Question about Drugs (medicinal)

[Tykk]

I am currently on several prescriptions for pain killers, muscle relaxers, inflammatory medicines, ulcer preventions, migraine prevention and pain reducers, etc. I was in a nearly fatal car wreck about a month ago and it's caused me some pretty severe pain, and made some pain that already existed even worse (I had back pain and migraines before the wreck, and now they get two to three times as bad) I have hydrocodone, darvocet, soma, and a few others that I don't remember the names of, I think topamax might be one. In any ones opinion, professional or not, if these are taken to help relax me so I can fall asleep, is there a possibility that it is effected my ability for dream recall and the ability to lucid dream? When I started looking into Lucid Dreaming I was remembering my dreams for about a week and a half to two weeks and then all of a sudden for five days or so I couldn't remember a single one of my dreams. I have nothing written in my dream journal for several days because I couldn't remember them. I have personally not noticed any connection to the drugs, but I also do not keep a record of when I take the drugs, generally its anytime after work (my work is physically laborious) to relax myself and be able to be comfortable. I've also only had one lucid, it was a completely random DILD, and I have not had one since (though it was only a few days ago), and I'm not sure how skilled I am yet to try to make any reflections from my normal and drugged states. Am I endangering my ability to recall or lucid with any of the prescriptions?

[kingofhypocrites]

I am currently on several prescriptions for pain killers, muscle relaxers, inflammatory medicines, ulcer preventions, migraine prevention and pain reducers, etc. I was in a nearly fatal car wreck about a month ago and it's caused me some pretty severe pain, and made some pain that already existed even worse (I had back pain and migraines before the wreck, and now they get two to three times as bad) I have hydrocodone, darvocet, soma, and a few others that I don't remember the names of, I think topamax might be one. In any ones opinion, professional or not, if these are taken to help relax me so I can fall asleep, is there a possibility that it is effected my ability for dream recall and the ability to lucid dream? When I started looking into Lucid Dreaming I was remembering my dreams for about a week and a half to two weeks and then all of a sudden for five days or so I couldn't remember a single one of my dreams. I have nothing written in my dream journal for several days because I couldn't remember them. I have personally not noticed any connection to the drugs, but I also do not keep a record of when I take the drugs, generally its anytime after work (my work is physically laborious) to relax myself and be able to be comfortable. I've also only had one lucid, it was a completely random DILD, and I have not had one since (though it was only a few days ago), and I'm not sure how skilled I am yet to try to make any reflections from my normal and drugged states. Am I endangering my ability to recall or lucid with any of the prescriptions? Yes, they can have a huge impact. Any drugs that affect neurotransmitters in the the brain usually suppress rem sleep (30-70% less dreaming). In other words if they help you sleep other than by simply eliviating pain, they probably have an effect on your sleep cycle. It's different for every medication, so I would check each one carefully. I took a tricyclic antidepressant for 12 years.... it took me a month or so of trying different medications and researching until I could find one that did not suppress REM (nefazadone). Soma i think I read suppresses REM, but I don't remember for sure. I think most muscle relaxers probably do not. The biggest culprits are anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and hypnotics such as Ambien. The other factor to consider is that some drugs will affect your short term memory and ability to recall dreams. Many patients reports having no recollection of the entire night. Never waking up throughout the night will also reduce dream recall as we remember dreams best when we awaken directly after them. I went through great personal sacrifice to change my meds to get the best possible dream potential, but you have to way benefits, side effects, the relief you get, vs. getting more rem and better dream recall. You have to do a lot of experimentation. Not only with medications and combinations of them, but the dosages used. Get a sleep study done as well. Most importantly research like crazy. You can do searches like "soma" "rem suppression" , etc. to help you find articles on whether or not they suppress rem.

[Cacophony]

I think that some muscle relaxers/pain killers can increase dream recall - at least they have for me. I've taken vicodin and valium before going to bed before, and the few times I've done this it's increased the vividness of my dreams. This isn't a professional opinion or anything, just a personal experience. Good luck!

[Tykk]

Thanks for the reply! I took some medicine last night and was able to have several dreams and remember them. I'm not sure what was going on during that week where I had no dreams that would have caused it, but I am remembering them now so hopefully it'll stay that way. But anyways, thanks again for the responses!