Just getting back, need help

[TheJester]

Hey guys, So some of you might remember me from a few months ago. At the time I was having plenty of LD issues, and had run into a wall, and kept asking questions, and kept getting nowhere. Well, I took a long break from LDing all together, not even using a dream journal. I'm finally wanting to start up again, but have one question before I begin again. For a few weeks now, and probably for the coming many weeks, I've been taking and am taking an anti-depressant called Mirtazapine, I'm sure at least some of you have heard of it. Well, besides helping with depression it also puts me to sleep. However, even though I've had almost no effort whatsoever to remember my dreams, I've been remembering plenty, mostly because of how unusual and life-like they can feel. Some of them have felt lucid in their own ways, and have left me feeling with sometimes an even more confident feeling, like if I tried something I would usually would be too nervous to do. I wanted to attempt to explore these dreams right off the bat, but I recall someone once saying that while you can take certain drugs/medicine/herbs to cause LD's, if you take a medicine constantly and follow lucid dreaming your lucid dreams may end up being caused by that medicine only. I will be going off the Mirtazapine eventually, of course, but not in the very near future. So, is it safe for me to begin LDing again, or should I wait until I'm off the Mirtazapine? Thank you very much for your support.

[OpheliaBlue]

Hey TheJester, I wanted to attempt to explore these dreams right off the bat, but I recall someone once saying that while you can take certain drugs/medicine/herbs to cause LD's, if you take a medicine constantly and follow lucid dreaming your lucid dreams may end up being caused by that medicine only. I used to take Prozac (which is an SSRI and can cause insomnia, which is different than the sedative effects of Mirtazapine, I realize), and it seemed to cause intensely vivid dreams, lucid and nonlucid alike. The good news is, when I stopped using Prozac, I was able to regain my dream recall and lucid abilities though practice and dedication. That said, practicing LDing while on Mirtazapine is up to you. And while you may find that attaining lucidity is easier without taking it, why not try while taking it? After all, any skill that is honed while taking a supplement, has the opportunity to become even stronger one day without it.

[TheJester]

Hey TheJester, I used to take Prozac (which is an SSRI and can cause insomnia, which is different than the sedative effects of Mirtazapine, I realize), and it seemed to cause intensely vivid dreams, lucid and nonlucid alike. The good news is, when I stopped using Prozac, I was able to regain my dream recall and lucid abilities though practice and dedication. That said, practicing LDing while on Mirtazapine is up to you. And while you may find that attaining lucidity is easier without taking it, why not try while taking it? After all, any skill that is honed while taking a supplement, has the opportunity to become even stronger one day without it. Alright, thank you, I appreciate it. I can't wait to take up LDing again, and I just wanted to make sure taking Mirtazapine wouldn't permanently cause any issues.

[OpheliaBlue]

You could ask your doc too, just to be on the safe side. But I know of shrinks who encourage LDing so who knows

[006]

Best to be sure if you get off anti depressants and meditate instead as much as needed, it's natural and it also makes you feel a lot better, but that's my opinion.

[JoannaB]

I think LDing and dream self interpretation and increased self awareness as part of LD practice, all these can also be very helpful in overcoming depression. All the best!