I’ve been on gabapentin for two days and I am experiencing the worst vivid nightmares I’ve ever had I wake up and I’m not even awake I’m just in another dream almost having trouble distinguishing from being awake to the dream is anybody else experiencing this does it subside thank you
I am on gabapentin for the last two days I have had the most vivid nightmares I’ve ever had I wake
Question posted by Stripper50 on 29 Jan 2018
Last updated on 10 May 2024
This question has also been asked and answered here: How long does gabapentin withdrawal last?
56 Answers Page 4
I have been on Gabapentin 300mg at night, for 5 days now and have had terrible dreams every night. I wake up in a panic with heart racing. I'm afraid to go back to sleep. I finally realized they started when I started this medicine.
I have been on gabapentin for a year for pain. I take multiple meds and have been trying to figure out which one is giving me these nightmares. WOW! The nightmares are so bad I wake up screaming and have thrown myself off the bed. My husband can't even sleep in the same bed with me anymore. I am so glad I checked this group. Thank you all, I thought I was losing my mind. These nightmares are so real!
I have been taking Gabapentin for a couple days now and I also last night had so many bad vivid dreams. The same thing happened to me, I was sleeping and in my dream I was trying to sleep but everytime I closed my eyes something bad would happen over and over, so in my dream I tried to stay awake. But everytime I woke up I wasnt actually waking up. I tried so hard to get up and I couldn't tell if I was actually awake or still in my dream. I started to try finding on goggle if Gabapentin causes nightmares and its apparently not one of the side effects, but it should be. I'm scared wondering if I'm going to have more vivid dreams tonight.
I also wake up crying from these dreams, it's so unreal I have never had such things happen to me I never ever dream this vivid. But I cant find anywhere that Gabapentin makes you have nightmares.
Thank you!!! I have the exact same experience and have been going crazy wondering why I am dreaming like this. Horribly disturbing dreams. Vivid, weird, so many strong emotions. Upon awakening, I am confused thinking I am still dreaming. Screw this... pain and anxiety is far better than these dreams. I am so glad I read all of your responses. Thank you so much <3
I’ve been on gabapentin for about a year and just increased the dose to 1800 mg per day.
My nightmares are so bad I have to get out of bed, go into another room and keep telling myself it’s just a dream until I fully wake up.
Going back to 900mg...
Hi I am on gabapentin as a nerve blocker. Been on them 3 months now and my nightmares are getting worse really scary plus I get really bad cramps in both of my legs, only seem to get a few hours sleep because if I wake from a nightmare sometimes I have another if I fall asleep again.
Hi,
I have had my medication changed from Gabapentin to Pregabalin and it is miles better, you don't get any of the side effects like Gabapentin. I told my specialist that I couldn't handle been on the tablets because the side effects were getting worse I was exhausted. Every night was cramps and nightmares hardly any sleep, I have been on these for around 6 months now and haven't had any side effects at all.
I have recently started taking 300mg of gabapentin before bed for severe sciatica. The vivid nightmares have begun for me. Very disturbing as they are extremely violent and realistic. If they continue, I will be contacting my doctor. Interesting that officially, nightmares are not listed as a possible side effect of this drug.
I’ve been taking Gabapentin for about a month. During this time I’ve had vivid dreams and nightmares. I have also been talking in my sleep, to the point that I continue with what I am saying even though I wait up mid sentence. I continue until my point is made. I try to stop myself, realizing what is happening, but the words just seem to keep flowing out of my mouth. I have a doctor appointment in two weeks and will definitely bring this to my doctor’s attention. Has anyone else experienced these side effects?
I just did a search for gabapentin and nightmares. I've been on 300 mg 4x daily and went down to twice a day, for about two weeks and I'm having the scariest real life dreams and had the worst one yet tonight. It's almost 3am and I've been crying so hard my eyes are almost swollen shut cause I was so scared. I'm on this to help take the edge off some chronic pain but it's not worth it if it's going to be like this. Also, I've been sleepwalking but only for a few minutes til I wake up and wonder what the hell am I doing?! The first time I took our big mirror off the bedroom wall! This is so scary, but glad to know it's not just me experiencing the nightmares on this drug. Anyone else sleepwalking? My husband's afraid I'm going to do something really dangerous and hurt myself or someone else if I don't wake up in time.
The vivid dreams do disappear after 6 weeks max i promise x
I was prescribed gabapentin for neuropathy. Because of my nightmares on gabapentin, my husband is sleeping on an air mattress next to our bed. I have fallen out of bed so violently I got a black eye from hitting the nightstand. I get up and walk, I bash my shins on things, I have banged on a wall thinking I was trapped. I would find myself trying to find the door to the bedroom to get out. Horrible experience on gabapentin. However, once I stopped taking it, things got a bit better. I started taking prazosin to alleviate the nightmares. Worked wonders. For those worried about what happens after you stop gabapentin, the nightmares subside. Stay safe everyone.
I have had my Gabapentin dose highered at night, only last week. I have just been woken up by being pushed back in my sleep and touched in a private place. I am so scared to go back to bed. I have never had any such dreams before, I am also very jumpy when trying to relax. I have Fibromyalgia, I don't know if it would be that.
Does anyone have the same thing, please??
When I took Gabapentin I actually had better dreams. I was only on 300 mg at the highest dose though. I’m sure it is different for everyone. Good luck!
I feel for you. ! I was on gabapentin for six months . The nightmares were so vivid that it was like watching a horror movie.
I also gained roughly 20 pounds in six months . ( edema ). The nightmares and the weight maintained until i got off of it.
I was prescribed it as an antidepressant ( not for pain ).
That was my experience on it.
Oh. The weight and the dreams subsided in about six weeks ( once again... my experience on it ).
This is a fantastic comment, and very helpful. My dreams are violent and like I am in a horror movie too.
I was given Gabapentin for pain and numbness with fibromyalgia, I am seeing the doctor in the morning, I will mention it.
Thank you!
It's correct the vivid dreams do disappear after a few weeks. It's different for each person.
Related topics
anxiety, insomnia, nightmares, gabapentin, dreams
Further information
- Gabapentin uses and safety info
- Gabapentin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Gabapentin (detailed)
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