swapped my medicine to Voxra ([bupropion hydrochloride) other brand names wellbutrin and Zyban]. Its primarily an anti depressant, but its used for "stop smoking aid" and treatment for ADHD... So my questions are the following..

1: has any of you guys tried to LD while being on this medicine?

2: this medicine affects on dreams/dreaming in general.. But do you know if it actually helps LD or makes it harder to achieve?

I will post my own experiences with the drug soon.

**Sivason** · 03-20-2012 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by ADEzor

Hi! (My first post!)

1: has any of you guys tried to LD while being on this medicine?

2: this medicine affects on dreams/dreaming in general.. But do you know if it actually helps LD or makes it harder to achieve?

I will post my own experiences with the drug soon.

1) I take welbutrin in the cold months and then stop taking it in the spring, because my depression is a seasonal issue. I have very good luck with LDs, but I do not think the drug makes a difference.
2) The drug will often give people odd or disturbing dreams for about a week, but after the brain adjusts, they don't seem to havee an issue with it. I have just as much luck on it as off of it.

**ADEzor** · 03-20-2012 11:46 AM

Thanks for the reply Sivason

I explored the wikipedia and found this though..
"It also acts as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist." (wikipedia: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bupropion ) ...acetyl choline receptor antagonist? Does that mean it increases the amount of acetyl choline in brain?
[maybe this is why the use of nicotine patches during the use of bupropion is prohibited¿] I read somewhere that anything that increases acetyl choline in brain helps to LD?

Also I found an article addressing the use of bupropion as a "REM dream enhancer"

REM sleep enhancement by
bupropion in depressed men
by
Nofzinger EA, Reynolds CF 3rd, Thase ME, Frank E,
Jennings JR, Fasiczka AL, Sullivan LR, Kupfer DJ
Sleep and Chronobiology Center,
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, PA 15213.
Am J Psychiatry 1995 Feb; 152(2):274-6

ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The authors compared the effects of bupropion, fluoxetine, and cognitive behavior therapy on EEG sleep in depressed subjects. METHOD: All-night sleep EEG studies were performed before treatment and after partial or full remission on 18 men with depression diagnosed according to Research Diagnostic Criteria and randomly assigned to treatment with either bupropion (N = 7) or fluoxetine (N = 11). Response to these drugs was measured by changes in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores. Pre- and posttreatment EEG sleep study results before and after treatment with cognitive behavior therapy were also available for 18 men matched in age and severity of Hamilton depression scale score, and one-time EEG sleep measures were available for 36 men who were not depressed. RESULTS: REM latency was reduced and REM sleep percent and REM time increased after treatment in the depressed men given bupropion. These effects contrasted with the effects of fluoxetine and cognitive behavior therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first report of an antidepressant medication that shortens REM latency and increases REM sleep. If confirmed, this finding may require a revision of our current understanding of the relation among depression, REM sleep, and anti-depressant mechanisms.

Any thoughts?

(sorry,I can't post links yet, so I had to copy paste the whole thing)

**ADEzor** · 03-20-2012 12:18 PM

I found this too... Abstract

Whereas there are some case reports of bupropion-induced vivid dreaming and nightmares, until now it has not been associated with somnambulism. A case is reported of a patient treated with bupropion as a smoking cessation medication, who developed somnambulism during nicotine withdrawal. Furthermore, the sleepwalking episodes were associated with eating behaviour. Amnesia was reported for all episodes. As, on one hand, bupropion is a noradrenergic and dopaminergic drug and nicotine withdrawal, on the other hand, is associated with alterations in monoaminergic functions, an interaction at the level of these neurotransmitters is suggested as the underlying mechanism.

**ADEzor** · 03-20-2012 12:31 PM

Sorry for multipost. Maybe this whole thing relates to the first Weeks of Taking the drug.. I'm still on the first week with my Voxra and it feels like it has an effect with my sleeping somewhat.. also, during day, I occasionally get a feeling that this could be a dream... And during RC, I'm ready to believe them succeeding and questioning the current reality

**Sivason** · 03-22-2012 08:13 PM

Well I know it does have an effect in the first week or so, so I imagine it may have an effect the whole time you take it. From my experience, it would be a small and unclear effect. But, the abstract on REM suggests it is a good effect if anything.

**ADEzor** · 03-24-2012 10:21 AM

I agree...the positive effects for lucid dreaming aren't as big as I would like them to be... I'm going to try to increase my dose to 300mg after two Weeks and see how it affects..

Also, to think of it... If this medicine quickens the REM onset, It could also be seen as a drawback. People need to find their REM times all over again and wake up even earlier than before for WILDing.