Kim, H. J., et al. Taking metformin can cause vitamin B12 deficiency. 415-416, 2000. eHealthMe, Metformin hydrochloride and Nightmare - from FDA reports, Tech. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 2 Apr 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 17 Apr 2023), ASHP (updated 10 Apr 2023) and others. However, it's also important to note that mental health problems such as anxiety and depression often contribute to sleep problems and intense or upsetting dreams too. (2014). The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. View Source Despite the fact that the precise pathophysiology of disordered dreaming is largely unknown and possibly involves complex neurochemical process, drugs that affected neurotransmitters and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep have been shown to cause nightmares [5]. Even though it is the most plausible cause in this case, there are some theoretical issues worthy of mentioning. Copyright 2018 Theo Audi Yanto et al. Ive just started taking metformin - 3 weeks now and every night for the past week I have several vivid dreams, nightmares. Its protective role and benefits currently outweigh the unknown risk of dementia. Our team of writers, editors, and medical experts rigorously evaluates each article to ensure the information is accurate and exclusively cites reputable sources. between nightmares and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a breathing disorder that causes fragmented sleep, although further research is needed to clarify this association. Some are common, while others are rare. Notes on Why can antidepressants cause vivid dreams? The .gov means its official. Studies are needed to confirm the association and causality of these findings. Stay away from overly processed foods. PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility. All rights reserved. I think it may be from the way metformin works at processing certain carbs. Best practice guide for the treatment of nightmare disorder in adults. If possible, the affected person should drink a lot of water while waiting for help. Its possible. distinguish nightmares from bad dreams No. 164, no. Before you have an imaging test that uses contrast dye, such as a CT scan or MRI, youll need to stop taking metformin. Physical symptoms like heart rate changes or sweating may be detected after waking up as well. Metformin might be the underlying cause of nightmare and abnormal dreams in this patient. Question posted by Scottysgrl10506 on 11 May 2014, Last updated on 31 May 2015 by Scottysgrl10506. Another factor may be the potential impact of antidepressants on REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Conflicting stories about taking metformin - will it help my weight and PCOS? Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats. PCOS is also a risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes. M. R. Gionfriddo, O. L. Morey-Vargas, J. P. Brito, A. L. Leppin, M. H. Murad, and V. M. Montori, Systematic reviews to ascertain the safety of diabetes medications topical collection on pharmacologic treatment of type 2 diabetes, Current Diabetes Reports, vol. Trusted Source The patient still reported the same abnormal dreams every night even after 6 months of using metformin. I've read that this may be a side effect of this drug. "Choose a set time to go to bed and wake up or try only going to bed when you are tired. Nightmare and Abnormal Dreams: Rare Side Effects of Metformin? Metformin is a first-choice option for treating Type 2 diabetes. He concurrently took atorvastatin and candesartan for his hypertension and dyslipidemia. Patient does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Metformin might be the underlying cause of nightmare and abnormal dreams in this patient. So, its recommended that healthcare providers regularly check women with PCOS for diabetes. "No-one really knows for certain, but all these brain chemicals regulate thoughts and emotions, so it makes sense that by increasing them, even at night, dreams could become more intense and real," he explains. For example, a study found that These include peer-reviewed journals, government reports, academic and medical associations, and interviews with credentialed medical experts and practitioners. Nothing helps. 2013 Mar 31;154(13):497-502. doi: 10.1556/OH.2013.29573. People with diabetes may have a greater cancer risk. The nightmare only lasted for a night, but the dreams every night thereafter seemed abnormal. Don't be tempted to stop taking an antidepressant or to reduce your dose on your own, as this may cause further side effects or withdrawal-like symptoms. If the side effects are outweighing the benefits, speak with your doctor about changing on to a different medication. It helps bring down your blood sugar level in three ways: It can lower your A1c, the "average" of your blood sugar control over a few months. Luckily for me, my dreams have not been scary or bad. Some people may be concerned that metformin can make PCOS worse or cause infertility. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 7(6), 622631. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. He described his dream as bizarre which awakened him at night with negative feelings. 277287, 2010. a vitamin B-12 The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. Trusted Source The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 63(8), 673684. Trusted Source Patient is a UK registered trade mark. A. J. Scheen and N. Paquot, Metformin revisited: A critical review of the benefit-risk balance in at-risk patients with type 2 diabetes, Diabetes & Metabolism, vol. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Three months after the initial visit, he reported that he still experienced abnormal dreams every night with no interference of daily activities. Insufficient sleep connected to nightmares and nightmare disorder can cause excessive daytime sleepiness, mood changes, and worsened cognitive function, all of which can have a substantial negative impact on a persons daytime activities and quality of life. shakiness slurred speech tightness in the chest unusual tiredness or weakness Rare Behavior change similar to being drunk difficulty with concentrating I highly recommend that if you are having side effects that make your life at all more difficult that you talk to your doctor and make a plan for how to combat the side effects. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) also recommends metformin for some people with prediabetes. Please, do not tolerate nightmares. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. 654665, 2005. Its normal for both children and adults to have bad dreams and nightmares every now and again. The kidneys process and clear the medication out of your system through your urine. Metformin in pregnancy: Mechanisms and clinical applications. Sleep, 36(3), 413419. The Sleep Foundation fact-checking guidelines are as follows: Dreaming is one of the most complicated and mysterious aspects of sleep. All rights reserved. Its unclear. If anything I have less dreams - at least ones I remember - than before. Good luck!! Many experts believe that dreaming is part of the minds A., Schmid, C., Schredl, M., Spoormaker, V. I., Steil, R., van Schagen, A. M., Pietrowsky, R. (2019). Nightmares and sleep terrors have 16, no. I usually don't have nightmares and don't dream much (that I can remember). Diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome: An Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. "There are lots of things that can help manage sleep problems, from simply making your bedroom nice and cosy, to creating an evening routine," Buckley says. 2013;5(1):4957. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC, an Internet Brands company. Both his global PSQI score and HAM-D17 were 0, and A1C hemoglobin level was 6.7% on the last visit. , meaning that they progress abnormally through sleep stages. Nightmares and abnormal dreams may be the rare side effects of metformin. With this But, as mentioned, low vitamin B12 levels can cause other problems, including anemia. Godin I, Montplaisir J, Gagnon JF, Nielsen T. Sleep. Its unclear. Nightmares can have a clear connection to things that happen while youre awake. Metformin is a leading cause of nightmares in users. The occurrence of bad dreams and poor sleep quality among patients with T2DM were associated with poor glycemic control and duration of disease [7, 8]. The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. eHealthMe, Metformin and Abnormal dreams - from FDA reports, http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/metformin/abnormal-dreams/. It could also be from an additive the manufacturer puts in. Overall, the research on metformin and dementia is mixed and not definitive yet. If you're ready for more, sign up to receive our email newsletter! Pagel, J. F. (2000). You need medical help right away if your blood sugar is very high. For those living with mental illness, antidepressants can be an invaluable lifeline - helping people do things we tend to take for granted, such as getting up in the morning and showering. Most dreams occur during this restorative phase of sleep, and it is thought to play a role in learning, memory and mood. National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information However, this research is still limited. Theo Audi Yanto, Ian Huang, and Felicia Nathania Kosasih drafted the manuscript. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted had at least one nightmare in the past two weeks. Current Pharmaceutical Design. View Source While most people have nightmares from time to time, nightmare disorder occurs when a person has frequent nightmares that interfere with their sleep, mood, and/or daytime functioning. have pale or yellow skin (this may be less obvious on brown or black skin. Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question. GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Keep in mind that uncontrolled diabetes raises your risk of developing kidney problems. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. High blood sugar may cause you to feel thirsty, tired, or nauseated. Registered in England and Wales. (2009). For that reason, it is important to talk with a doctor who can describe the potential benefits and downsides of prescription drugs for nightmare disorder. Once your doctor is able to rehydrate you and lower your blood sugar, the hallucinations will Elsevier is a publishing company that aims to help researchers and health care professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Generally, though, metformin is considered to be a safe and effective treatment for Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation, 2, 3. On the night when metformin was reintroduced, the abnormal dreams ensued. When you dont get enough, it can cause peripheral neuropathy, the numbness or tingling in your feet and legs thats already a risk with diabetes. Plagiarism is never tolerated. Most of the myths regarding long-term side effects of metformin are not cause for concern. A person who is having hallucinations may see, hear, or feel things that aren't there. A potentially harmful chemical called N-nitrosodimethylamine ( NDMA) was found in some metformin ER products. Infrequent nightmares dont normally need any treatment, but both psychotherapy and medications can help people who have nightmare disorder. N. M. Maruthur, E. Tseng, S. Hutfless et al., Diabetes medications as monotherapy or metformin-based combination therapy for type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Annals of Internal Medicine, vol. Unfortunately, these steps can make nightmares worse. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Just want some peoples story I guess! 7, no. P3-593: The association between metformin and incident dementia in a cohort of African Americans with diabetes. Since this isn't a listed side effect of it, I don't know what to tell you. Will this go away as my body adjusts? These people dont have diabetes, but they take metformin because they think it might lower their risk of cancer and make them healthier overall. The dreams were vivid and indescribable. It helps lower your blood sugar levels and can lower your risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks. Part of what metformin does is make you less insulin resistant. Nightmares are vivid dreams that may be threatening, upsetting, bizarre, or otherwise bothersome. Metformin: A hopeful promise in aging research. See how one patient learned to manage her weight and diet. The disappearance and occurrence of abnormal dreams ensued soon after the drug was discontinued and rechallenged. Bookshelf For details see our conditions. Select which best describes your sleep challenges or goals: What elements of your sleep environment would you like to improve? Generally, if youre prescribed metformin, youll be on it long term. Case Rep Endocrinol. Patients must understand the common ones so they know what to watch for when they take this medication. 11, pp. Alexithymia associated with nightmare distress in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. The relationship of nightmare frequency and nightmare distress to well-being. National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information Sleep is the foundation on which Common side effects of metformin include: digestive problems, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and flatulence. "It's interesting though because SSRIs are said to suppress REM. The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. Metformin is widely known as an antidiabetic agent which has significant gastrointestinal side effects, but nightmares and abnormal dreams as its adverse reactions are not well reported. S. A. Brunton, Nocturnal Hypoglycemia: Answering the Challenge With Long-acting Insulin Analogs, Medscape General Medicine, vol. 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Conflicting stories about taking metformin - will it help my weight and PCOS reported... Not cause for concern and Digestive and Kidney Diseases best practice guide for the past weeks! Like heart rate changes or sweating may be the underlying cause of nightmare and abnormal dreams every for... Thirsty, tired, or feel things that happen while youre awake, 2010. a vitamin B-12 the Center., tired, or nauseated since this is n't a listed side effect of it, I do n't much. You 're ready for more, sign up to receive our email!... This case, there are some theoretical issues worthy of mentioning the journal of does metformin cause bad dreams psychiatry, 63 8... Clinical sleep Medicine, Biotech Information However, this research is still limited manufacturer in!